Transport for NSW Plans to close 17 bus stops in Canterbury upsets residents
Seventeen bus stops in Canterbury are likely to close as part of a Roads and Maritime Service bus priority infrastructure program.
The Express
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Seventeen bus stops in Canterbury are likely to close as part of a Roads and Maritime Service bus priority infrastructure program.
RMS has said the closures will mean more reliable travel times for commuters and less congestion for road users.
But for Tyler O’Reilly, 11, and brother Jack, 9, the closure of two bus stops along Homer St in Earlwood means an extra 30 minutes’ travel each day. The Undercliffe Public School students have written a letter to Canterbury-Bankstown Council asking it to lobby the RMS to reconsider.
Their mother, Amata O’Reilly, who works full time, is worried that the closures will force the boys to cross busy Homer St by themselves.
“As a parent it is concerning I don’t want them to have to walk further than they have to,” Mrs O’Reilly said. “Being a young child having to walk that extra distance is tough, let alone the elderly.”
The RMS said under the proposed changes, the average distance is 400m between bus stops.
Canterbury state Labor MP Sophie Cotsis slammed the decision as a “band aid solution” for congestion and has launched a petition to reverse it.
“Rather than try to encourage more people to use public transport, this Government just wants to make life harder for our local community,” Ms Cotsis said.
But a Transport for NSW spokesman said: “Less stops in more convenient locations can be a better incentive than more stops in the wrong place.”
“The proposed changes carefully considered bus stops near schools, aged care facilities, and shops to ensure access to key bus stops is maintained.”
The changes will affect some bus stops along 412, 423 and 428 services on Canterbury Road; Permanent Ave, Earlwood Ave, William St, Homer St and Kingsgrove Rd.
The bus program is on display until March 8 on rms.nsw.gov.au.
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