Page 3753 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 24 August 2011
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MR SPEAKER: Mr Corbell, one moment, please. Stop the clocks. Mr Hargreaves and Mr Coe, it is not for you to conduct a conversation while the minister is seeking to answer the question. Minister, you have the floor.
MR CORBELL: Thank you, Mr Speaker. I was referring to a frequent network of transport corridors that will be the location of future mass rapid transport options like bus rapid transit or light rail. The frequent network will guide the integration of transport and land use as we plan for a city with more concentrated development along these major transport corridors.
Other principles include linking public transport with other modes, particularly through park-and-ride and bike-and-ride facilities, modernising the public transport system through new, lower emissions, wheelchair-accessible buses, the new MyWay ticketing system, real-time passenger information, and efficient and accessible public transport network planning, bus stations and other infrastructure.
A new transport accessibility policy will address transport disadvantage, including new minimum public transport service standards—a minimum span of hours, frequency and distance from households. Another principle is flexible and community transport, including community buses, taxis and public transport for new greenfields developments.
The government has already begun to make significant investments in advance of these policies, with key achievements over the last few years, including the introduction of the Red Rapid high frequency services between Gungahlin and Fyshwick via the city and complementing the existing high frequency Blue Rapid services between the other town centres. The Red Rapid runs on a major transport corridor identified in the government’s long-term transport planning.
The completion of the Belconnen bus station is an important new piece of public transport infrastructure and the ACT’s first transit-oriented development with the new bus-only stations integrated into the shopping facility at the Belconnen Mall. This project is also a good showcase of a partnership between the public and private sectors.
Over $1 million, including $250,000 of support from the commonwealth, has been allocated to construct a network of bike-and-ride cages, with the first of these now open at the Belconnen community bus station and on Flemington Road, with two additional cages being built, or close to completion, at Phillip Pool near Melrose Drive, and Mawson. They are due to be completed later this year.
Of course, there is the very important work on feasibility for stage 1 of the Belconnen-to-city transit way, with works to commence in 2012 on the construction of a bus station and bus priority from ANU exchange to Clunies Ross Street.
Mr Smyth: What about the busway and Johno’s dead body?
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