THE HON CARL SCULLY MP
Minister for Transport
Minister for Roads
Media Release
NEW DIRECT BUS ROUTES TO CUT TRAVEL TIMES
The Carr Government will introduce nine new cross-regional bus routes linking Sydney's major urban centres and cutting travel times for commuters, the Minister for Transport, Mr Carl Scully, said today.
More than 100 kilometres of new bus routes will forge connections between areas which previously were difficult to access directly by bus.
"For the first time, bus commuters will be able to travel from Castle Hill to Liverpool and from Warringah Mall, Brookvale, to Macquarie University at North Ryde without changing buses," Mr Scully said.
"Another major new route will travel from Lilyfield to Coogee Beach via the campuses of Sydney University and the University of NSW.
"Without direct bus connections, it can take an hour or more to travel distances which are short as the crow flies.
"These new bus routes will make a massive difference to thousands of bus commuters who want direct travel between major centres, slashing their travel times and eliminating the need to travel into central Sydney to catch a connecting service.
"With more people choosing to live, work and attend major educational institutions in suburban and outer suburban centres rather than the CBD, we need new bus routes which reflect the changing patterns of our lives.
"This is excellent news for the 128,000 commuters who catch buses in Sydney every day."
The new routes are:
- Penrith-Windsor-Parramatta
- Castle Hill-Parramatta-Liverpool
- Castle Hill-Blacktown-Liverpool
- Hurstville-Campsie
- Parramatta-Gladesville via Victoria Road
- Ramsgate-Bankstown
- Miranda-Bankstown via Menai and Padstow
- Ramsgate-Bankstown
- Leichhardt-Coogee via Lilyfield
Mr Scully said the new routes would be introduced progressively over the next six months.
"The Government will make significant improvements to the new routes with bus priority lanes and special 'B' bus traffic lights to give buses priority at intersections to make bus travel fast and convenient," Mr Scully said.
These improvements are part of the Government's $31 million investment in bus priority measures this financial year.
Mr Scully said he had asked the Department of Transport and the Bus and Coach Association to work together to develop further cross-regional bus routes for Sydney.
"The success of the special Royal Easter Show bus routes earlier this year demonstrated the value of bus routes which offer fast and easy cross-city transport," Mr Scully said.
"I want to explore whether the benefits of cross-regional bus transport can be extended to other parts of Sydney.
The list of the planned bus routes and major stops is attached.
NEW CROSS-REGIONAL BUS ROUTES FOR SYDNEY
- Penrith - Windsor- Parramatta
Via Penrith Station and City Centre, Windsor Town Centre, Baulkham Hills Private Hospital, Stockland Mall Baulkham Hills, Parramatta Bus/Rail Interchange & City Centre.
- Castle Hill - Parramatta- Liverpool
Via Castle Hill Town Centre, Baulkham Hills TAFE, Stockland Mall Baulkham Hills, Parramatta Station & Centre, Wetherill Park TAFE, Wetherill Park Industrial Area, Stockland Town Centre, Fairfield Hospital, Bonnyrigg Plaza, Liverpool City Centre, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool TAFE, Liverpool Bus/Rail Interchange.
- Castle Mill - Blacktown - Liverpool
Via Castle Hill Town Centre, Parklea Markets. Blacktown Bus/Rail Interchange, Blacktown City Centre, Blacktown Hospital, Greystanes, Smithfield Industrial Area, Fairfield Station & City Centre, Cabramatta, Liverpool City Centre, Liverpool TAFE, Liverpool Hospital, Liverpool Bus/Rail Interchange.
- Hurstville - Campsie
- Parramatta - Gladesville via Victoria Road
Via Parramatta Interchange & City Centre, University of Western Sydney Nepean - Parramatta Campus, West Ryde Bus Interchange & Shops, Ryde, Gladesville.
- Ramsgate - Bankstown
Via Sans Souci, Dolls Point, Ramsgate, Southern Sydney Institute of TAFE - St George College, St George District Hospital, Hurstville City Centre & Station, Bankstown City Centre & Station.
- Miranda - Bankstown via Menai and Padstow
Via Miranda Shopping Centre/Sutherland Hospital, Gymea TAFE, Sutherland Interchange, Bankstown Station & City Centre.
- Brookvale - Macquarie University
Via Macquarie Centre, Macquarie University, St Ives Shopping Centre, Warringah Mall.
- Leichhardt - Coogee via Lilyfield
State Transit service via Sydney University, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Newtown, St Peters, the New Green Square rail station, University of New South Wales, Randwick.
