Victoria’s Brumby Government has thrown a public transport sweetener at Geelong and Bellarine Peninsular voters with a whopping 1,057 new bus services starting in the run up to the November election
September 22, 2010
Geelong not only hosts the UCI world cycling championship next week, but from the end of October gets 1,057 more permanent weekly bus services – weeks out from the state’s election.
Victoria’s Transport Minister Martin Pakula announced the new services for Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula and Surf Coast passengers this week from $80 million allocated to public transport in the region.
“The improvements will provide better connections for residents in the Geelong suburbs of Highton, Buckley Falls, Herne Hill, North Shore, Norlane, and Grovedale,” Pakula says.
“In addition, enhancements to the Bellarine transit network will see services improved in Torquay, Ocean Grove, Barwon Heads, Point Lonsdale, Queenscliff, Drysdale, Clifton Springs, Portarlington and St Leonards.”
Funding includes the construction of a bus interchange at Moorabool Street in Geelong.
Member for Geelong Ian Trezise says the bus interchange, including stops on the east and west sides of Moorabool Street will simplify public transport use in Geelong and greatly improve connectivity between services.
“The passenger experience will also be improved through the installation of state-of-the-art shelters to be installed for passenger comfort,” Trezise says.
“The interchange will involve a stainless steel design with wooden seating as well as time and bus route information, lighting, safety cameras and heating for passenger comfort.”
Member for South Barwon Michael Crutchfield says Surf Coast residents will get better connections to V/Line train services from Marshall Station with a new Park and Ride bus service operating from Jan Juc and Torquay.
“Services will also be boosted to Deakin University with an extra 22 services every weekday linking Grovedale and Marshall,” Crutchfield says.
He says 40 new bus driver positions will be created across the Geelong and Bellarine bus network to service the expansion.