Page 3841 - Week 13 - Tuesday, 4 December 2007
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This bill also includes a number of initiatives to further improve the ACTION bus network. Funding is provided to increase the level of service, in particular frequency and span of hours, of ACTION bus services across Canberra with the introduction of a new network, Network 08, and to market and communicate the bus network effectively. The funding sought in this proposal will achieve an average of 20-minute frequency in the peak and 30 minutes in the non-peak. The current network, Network 06, operates on an average peak service of 30 minutes and non-peak service of 60 minutes.
The Network 08 communication strategy will include the supply of new timetables; improved DDA compliant signage at interchanges and bus stops, which is what Dr Foskey was talking about—how you know when a wheelchair-accessible bus is around; an upgrade of ACTION’s scheduling system to allow real-time route-finding information; an upgrade of the ACTION website to deliver to customers, via the internet and the call centre, detailed bus information, instructions on alternative routes, directions for walking between points, real-time changes in timetables in the instance of changed or cancelled routes, and search by landmarks; and provide ACTION information officers in interchanges every weekday for 10 hours.
Seniors are also provided for in this appropriation bill. Funding is provided to allow ACT seniors to travel on ACTION buses for a concession fare and to provide alternative community transport services for people who have difficulty accessing ACTION’s regular route services. It is proposed that ACT seniors be permitted to travel at concession fare from February 2008, to allow time to advertise and implement the new fare arrangements.
It is also proposed that six regional community service organisations each be supplied with a fully-maintained minibus, and funds to employ a driver, to deliver community transport services to people who have difficulty in accessing ACTION services. The transport service will fill an existing gap in the transport system, particularly for the aged and the disabled with limited mobility.
It will also support changes to be made as part of Network 08 where better service options for non-peak travel on regular routes can be supported by flexible on-demand community transport options for the less advantaged in our community. The fares proposal supports the government’s commitment to ACT seniors for fares parity with age pensioners. The community transport proposal is innovative and provides a low-cost high-value service that meets the needs of the less mobile and socially isolated members of the community.
Funding of $1 million is also provided to repair and clean up the unattractive Belconnen interchange, install CCTV at the Belconnen and Woden interchanges to improve security, and implement bus stop improvements including additional seating to support the introduction of Network 08. The Belconnen interchange is in very poor condition. It has not received the necessary maintenance over a number of years because a new interchange was planned as part of the Westfield redevelopment. A new interchange or some other alternative is at least three years away. In the meantime we cannot expect the Belconnen community to use the public transport
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