New bus lane on Victoria Parade ready, but brand new stops and timetable delayed
A new dedicated bus lane and new stops along one of Melbourne’s busiest arterial roads have been completed, but the new stops will not be used for another month.
The new bus lane is expected to improve the reliability of bus services during peak hours along one of Melbourne’s most congested roads linking the CBD to the eastern suburbs.
The new stops were scheduled to become operational this week, but Public Transport Victoria (PTV) is still in the process of updating timetables for all bus routes operating along Victoria Parade, so they appear on the PTV app and at the new bus stops.
A statement issued by PTV explains the new bus stops along Victoria Parade will not be in use, as it is not be able to provide timetable information via all of its channels accurately just yet, and reassured passengers the new timetable will now start on September 20.
Four new stops on the city bound side and four new stops heading out of the city will now become operational in September, at which time the old stops will be physically removed.
In the meantime, services will be running to the existing timetable.
Passenger information displays on board buses are also yet to be updated to reflect these changes.
Once the changes take effect, 11 different bus routes will no longer travel on Albert Street and Gisborne Street, but along Victoria Parade and Spring Street into Lonsdale Street instead.
Changes to the network further out in the eastern suburbs will see the recently added 303 bus stop at Doncaster park and ride become a permanent stop.
Afternoon timetables for routes 282, 364 and 380 will be also slightly adjusted to better meet the needs of schools.