NSW Government yet to complete new bus service plan for Sydney Metro North West commuter access
A PLAN to bus commuters across The Hills shire to various Sydney Metro Northwest station has yet to be finalised by Transport for NSW — despite the line scheduled to open in May next year.
Hills Shire
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A PLAN to bus commuters across The Hills shire to various Sydney Metro Northwest station has yet to be finalised by Transport for NSW — despite the line scheduled to open in May next year.
Residents and future commuters of the Metro line have called for the State Government to reveal finalised plans for new bus services to Metro stations across North West Sydney, highlighting the need for clarity around stations with no parking including Castle Hill, Norwest and Rouse Hill.
The outcry comes after The Times revealed the breakdown of commuter parking facilities last month, which would only see a total of 4000 parking spaces across eight metro station provided to service approximately 45,000 commuters every hour.
Future commuters and North Kellyville residents June Gibbons, 77, and her husband Alan, 79, called for clarity around the changes to bus routes and “the frequency of buses to service new Metro stations”.
“Clearly the majority of passengers will need to be either within walking distance to the station or a bus route servicing a metro station,” Mrs Gibbons said.
She said residents would like to see the frequency of the Hillsbus North Kellyville to Rouse Hill Town Centre serviced increased to atleast every half an hour.
“It would be great if they could start the service earlier and finish later... so we could return home later in the evening from the city,” she said.
“It would also be great if the Rouse Hill to Parramatta via Castle Towers service was increased to every 15 minutes.”
The pensioners, who rely heavily on public transport, said access to the Metro stations every 15 minutes would make the line more of a priority for commuters.
The plea for information comes as the Hills Shire Council work towards completing a study into possible satellite parking stations across The Hills, to support the increased demand for commuter parking.
A Transport for NSW spokesman said the department was preparing a bus serving plan to be implemented by the opening of the Metro stations next year.
“The bus network will be redesigned to enable customers to access Sydney Metro stations in the Hills District,” the spokesman said.
“Bus routes will provide access for customers from surrounding areas to Metro stations, connecting to trains operating every four minutes during peak periods. Customers won’t need a timetable for the Metro, they will just turn up and go.”
The spokesman said specific details regarding the planned changes to bus routes will be communicated to customers closer to the opening of Sydney Metro.
