Media Release: MORE BUS IMPROVEMENTS FOR YARRA RANGES

FROM THE MINISTER FOR PUBLIC TRANSPORT

DATE: Thursday, October 13, 2005

MORE BUS IMPROVEMENTS FOR YARRA RANGES

Minister for Transport Peter Batchelor today announced a new bus route between Chirnside Park and Lilydale and improvements to five other bus services in the Yarra Ranges.

Mr Batchelor said the further improvements in the Yarra Ranges would give more people easy access to public transport in the local neighbourhood, and would provide better links between suburbs, shopping areas and train stations.

“With petrol prices at record highs, there is an ever-increasing demand for more public transport – especially in our outer suburban growth areas,” Mr Batchelor said.

“Many new suburbs have sprung up in parts of Melbourne that are not serviced by public transport, so our first goal is to extend the coverage of the bus network.

“We also need to address overcrowding on some peak hour services and to provide better evening and weekend services.

“These improvements will be a significant boost for people in the Yarra Ranges and will make the Yarra Ranges an even better place to live, work and raise a family.

“These are on top of the extra and improved services on nine routes in the Yarra Ranges which commenced in July this year.”

Mr Batchelor said the increased funding of $44 million for suburban bus services in this year’s State Budget reflected the Government’s commitment to the recommendations in the Metropolitan Transport Plan.

“The Metropolitan Transport Plan identified improved outer suburban bus services as a key priority for the coming years.

“And while the initiatives funded from this year’s Budget will make a significant difference we realise that there is much more work to do.

“The Department of Infrastructure has consulted widely with local councils, bus operators and community groups over the past nine months, and this detailed planning work will give us an excellent foundation for further improvements to bus services in the future.”

Mr Batchelor said service improvements in the Yarra Ranges would include:
·Route 676 / 677 (Chirnside Park – Lilydale) – New route via Switchbank Road, Lilydale Station, Swinburne University, Lilydale East and Mangans Road Monday to Saturday
·Route 683 (Warburton – Chirnside Park Shopping Centre) - Additional services to relieve overcrowding, plus two extra weekday midday services and an extra evening service each way Monday to Saturday
·Route 685 (Healesville - Lilydale) – Improved Saturday frequency
·Route 695 (Belgrave – Gembrook) Extra evening service departing around 8.15pm [Monday to Friday]
·Route 688 (Croydon – Olinda) - new Sunday bus service on an hourly frequency between 9am and 6pm serving the Dandenongs.
·Route 670 (Lilydale – Ringwood via Croydon and Chirnside Park Shopping Centre) – new Sunday bus service on approximately hourly frequency between 8am and 5pm.

Mr Batchelor said the Department of Infrastructure would now work with local councils and bus operators to implement the improved services quickly with most expected to be up and running by early next year.

More details about specific routes and timetables will be released as they are finalised.

These initiatives form part of the State Government’s Linking Victoria policy designed to improve the frequency and reliability of public transport for all Victorians.