Minibus shuttles to run between new Northern Beaches Hospital and Mona Vale Hospital
SPECIAL shuttle buses are set to take people from Mona Vale Hospital to the new Northern Beaches Hospital - and some passengers will even be able to be picked up and dropped off at their homes.
Manly
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THE NSW Government is funding a not-for-profit shuttle bus service to take people from Mona Vale Hospital to the new Northern Beaches Hospital at Frenchs Forest.
Some passengers will even be able to be picked up and dropped off at their homes.
The shuttle announcement came as critics of the new hospital pointed out that people from the northern end of the peninsula would need to catch at least two buses if they use existing public bus routes to travel to Frenchs Forest.
The shuttle bus begins when the new hospital opens on October 30.
Fares on the shuttle start from $6 each way for the trip between hospitals and from $8 for those picked up or dropped to their homes.
But the Save Mona Vale Hospital group said the shuttle service, which would make four return journeys between the two hospitals each day, was not enough to ease transport problems for people trying to get to Frenchs Forest.
The group’s chairman, Parry Thomas has called on the Government to introduce direct public bus routes from the Pittwater area to the new hospital.
Mr Thomas, said people who do not drive, and sick outpatients, would have to catch a bus to Dee Why and then change for another bus to Frenchs Forest.
“(Health Minister) Brad Hazzard’s arranged a private minibus that will run directly between Mona Vale Hospital and the new hospital four times a day,” Mr Thomas said.
“Bad luck if you need to leave outside the designated times.
“That’s not to mention the days the route is flooded and the amount of time the service will spend sitting in traffic on the Wakehurst Parkway.
“This is a huge loss for our community, which till now has been able to rely on regular services at reasonable prices on buses that stop just down the road from Mona Vale Hospital.”
Mr Hazzard said the service, operated by the non-profit Easylink community transport group, would make it easier for patients and visitors to get to Frenchs Forest.
“This service will be an easy way for people to access the new hospital from the day it
opens its doors.”
The shuttle bus’s first trip from Mona Vale begins at 7.45am and the last return from
Northern Beaches Hospital leaves at 3pm.
Pittwater Liberal MP Rob Stokes said the shuttle bus was cheaper than taxis and a good option for those with mobility issues.
“Easylink asks passengers to book at least two days in advance,” Mr Stokes said. “They can also organise to be picked-up or dropped off at their home, if required.”
The shuttle service will trial for 12 months.
The Government also reminded residents that more than 1,200 additional public bus services each week were now operating to help people get to the hospital.
Transport for NSW said new routes and more frequent services provided more travel options from areas including Manly, Balgowlah, Seaforth, Brookvale, Dee Why, Narraweena, Beacon Hill, Frenchs Forest, Belrose, Forestville and Chatswood.
The new route 141 connects Manly, Seaforth and Belrose to the Northern Beaches Hospital. It has more than 300 weekly services running hourly from 5.30am to 11pm.
New route 193, with 460 services, runs through Brookvale, Narraweena and Belrose to the hospital.
Passengers coming from the north wanting to travel to the hospital can transfer at Dee Why between the B-Line, 199 and L90 buses to new high frequency 136 services.
Bus routes 136, 141, 169, 193 and 280 stop out the front of the hospital on Frenchs Forest Rd. Services from these stops run to Dee Why, Warringah Mall, Manly, Chatswood, Belrose and the City.
More bus options are also available on Warringah Rd, Wakehurst Pky and Forest Way.
Easylink bookings can be made by calling 9919 0700.