Page 262 - Week 01 - Thursday, 13 February 2020
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our public transport system. We have seen 3.5 million boardings on light rail, which is absolutely fantastic. Light rail stage 1 has been a huge success, and we are looking to further improve the span and frequency of services, and the frequency in peak periods as well, to help meet demand.
We are providing local route services and connections from Tuggeranong to Woden via the Canberra Hospital, which will start in term 2. We are increasing the capacity of our bus services running from Woden direct to the city, for Woden Valley residents, and we are cutting travel times to the city for Tuggeranong residents by up to 15 minutes.
We are adding direct local services from Palmerston, Crace, Nicholls and Casey to Belconnen, and we will better service Giralang, Kaleen and McKellar, with more routes and direct local services to Gungahlin. We are providing better access to Mitchell, with route 18 being extended to Dickson, reducing the need for multiple transfers. From term 2 we will increase the frequency of services on Saturdays during the day for local route buses.
I look forward to updating the Assembly on further improvements that we will be making to the public transport system and the timetable when I release the timetable in around mid-March. The government has also announced that we are investing in a modern ticketing system for Transport Canberra that will make public transport more accessible for Canberrans.
MR PETTERSSON: Minister, why is the government increasing light rail frequency in morning peaks and extending the peak times for light rail?
MR STEEL: Because it has been a huge success. In the morning and afternoon peak periods of service we have seen huge numbers of people using light rail: over 15,000 boardings every day on light rail during the weekdays. As a consequence of that popularity, we have seen some crowding on light rail vehicles during peak periods, which is a good problem to have but still a problem.
To meet that extra demand, as of 3 February we have extended the morning and afternoon peak periods: for the morning an extension to 9.30, and an extension of half an hour in the evening to 6.30 northbound. In addition, from 28 April we will be further improving light rail services, with frequency to be increased to every five minutes in the morning peaks, and afternoon peaks extended till 7 northbound and 6.30 southbound. We will also be bringing forward the commencement of services on a Sunday to 7 am rather than 8 am so that we can provide better connections for people using light rail services, and the buses that connect with them, on the weekend.
I would like to acknowledge Mr Pettersson’s advocacy on this issue for some time, including a motion in the Assembly. I am very pleased that the government has been able to deliver more frequent and reliable light rail services for Canberra.
MR GUPTA: Minister, what benefits will the new ticketing system provide for public transport users in Canberra?
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