Page 1552 - Week 04 - Thursday, 29 March 2012
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MS GALLAGHER: I thank Ms Bresnan for the question. A lot of work is being done, greatly assisted by the MyWay data that we are now able to collect, around patronage and use. A lot of work is being done. We know that there are some areas where we are getting a number of complaints. I think the most I would have is on the Gungahlin route, and we are looking at where those routes start.
There have been some concerns, again, from the Gungahlin area, around where people get on the bus at the marketplace and it getting too full before heading down towards Mitchell. So we are looking at some alternatives around there. The new articulated buses start arriving this year, and the expectation is that they would be utilised to deal with some of those areas of pressure, and we have rolled out some of the initiatives in network 12.
The team at ACTION are looking at this very closely, because it is actually great to see that more people are wanting to get on the buses, particularly on those rapid routes. So we want to be able to ensure that we can carry them in a comfortable way through the city. Yes, quite a lot of work is being done. It has certainly not gone unnoticed, and we have had some concerns raised with us by bus commuters.
MR SPEAKER: Ms Bresnan, a supplementary question.
MS BRESNAN: Minister, will ACTION make it a requirement for ACTION drivers to document and report on any stops where overcrowding prevents passengers from being picked up, to gather data on the full extent of the overcrowding issue?
MS GALLAGHER: I think some of that data is already collected. But I will take some further advice on that. If it is not, it is a good suggestion. From the briefings I have had I think ACTION are aware of where the pressure areas are. As I say, it is mainly on the rapid routes during peak hour times. If there are better ways or further ways to capture that data, we are happy to do that. I think it is probably more important to make the changes that actually resolve some of those issues.
MS HUNTER: A supplementary.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Hunter.
MS HUNTER: Minister, were the new articulated buses that you mentioned earlier and that have been recently purchased by ACTION an increase to the overall number of articulated buses or are they simply replacing the old articulated buses?
MS GALLAGHER: They are replacing the articulated buses. I believe there are 20 of them coming.
MS LE COUTEUR: Supplementary, Mr Speaker.
MR SPEAKER: Yes, Ms Le Couteur.
MS LE COUTEUR: Minister, can you guarantee that all new buses purchased by the ACT government will be able to accept bike racks?
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