Edmondson Park on-demand bus services extended as Liverpool Council calls for more transport
A western Sydney council says on-demand bus services should be rolled out across the region as part of a long-term plan to better connect residents in booming suburbs.
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A western Sydney council is calling for more on-demand services to better connect its residents to the city’s public transport network.
Liverpool Council has welcomed the State Government’s decision to extend the trial of an on-demand bus service at Edmondson Park and has called for it to be rolled out in suburbs such as Prestons, Bardia and Middleton Grange.
The service allows commuters to book a bus on an app to transport them from a point close to home to Edmondson Park train station, where there is currently a massive shortage of commuter carparking.
The initiative, operated by Interline Bus Services since January 2018, will now operate until June 2020.
Liverpool Mayor Wendy Waller said the introduction of on-demand services in other parts of the region would encourage greater use of public transport.
“Liverpool City Council looks forward to working with the NSW Government on further expanding the role of on-demand services as part of the additional bus services that our rapidly growing communities will require,” she said.
“This trial is a great start and we would like to see it as part of the long-term mix of the government’s transport services both in Edmondson Park and other parts of Liverpool such as Prestons, Bardia and Middleton Grange.
“This would significantly boost the use of public transport in the area and make life better for thousands of people.”
The State Government said patronage had grown by 44 per cent since Opal Connect, a new travel credit system, was launched in June last year.
Under the scheme, adult customers are rewarded with $2 credit when they transfer to the Opal network within 60 minutes, meaning a one-way trip on the service can cost as little as 60 cents.
Children and concession card holders receive $1 credit.
Cr Waller said on-demand services were “a growing ‘last-mile mobility’ trend around the world”.
“These kind of services and innovative projects such as council’s Fifteenth Ave Smart Transit (FAST) corridor are crucial to meet Liverpool’s future transport needs.”
Liverpool Council’s FAST corridor proposal would connect residents with the future Western Sydney International Airport via a trackless tram service along Fifteenth Ave in West Hoxton.