Forest Coach Line proposes $7m transport plan to link the northern beaches to Chatswood
A rapid transport corridor could be provided from Dee Why to Chatswood according to Forest Coach Lines, which has put its pitch forward to deliver the B-Line style system.
Manly
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A RAPID transport corridor could be provided from Dee Why to Chatswood for about $7 million according to Forest Coach Lines, which has put its pitch forward to deliver the B-Line style system.
Forest Coach Lines chief executive officer David Royle told the Manly Daily his company could have 13 buses ordered, and delivered by year’s end and would run the service for around $6 million per annum.
Another $1 million-odd would be required for annual fleet costs.
It came in response to a request for a quote from Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan in a bid to have the long-touted and much-needed system become a reality.
“We have been negotiating for a no-nonsense, 10-minute turn up and go service,” Cr Regan said.
“Council estimates it would cost in the vicinity of $7m, less the revenue collected, and we costed that service with private providers to put forward a case for the State Government,” he said.
“We want the State Government to bring forward that bus line to deliver the planning precinct around the new hospital in its entirety and to take pressure off the Military Rd corridor, irrespective of whether or not the tunnel is built.”
It would have five stops, according to Cr Regan: Skyline Shops, the Northern Beaches Hospital, Forest Way Shops, Forestville shops (Jamison square) then Crown of the Hill (at the foot of the Roseville bridge), before finishing at Chatswood.
The council has written to all four peninsula MPs and Planning Minister Anthony Roberts.
Cr Regan said his recent discussions with Planning Minister Anthony Roberts — who is in charge of the Frenchs Forest masterplan after it was named a priority precinct — were fruitful.
Mr Royle said the plan was possible in the short, to midterm future, if funded.
“In terms of feasible, it is going to cost the government … it will need a subsidy by government to operate,” Mr Royle said.
“But then again most bus services we have in Sydney have some degree of subsidy.”
Mr Royle said the indicative costings would use the same double-decker buses as the B-Line, 16 of which he has already ordered to service Forest’s existing network.
He said of the about $7 million it would cost the State Government it would get about 2.5 million back in return from ticket sales.
“We trialled the B-Line bus before the B-Line started that was our preferred option,” Mr Royle said.
“It is our standard service instead of articulated buses or an alternative double deck bus. It required some approvals on the backstreets around Belrose and Terrey Hills.
“We have negotiated that with council and we have 16 coming from Malaysia.”
The limited stop service would run during peak hours, with more modelling needed as to how often it would run in off-peak.
Cr Regan said while it would not be in before the hospital’s opening it could be built to cater for the additional 3000 homes expected to be built as part of the Frenchs Forest masterplan.
“We want to build the infrastructure, the community always asks for the infrastructure to be build prior to any density,” Cr Regan said,
“Residents have been asking for a fast direct link straight up the guts of Warringah Rd forever.
“Let’s build it now before we get more density.”
Two new routes have even created to service the hospital — the 141 from Manly to Austlink via Balgowlah, and the 193 from Austlink to Warringah Mall via Frenchs Forest.
A number of routes will also be extended to include Frenchs Forest before the hospital opens.
“We’re adding more than 1000 extra weekly services on the northern beaches to improve access to the new hospital and meet the growing demand in the Frenchs Forest area,” a Transport for NSW spokesman said.
“This is on top of the more than 3200 extra weekly services that were introduced in November 2017 as part of the new Northern Beaches Bus Network.
“Rather than concentrating improvements on just one route, the initial service plan focuses on improving services in the wider catchment of the new hospital to enable patients, staff and visitors to use public transport.
“We are committed to delivering the best possible public transport services for customers and we’ll continue to monitor demand for services in this region as it develops.”