The final design for the Perth Busport has been released with an emphasis on passenger comfort
The final design for Perth’s new underground busport has been unveiled, although plans for a second bus entrance are still being assessed.
Western Australian Transport Minister Dean Nalder says the $209 million Perth Busport in the CBD will have a strong emphasis on passenger comfort and would operate like an airport passenger lounge.
“It will be among the best in the world when complete in 2016,” he says.
“Passengers will be able to access the busport from three separate entrances at ground level and connect seamlessly to Perth City Link.”
The station is spilt over two levels and lifts, stairs and escalators will connect passengers from the ground-level entry points to the underground, lounge level which will have about 160 seats.
Large screens will provide passengers with up-to-date service information, including stand locations and departure times.
“Perth Busport will accommodate 50 per cent more bus movements than its predecessor because of the airport-style Dynamic-Stand-Management System,” says Nalder.
“The system allocates each bus to a stand between two to five minutes before departing the busport.
“Screens at each entrance and throughout the facility will notify passengers where their service will leave from.”
The lounge area is divided into four sections, each with four stands and bus services to specific areas will generally operate from the same section.
Therefore passengers will generally wait in the section their service typically leaves from, and only have to walk to one of four gates located closely together.
Nalder says plans for a second bus entrance to the Perth Busport from Wellington Street are still being assessed by the Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority.
“The Wellington Street entrance is a congestion-busting device that will become an important part of keeping traffic and people moving through the city,” he says.
In addition to regular consultation with local government and approving authorities, a Perth Busport Accessibility and Inclusion Reference Group has been created to discuss the project and offer advice on how to best cater for passengers with different needs.