B-Line bus service: questions still remain unanswered, Mosman mayor says

THE lower north shore is concerned that traffic bottlenecks around Mosman and Neutral Bay will get even worse when there are more buses added to the mix, the Mosman Mayor says.

Generic Shots at The Spit Junction of traffic in the morning.

THE busy corridor along Spit and Military roads is about to get even busier.

From late 2017 double-decker buses will ply the route every five to 10 minutes as part of a B-Line service.

It is the new name for the State Government’s much-hyped Northern Beaches Bus Rapid Transit network, which cuts through Spit Junction and Neutral Bay.

Traffic on Military Rd at Neutral Bay. Double decker buses will soon be a regular sight along the traffic choked corridor.

Premier Mike Baird said the buses “will have plenty of comfortable seats” and the bus stops will be “architecturally designed”.

The buses will stop nine times on the run into the city, including at Spit Junction and Neutral Bay.

Customers would also be encouraged to park and ride with 900 new commuter parking spaces, Mr Baird said.

But none of those spaces have been earmarked for the lower north shore.

It is also unclear whether new bus stops will be built in the area, if parking will be affected and how peak-hour bus gridlock at Spit Junction will be eased, Mosman Mayor Peter Abelson said.

NSW Premier Mike Baird announcing the new B-Line.

Cr Abelson said while he thought the B-Line would greatly improve services from the northern beaches, questions still needed to be answered.

“At this stage the Mosman issues have not been resolved,” he said.

“It’s a problem for Mosman, and for North Sydney, if all the kerbside parking is done away with 24-7. It’s fine to allow buses and taxis through in peak hour but that will decimate the local shopping areas.

“The State Government does not have plans to replace parking in local streets.”

However, drivers have called for a permanent parking ban along Military and Spit roads.

Cr Abelson said the preferred approach to ease traffic congestion was to go underground.

“The huge problem for traffic is from Seaforth Junction up to Spit Junction,” he said.

“The Mosman solution is to have a tunnel.”

Mr Baird said studies for the tunnel are now underway.

Have a say on the B-Line at b-line.transport.nsw.gov.au.

Artist impressions of the B-Line double-decker bus.

AT A GLANCE:

■ The B-Line is slated to start operating in late 2017

■ There will be nine stops along the route, including at Spit Junction and Neutral Bay

■ Buses will run every five minutes during the morning and afternoon peaks and every 10 minutes at other times

■ New double-decker buses will be used along the route

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