A simple plan will remove 1000 unnecessary bus trips from CBD streets
THE removal of one bus company from Adelaide’s complicated private market means more services but fewer unnecessary vehicles clogging CBD streets.
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TRAFFIC congestion through the heart of the CBD will be eased with 1000 surplus bus trips along Currie and Grenfell streets to be removed each weekday.
The changes have been prompted by the elimination of double-up buses between two companies after Torrens Transit bought Light City Buses in May.
Hospital visitors will also benefit with an additional 200 buses stopping each weekday at the Royal Adelaide Hospital and improved services at Lyell McEwin Hospital.
The changes will come into effect on October 14.
Transport Minister Stephan Knoll said one of the major changes happened because the double-up of Torrens Transit and Light City buses could be eliminated.
“Getting a large number of buses off Currie and Grenfell streets will reduce traffic congestion and make travelling through the CBD even smoother,’’ Mr Knoll said.
“Ultimately, these changes also mean some bus services will be better connected so that passengers on certain routes don’t have to change buses to get to where they want to go.’’
Until now, many passengers who were travelling through the city – rather than ending their trip in the CBD – had to leave one company’s bus to board another so they could continue on their journey.
The empty bus then had to make its way out of the city along Grenfell and/or Currie streets – a journey that will now no longer be necessary and will save 1000 trips of the 2350 every weekday along the busy route.
The majority of these empty buses, often flagged “not in service”, are what prompted the former Labor state government in 2012 to create bus-priority lanes on the two busy streets, while frustrated motorists were forced on to other routes.
Mr Knoll said Torrens Transit planners also had been working out how routes and bus frequency could be altered to improve services and patronage.
But he said the improvements would not affect plans announced in the State Budget to rationalise bus routes that were not being used or were duplicated with other services.
Mr Knoll said changes would start immediately after the current school holidays to avoid disruption.
“It also means some routes will benefit from increased frequency of services while some routes will be expanded to better service important public places, like hospitals,’’ he said.
The takeover of Light City Buses decreased Adelaide’s bus operators from three to two.
Torrens Transit operates the north-south, east-west and outer northeast contract areas. SouthLink operates the outer south, outer north and Hills contract areas.
The lone cut in the new scheduling is one bus trip at one scheduled time – the 6.30am 376 service – a route that circles Delfin Island and is used by an average of one passenger a week.
The airport and hospitals were identified by Torrens Transit as needing additional and better services.
Royal Adelaide Hospital services will be significantly improved with route changes taking passengers past the new building on buses with numbers 500, 501, 502, 540 and 541.
The changes will mean an extra 200 stops at the hospital each weekday.
At the Lyell McEwin Hospital, the 29 bus from Elizabeth and 36 bus from the city will stop outside on weekdays.
The 13 bus from Elizabeth and 12 bus from the city will service the hospital at weekends.
On Sir Donald Bradman Drv, buses travelling from the city to Harbour Town at weekends will increase from once an hour to twice an hour.
Buses from the city to the airport during weekday interpeak will increase from four buses an hour to six buses an hour with the introduction of J2 services.
On Magill Rd, there will be four new inbound bus trips between 7am and 8.30am, creating a five-minute service frequency, and three additional services between 3pm and 7pm, creating a 15-minute frequency.
There will be three additional outbound services after 7pm, creating a 30-minute frequency until 11.30pm.
Prospect Rd will gain two additional morning peak-hour services operating between stop 15 and the city on school days.
Direct services from Elizabeth to Adelaide Airport will be restored by linking J1 and C1 buses.