The 40 bus routes that Sydney needs, according to experts

A rapid bus network comprising 40 routes across Sydney will be critical to boosting public transport in ill-served areas, according to a wide-ranging report from an urban think-tank, which argues it will deliver better bang for taxpayer dollars than rail projects.

With Sydney in the midst of a boom in motorway, metro rail and light rail projects, the Committee for Sydney report says the government’s focus should switch to bolstering the bus network, increasing service frequency and route directness, especially in western and southwest suburbs.

Sydney’s B-line buses between the CBD and northern beaches have proven popular since they began in late 2017.Credit: Nick Moir

“It will also help address the inequality of access to public transport that exist predominantly in parts of Sydney that aren’t connected to rail, such as the northern beaches and parts of west and southwest Sydney,” the report says.

While tens of billions have been spent on road, metro and light rail projects in Sydney in the last decade, the $514 million northern beaches B-Line link is the only new rapid bus service to be rolled out in the same period.

The think-tank notes that buses cost about $9 per passenger trip to operate, making them far cheaper for the state than other forms of public transport such as trains at about $19.

“There is an untapped potential for buses to better connect the dots and plug the gaps in Sydney’s public transport network,” the report says.

It argues the delivery of a rapid bus network in the city over the next five to 10 years is critical, requiring four routes to be rolled out each year.

Aside from urging the government to prioritise rapid bus routes in western Sydney, it suggests an agency be set up to deliver the network, in a similar vein to the creation of Sydney Metro more than a decade ago to spearhead a $65 billion driverless rail system.

“Delivering 40 rapid bus routes across Sydney over the next five to 10 years is a huge undertaking. It requires a co-ordinated approach,” the report says.

If it were adopted, the proposed network would require 24-hour bus-only lanes, enabling infrastructure, upgraded signal priority and a fleet of new buses.

The Minns government’s election promise was for three rapid bus routes between the new Western Sydney Airport and Campbelltown, Liverpool and Penrith, as well as four local services. It has set aside $327 million in the state budget for the services, while the federal government has chipped in $100 million.

The Committee for Sydney report says the planned rapid bus links to the new international airport need to be expanded to Blacktown, Fairfield and Parramatta. It also wants stops along the rapid bus corridors to be easy for people to access by foot, bike or other bus services.

“These services need to be rapid from day one, as promised, in order to build community uptake,” it says.

A spokesperson for Transport Minister Jo Haylen said the government had already funded an industry taskforce’s key recommendation to deliver a blueprint to expand bus services based on community need, especially in western Sydney.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.