Page 5443 - Week 13 - Wednesday, 16 November 2011
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improving public transport and also for improving car pooling opportunities. I will just flag now that I propose some amendments to Mr Coe’s motion which I will move later. The issue of transit lanes, bus lanes and car pooling is broader than just the immediate issue of Adelaide Avenue. We have a good opportunity to look at the broader context.
My amendments would call on the government to immediately reinstate the T2 lane on Adelaide Avenue. But the government would then be required to go through a proper, evidence-based assessment of the transit lane on Adelaide Avenue and to report back on the advantages and benefits of the different available options. This would include assessing whether the lane would work best as a T2, T3, T4 or bus-only lane. Unfortunately, this assessment was missing from the decision to make the lane a bus-only lane.
I am hopeful also that the government will agree to my amendments and do the additional work on the pros and cons of the various transit lanes options, paving the way for a future informed decision. I just note on that that we did ask the minister’s office a number of questions on the decision around this. We asked what guidelines and rules there were in terms of operating T2, T3 or bus lanes in the ACT. The answer was that there is currently no formal ACT government guideline or rule covering the operations of T2 and T3 lanes in the ACT.
The Greens are asking that the government do a full assessment of the different options and their different impacts. We want to choose the best long-term option for the lane—the one that will bring the best sustainable transport outcomes to Canberra in the long run. We are therefore willing to reassess the options for the transit lane once the government does this work and reports back to the Assembly. This needs to consider all the issues, including car pooling and public transport.
As I noted, there are currently no guidelines or rules that govern when it is appropriate to operate different kinds of transit lanes. Obviously these are guidelines that are required. The guidelines should be compatible with sustainable transport policies. The intention should be for transit lanes to be used in a way that will have a positive outcome. Both car pooling and public transport should be considered in the assessment.
These guidelines should also look at covering the various complex issues surrounding transit lanes, such as when priority lanes are justified, what compliance monitoring and enforcement is needed, whether safety barriers are needed and whether other vehicles such as motorcycles and taxis should be permitted in the lane. Just on that point I note that we also asked whether other vehicles would be permitted to use the new lane. I know Mr Coe has already mentioned this. We did get confirmation that taxis, hire cars and motorcycles would continue to use the bus lane.
As has been discussed, the T2 transit lane was introduced to Adelaide Avenue in 2009. Previously the lane was bus-only. The government has stated that it was intended to be a temporary measure to help alleviate congestion on Adelaide Avenue caused by the construction of the GDE. The completion of the GDE means that there has been a reduction in traffic congestion on arterial roads such as Adelaide Avenue. I do not
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