$3 MILLION ALLOCATED FOR BELCONNEN TO CITY BUSWAY DESIGN

The ACT Government has allocated a further $3 million in the 2005-06 Budget to  towards meeting the objectives in its Sustainable Transport Plan

Planning Minister Simon Corbell said the allocation would allow work to proceed on a central initiative in the Plan, the Belconnen-City Busway. 

He said the route for the proposed City Busway had been announced in January this year. It was intended to be the first of a series of busways that would provide rapid transit links across Canberra. 

“Work will continue this year on the Preliminary Assessment of the environmental, heritage, economic, social and operational impacts of the proposal,” he said.

“A contract was awarded in April 2005 to Brown Consulting Engineers and Purdon Associates to conduct the assessment, followed by an extensive community consultation process over the coming 12 months.

“Contracts for program management, concept engineering design, bus station architecture and design of new passenger facilities in Belconnen Town Centre and the City will also be progressed.

“Investment in dedicated busways represents the most significant boost to public transport since self-government and will ultimately lead to a more sustainable and efficient transport system.

“The Belconnen to City Busway will significantly improve travel times and make buses more competitive as a transport option.”

Mr Corbell said the project would be supported by measures such as new bus interchanges, real-time information about bus arrival times at bus stops and bus priority at key parts of the road network.

“The Busway will link Belconnen Town Centre with City via the University of Canberra, Canberra Stadium, Calvary Hospital, CSIRO and the Australian National University and be integrated with the Gungahlin Drive Extension,” he said.

“The Belconnen to City Busway will use a combination of new dedicated bus roadways, bus lanes on existing roads and bus priority measures. 

Mr Corbell said in accordance with the Sustainable Transport Plan preliminary planning work was also being undertaken on other busway projects. 
“Feasibility work has already been completed on the Gungahlin – City bus priority measures and construction on the Flemington Road Stage will be completed during 05/06,” Mr Corbell said.

“The whole community will benefit from these projects as they will give people the option to use public transport and reduce our dependence on cars, resulting in reduced greenhouse gas emissions, reduced air pollution and other environmental and health benefits.
Statement ends