Your thoughts wanted for Network14

Generally a much better network for me (I live Watson, work Gungahlin).

I am slightly peeved off they’ve taken out route 80 but given there was hardly anyone on that bus with me it kinda makes sense. The 54 between gunners, Palmerston, Crace then straight to Belco is also fantastic.

I am worried about them saying they’ll cut late night services. What constitutes late ngiht? They haven’t said so and depending how much they cut, it could really screw me over.

Re Madame’s comment: “I remember a few years ago where they went a bit do-lally with the timetabling and routes and there was a huge backlash . . .”
They still have not restored the old weekend timetable, like they said they would at that time.
I hope they are doing something about it this time.

Actually I just filled in this survey for what its worth

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Network14

I am not particularity impressed about the change to the Kambah 162, It use to take me into the city after a short stop at Woden. Why can’t they keep that as it was always full.

Guess I am living above my station and need to go find a white commodore to run up the parkway while madly tailgating with a precariously balanced cig dangling from my lip.

However I’ll probably just grumble about the gubermit and deal with it.

I see they’ve ditched all three xpresso services through Gowrie and Fadden and re-routed them through Chisholm. I get streamlining by ditching either the 265 or 770 since they run similar routes but both seems extreme. The revised local services look OK, but wtf is with having to cross Isabella Dr to get to Civic?

cheryanne said :

The new proposed route changes mean that Kambah commuters are again made worse off. Not even one bus route to civic even in peak times. We already have no 900 routes on the weekends and now the 160 is to be abolished so or already 50 minute commute in the.morning will be even longer. Let alone a possible 2-3 hour trip to get home.

Not sure what you mean by the ‘no 900 routes on the weekends’ – as someone mentioned you have the 960 and 962, unless you’re referring to the one stop in each direction near the bottom of Learmonth that is serviced during the week on the 300s but not on the weekends due the 900 going via Erindale?

I’m puzzled by the removal of the 160/161/162. I used to live in Kambah and the 160 (and before it, the 710 which was far superior as it skipped Woden) was always fairly full.

That said – if they timetable things right (which would be a miracle), I think they should be promoting the stops just past Sulwood at the bottom of the Parkway as a transfer point for Kambah residents. Hop off the 60 or 62 and jump on the 718 or 719 – that way you skip Woden and go straight to the City.

Having one bus everywhere can be convenient, but sometimes getting a transfer is faster (it is in my case). I think it’s probably the convenience of not having to wait for a transfer that keeps people on the one bus, even if it takes longer.

Monsieur Cholet and I share our public transport patronage across the week depending on who is doing the pre-school run. I like getting the bus in, especially as the service we use 11 & 111 is efficient (even though always a few minutes late each morning), and gets us into work at the time we need. When I get the bus I need to be at work at 8am so I get the 26 minutes past 7 from Calwell.

I note in this proposal they are looking to send the 11 & 111 off to Majura and Fairbairn and change the existing service to a number 171. That would be ok, except for the fact that it now goes the slow way through the back of Wanniassa instead of straight up Erindale Drive, splintering off to Woden halfway up. By doing this I suspect it will add time to the trip, which then means that I will have to get an earlier service, which whilst possible, is a pain.

The service that runs right now is clearly well patronised and efficient which would show up in their myway reports. So why the change to the route? If Fairbairn and Majura need a bus why can’t they put a new service on there.

I also note that the new route has another bus that travels along there, so that’s two buses servicing the same area.

Without seeing the timetable it’s difficult to tell, but I remember a few years ago where they went a bit do-lally with the timetabling and routes and there was a huge backlash. Hope it’s not a repeat.

It is good to see Xpresso services increased in Chisholm area (though I can’t understand why the route numbers have been changed).
Some suggestions: I have noticed that people with school age children are generally reluctant to use Xpresso routes because there is no way to get home fast during the day if something happens. And it takes ages getting into town during the day for appts etc. Therefore, it would be great if there was a couple of Xpresso runs during the day, and one after 6pm for people who cannot get away before 6. This would increase patronage.

I also suggest generally treating the eastern areas of Tuggers (ie adjacent to Monaro Hwy) as a separate geographic area, as transport needs from there are quite different from those of Kambah/Wannie/Bonython etc. Basically, anyone living on the eastern side of Tuggers who wants to go to the Triangle or Civic will not bother using a service that ‘backtracks’ to Woden or Tuggers interchange, or even to Erindale, when you can just nip up the Hwy in your car.

Good to see they’ve increased the frequency on the Gungahlin-City route during peak periods. I’m sure the MyWay data would have shown services running way over capacity at certain times.

Add the Nxtbus system in to the equation, and (supposing they do it right) it could really improve services.

agent_clone said :

My thoughts on the changes are that a map of the proposed network (one of those ones that have all the bus routes on it) would be nice so that people can visually see the changes.

Use the link provided by #2. The link to details for each region also includes a map of said region.

The other little gem they’ve snuck in is the cutting out of late night services, but not providing any details. They may not be the most frequented services, but it’s the poorer sections of the community that rely on them: shift workers and students in particular. They’ve also cut the North Belconnen community routes linking the aged care homes with the larger shopping centres (apparently the 73 and 74 are adequately service by other community transport options).
The last four route modifications over the years mean I can’t get home if I want to leave Belconnen after 10.30 PM.
If the buses are meant to be a community service, it’s about time they actually tried to serve the community. Not everyone in this town is a public servant, and not everyone can drive. And not everyone who can drive is entitled to community transport options.

cheryanne said :

The new proposed route changes mean that Kambah commuters are again made worse off. Not even one bus route to civic even in peak times. We already have no 900 routes on the weekends and now the 160 is to be abolished so or already 50 minute commute in the.morning will be even longer. Let alone a possible 2-3 hour trip to get home.

WTF?

So sick of this council treating people anyone to the south like second class citizens.

And I’m pretty sure the 160 route is VERY well patronised.

Seems to me like they just don’t want people to catch the bus.

My thoughts on the changes are that a map of the proposed network (one of those ones that have all the bus routes on it) would be nice so that people can visually see the changes.

maxblues said :

Alistair Coe is right. Putting on an Xpresso from Gungahlin to the Triangle is a good idea, but after spending a billion dollars (standard ACT cost blowout) on the MFT (moderately fast tram), passengers from the Gun will have to alight at Civic and transfer to a bus to get to the Triangle. How will an Xpresso tram overtake the regular tram that stops at all the proposed infill required to justify the tram?

They could then extend the tram to the parliamentary triangle! And then to Woden. But yeah bus routes can always be modified after the tram is completed.

Chery do you mean that there is no 900 route to civic on the weekend? Because I can see the 962 and 960 service Kambah on the weekend. Transferring to an express bus in the morning to get to civic should be easy enough in the morning, the problem may be the afternoon/evening connection between the two buses.

Alistair Coe is right. Putting on an Xpresso from Gungahlin to the Triangle is a good idea, but after spending a billion dollars (standard ACT cost blowout) on the MFT (moderately fast tram), passengers from the Gun will have to alight at Civic and transfer to a bus to get to the Triangle. How will an Xpresso tram overtake the regular tram that stops at all the proposed infill required to justify the tram?

The new proposed route changes mean that Kambah commuters are again made worse off. Not even one bus route to civic even in peak times. We already have no 900 routes on the weekends and now the 160 is to be abolished so or already 50 minute commute in the.morning will be even longer. Let alone a possible 2-3 hour trip to get home.

Drivers the obey the road rules would be a good start.

Looks like some good changes. A doubling of peak hour frequency for me, and a new service added to the route (40). Glad to see the My Way data making a difference.

Far from being a series of minor modifications many routes will be replaced entirely and many routes will be modified and extended.In fact most routes will be changed somewhat including combining peak hour services on the xpresso routes. Please check the website for all the changes https://www.action.act.gov.au/news/network-14

So Gungahlin residents get peak services to the Triangle but Southsiders get neglected again! Big shock there.
My grand suggestion to Rattenbury would be to get his existing s*** running properly before coming up with more strain on the system in the form of additional services. Or is he planning to cut some existing services to compensate and just isn’t telling us the whole truth?