LeadWest has welcomed Infrastructure Victoria’s call for a major overhaul of the state’s bus network and urged State Government to prioritise Melbourne’s west.
Buses can provide fast, frequent and direct public transport services for Melburnians, especially in outer suburbs and new growth areas that are not currently served well by public transport.
The benefits from transforming Melbourne’s bus network are comparable to any one of Victoria’s big road and rail projects – and at much less cost.
We welcome the extensive modelling and research undertaken by Infrastructure Victoria on how to achieve a faster, frequent and fairer bus network to better connect Melbourne.
LeadWest supports all 10 recommendations by Infrastructure Victoria in its report on the bus network.
Simple changes to existing bus services, such as extending operating hours to match passenger demand and improving the integration of timetables, can make significant improvements to bus services.
LeadWest urges the State Government to prioritise the delivery of new bus rapid transit services identified in the report that would serve Melbourne’s west including the Tarneit-Maribyrnong, Melton-Broadmeadows and Point Cook-Watergardens routes. These routes were projected to be the three most used out of ten corridors identified.
We also call for the Victorian Government to address the chronic undersupply of public transport in existing growth areas and ensure timely provision of bus services for future communities through a long-term growth funding program for Melbourne’s buses.
Quotes attributable to Councillor Sophie Ramsey, Chair, LeadWest
“Rapid growth in Melbourne’s west has left communities without adequate bus services as bus route and service provision has not increased in-line with population and job growth.
“Where there are bus services, peak frequency is about 30 minutes and travel time can often take close to twice as long as travelling by car.
“Some new suburbs in Brimbank, Melton and Wyndham have no bus services including Eynesbury, Brookfield and Mount Atkinson. This will get much worse as more people make these suburbs home.
“Buses need to run more often and later at night to match passenger demands. In some areas, such as parts of Maribyrnong, buses finish at 8pm.
“Lack of access to effective public transport increases financial hardship, impairs health and wellbeing outcomes, and reduces people's access to services, community, jobs, education and opportunity.”
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