Updated ACTION bus network starts 15 November

ML585: Question A: The proposed network prepped by the consultant recently did include collection routes for these new suburbs, but ACTION has this whole network to be implemented by 2023! What I’ve been saying is that it is pretty much what is needed now. So your answer is yes.
B: Better is the EPIC park’n’ride, which we first proposed in May 2007: http://www.gcc.asn.au/images/stories/Bus%20submission%2017052007.pdf and was finally agreed to in this year’s budget.
C: Monash Drive should be preserved as a potential route, if only as a last resort if successive ACT Govts continue to fail to deliver a lasting Gungahlin-Civic transport solution. See: http://www.gcc.asn.au/News/Transport/monash-drive-has-to-stay.html

Ray: Agreed – see my previous link in comment #10.

Aenveigh: I hear you, but we’ve said tidal because there will be significant resistance to any solution that involves trashing a lot of the trees. We’ve made a judgement call that we’re more likely to achieve a positive outcome with just a tidal lane for bus movement, plus a central (safe!) cycle path. PT users on side. Car drivers on side. Treed avenue lovers on side. And in this year’s budget the ACT Govt agree to fund a feasibility study of it. So another shift towards a win. Of course, bi-directional light rail can also fit in with minimal tree removal. That’s our preferred position.

Why only a tidal lane? If you’re going to go the trouble of asphalting down the middle of Northbourne, make it 6/7m instead of 3.5. That way stops at all times of day are consistently located and signed, instead of the actual pickup location moving depending on time of day. Plus once contra-flow traffic picks up you’re already covered, and without the kind of problems we’ve seen on other roads when later on you decide to widen.

However the route changes seem an improvement. Although it kind of feels like tinkering I hope that similar changes (for the better) crop up every few months as part of a continual revision and improvement cycle.

What would be the problem with sending an express bus route and then light rail down the centre of Northbourne Avenue?

Action also seems to be reducing the number of buses that stop on Northbourne Avenue. The number 5 is one of the main buses that now stops at all stops on Northbourne Avenue while the 727 goes past.

Action picks up a lot of passengers on Northbourne Avenue. So I suppose it might be inconvenient to have to stop and pick up lots of passengers.

An option would be to have shuttle buses servicing Northbourne Avenue between Civic and Dickson and then run the Gunghalin buses express down the centre of Northbourne Avenue to Civic.

Gungahlin Al said :

It is good to see ACTION responding to such suggestions. But there is a fundamental problem unresolved so far in that virtually every route finds its way into Civic. Leads to conga lines of buses down Northbourne…

We need suburban collectors (even half-size buses) that drop everyone at express stops then get back to their suburban wandering.

(A) Did the GCC lobby for bus services to Crace, Casey and Bonner?

(B) The Dickson Bus Station (to be built by 2012) might allow for interchange of Gungahlin services onto a direct City service. (Even if only during off-peak times.) Although there are many passengers who do not like having to change buses.

(C) An alternative to the conga line of buses down Northbourne would be a busway direct from Gungahlin to City which bypasses Northbourne Avenue altogether. Which, for the light-rail pushers, could eventually be converted to a light-rail track. Now where would that go? The words “Monash” and “Drive” come to mind. Perhaps the GCC should try lobbying for that.

lol, that would do, good run for the buses and the cars can have their three lanes back.

shadow boxer said :

Good idea Gungahlin Al, I agree, we also need to come up with a way to get the buses that do go to civic off Northbourne avenue alltogether. Create a clean run for them somewhere else or at the very least force those that need to stop on Northbourne to turn off before stopping.

You mean like this?:
http://www.gcc.asn.au/images/Gunsmoke/2010/issue_118.pdf

Actually, I think I will simply continue to drive, and park in my company funded(via negotiation) parking spot!

Buses??? Where we’re going we don’t need buses.
(or tickets, or colds and flues, or cranky children, or smelly, sweaty passengers….)

Gungahlin Al said :

The additional service leaving Gungahlin at a more reasonable time in the morning is most welcome and follows lobbying by Gungahlin Community Council.

Also welcome is splitting the service that currently wanders through Harrison, the Franklin then Mitchell.

There is a DA current with ACTPLA for a bicycle shed at Flemington and Nullarbor to help those who want to use the Redex service but are further than a comfortable walk from the Flemington Road Redex stops.

It is good to see ACTION responding to such suggestions. But there is a fundamental problem unresolved so far in that virtually every route finds its way into Civic. Leads to conga lines of buses down Northbourne…

We need suburban collectors (even half-size buses) that drop everyone at express stops then get back to their suburban wandering.

Good idea Gungahlin Al, I agree, we also need to come up with a way to get the buses that do go to civic off Northbourne avenue alltogether. Create a clean run for them somewhere else or at the very least force those that need to stop on Northbourne to turn off before stopping.

New ticket service has been delayed until ‘early’ next year.