NSW Budget: Government allocates $210m for rapid transit buses between city and northern beaches
GREAT news for commuters on the northern beaches — the State Government has allocated most of the funds for the rapid transit bus service to and from the city.
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RAPID transit buses in the northern beaches are a big step closer with $210 million allocated towards the long-touted B-Line to and from the city.
The funding towards the new bus system makes up the majority of the $234 million allocated in the Budget for priority bus work.
Double-decker buses would depart every five minutes from Mona Vale to the city, and return during peak hour.
Buses would depart every 10 minutes outside peak hours.
Premier Mike Baird said it would “deliver the quick, reliable, additional services with greater capacity that commuters on the northern beaches have been crying out for”.
The works would include new commuter car parks, B-Line stops, road infrastructure improvements and the state-of-the-art bus fleet.
The 17km B-Line is expected to be complete late next year.
Roadworks will include new bus lanes, bus bays and minor lane widening.
“We have now completed financial and funding preparation for the project, as we said we would,” Mr Baird said. “This has fully scoped and costed the project.”
Mr Baird said the total spend would be about $512 million, which would completely fund the project.
Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the funding was part of the $10.5 billion to be spent statewide to improve public transport.
A dedicated project team now in place with environmental planning approvals currently progressing according to the project’s website.
There will be nine B-Line stops at Mona Vale, Warriewood, Narrabeen, Collaroy, Dee Why, Brookvale, Manly Vale, Spit Junction (Mosman) and Neutral Bay including real-time passenger information and improved facilities for customers
Six new commuter car parks at Mona Vale, Warriewood, Narrabeen, Dee Why, Brookvale and Manly Vale will provide about 900 spaces, and bicycle parking.
EDUCATION
NEW classrooms will be added to Curl Curl North Public School as part of a $1 billion Budget boost to school infrastructure.
A spokeswoman for Mr Education Minister Adrian Piccoli said the funding allowed the school to put permanent classrooms in place of demountables.
However, she was unable to sayhow much funding would be allocated to the school because it was still in the planning stages.
A statement on the Education Department ‘s website said: “The new learning facilities will incorporate the latest technology to support high quality teaching.”
Mr Adrian Piccoli said the extra $1 billion would bring the amount allocated to capital works in NSW schools to $2.6 billion in the next four years.
It aims to address a spike in public school enrolments which are expected to increase statewide by more than 11,000 per year.
“We want to ensure growing neighbourhoods have the schools that families will need in o the future,” Mr Piccoli said.
“There is also a substantial boost to the NSW Government’s maintenance program to keep our public schools in the best possible condition.”
Treasurer Gladys Berejiklian said it was part of the Government’s bid to help give NSW “world-class schools”.
Infrastructure backlogs, such as Curl Curl North will be addressed by more than doubling the funding from $160 to $330 million over the next two years.
It was one of a number of schools highlighted for upgrade including Willoughby Public School, Willoughby Girls High School and Rosehill Public School. More than 1100 new classrooms will be built across the state, with announcements about more schools expected
COMMUTER CRITICISES SPENDING
A RETIRED public servant who campaigns to improve key northern beaches roads said the State Budget failed to address the key problems.
While Transport Minister Andrew Constance pledged a record $10.5 billion for public transport across NSW, Mark Horton, 65, of Mona Vale, said it tackled none of the region’s problems.
Mr Horton, who runs Facebook pages demanding action on Mona Vale Rd and the Wakehurst Parkway, and works part-time at the Newport Mirage hotel, said he was disappointed.
While the peninsula will get $210 million for the long-awaited B-line express bus service from Mona Vale to the CBD, and could be set for a slice of $125 million to tackle traffic black spots, the retired public servant said the concept was merely “dangling a carrot” to beaches commuters.
“It’s not going to be a lot quicker — after travelling to the city for 43 years we’ve got a very good bus service,” he said.
“They’re not addressing the real problems — Pittwater Rd’s chock-a-block.
“I’ve seen at least six concepts of a new Spit Bridge over the years and not one of them came to fruition.
“There’s nothing for Wakehurst Parkway.
“Adding more buses, where are they going to fit on Sydney Harbour Bridge without more bus lanes?
“They’ve already let us down by taking away a bus service to Central.
“They’re not offering us much.”
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