Push for Andrews government to forge ahead with Airport Rail Link
The state opposition has rubbished calls for a SkyBus priority lane to and from the airport, calling on the government to go ahead with the Airport Rail Link project.
Victoria
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The state opposition has rubbished calls for a SkyBus priority lane to and from the airport, instead urging the government to unfreeze the vital Airport Rail Link project.
While the Andrews government has not committed to giving the privately run bus company a dedicated lane on the Tullamarine Freeway and City Link, transport advocates have renewed calls.
It comes after the Herald Sun revealed that the long awaited Airport Rail Link would be paused in a desperate bid to rein in Victoria’s rising debt.
Melbourne Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world without a rail connection, with the SkyBus and private vehicles accounting for most travel to and from Tullamarine.
SkyBus operates airport transfers to the CBD, Docklands and Southbank, St Kilda, Frankston and bayside suburbs, as well as Melbourne’s western and eastern suburbs.
Opposition major projects spokesman David Southwick said a priority lane for SkyBus was not an acceptable alternative to Airport Rail.
Mr Southwick said Victorians had been dudded by poor financial management from the government.
“The idea that a priority lane on freeway is an acceptable alternative to Airport Rail just shows how tone-deaf the Andrews government really is,” Mr Southwick said.
“Travellers have already become accustomed to the SkyBus taking more than forty minutes to get to the city, and in time it will only get worse.
“What we need is responsible financial management so that these important projects don’t face an uncertain future.”
A government spokesman said buses have access to the Transit Express Lanes which operate at peak times on the CityLink section of the Freeway.
He said the CityLink Tulla widening project helped to bust congestion by adding extra lanes to a 24km stretch of the freeway in each direction between the Bolte Bridge and Melbourne Airport.
“We’re getting on with delivering the transport projects Victorians deserve. Whether it’s by train, tram, bus or road – we’re better connecting locals through our massive investment in the network and making it easier for them to get to where they need to go,” he said.
“This includes upgrades to the road network between the city and the Airport – to ease congestion and create faster journeys for all road users, including our buses.”
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