Page 2982 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 15 August 2018
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(ii) frequent, reliable Rapid services connecting town centres, the City and other key interchanges (such as Dickson and Erindale); and
(iii) a simpler network, based on more consistent and direct routes—no more weekend timetable with different route numbers;
(d) the proposed new network will ensure that 98% of the community will have access to public transport and also increase accessibility to a Rapid bus stop, with over 55% of all Canberrans living within walking distance of a Rapid stop, compared with just 38% today;
(e) the proposed new network will provide a 30% increase in bus trips past schools, alongside dedicated school bus services to give students and their families more options for using public transport to get between home and school;
(f) the ACT Government is also working on a range of initiatives to make it as convenient and safe as possible for school students to walk, cycle or use public transport between home and school; and
(g) the ACT Government will also employ additional customer service staff at interchanges and major connection points, and deliver new and improved bus stops and associated infrastructure to facilitate the new network;
(2) further notes that:
(a) the ACT Government undertook phase one of public consultation in 2017 on the proposed new bus network, which included a survey of public transport users;
(b) almost 80% of those surveyed indicated that they would be prepared to walk further to a bus stop if services were more frequent and journeys faster;
(c) the ACT Government recently completed phase two of this extensive public consultation and is still to consider the results;
(d) the ACT Government understands the importance of public transport to maintaining and improving social inclusion, particularly for older Canberrans and others who may not own a car or hold a drivers licence;
(e) Transport Canberra has consulted directly with older Canberrans about the proposed bus network, to better understand what changes the community thinks are needed; and
(f) Transport Canberra is also continuing to engage with ACTCOSS and providers of community transport services and their users to ensure their views are incorporated into the design of the new bus network; and
(3) calls on the ACT Government to:
(a) consider this extensive community feedback and make necessary changes before finalising the timetable for the new bus network, and release this timetable before the new network commences;
(b) work with groups such as ACTCOSS to consider ways of improving transport for people that cannot walk further to a bus stop, including ways the existing Flexible Bus Service might be improved to work better for older people, and ways community transport services could better integrate with the new network;
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