June 2005 Rail and Road - Rail, Tram and Bus Union of NSW

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*Rail and Road JUNE 05 7/9/05 12:03 PM Page 6RTBU BUS TEAM DELIVERS ON PROMISEOF MORE CBD BUS LANESAs part of their election platform RTBU Bus Division President, Peter Jenkins andSecretary, Raul Baonza promised to work to increase the number of bus lanes and providebetter access for bus drivers across Sydney. The recent announcement by the Governmentto provide more bus lanes in Sydney’s CBD demonstrates the RTBU Bus Division team isgetting on with the job and delivering on their election commitments for all Bus Drivers.GETTING ON WITH THEJOB OF GETTINGPRIORITY ACCESS FORBUS DRIVERS ACROSSNEW SOUTH WALESThe RTBU Bus Division welcomedthe Government’s announcement onWednesday 22 June 2005 to increasebus priority in the Sydney CBD. TheRTBU believes this initiative will notonly improve bus access to the CBDand reduce travelling time forcommuters but at the same time it willhelp to reduce the level of stress andfrustration experienced by drivers6who are required to negotiate theCBD quagmire every day.Secretary Raul Baonza said of theGovernment’s plan, “This initiativewill address many of the bottle necksthat drivers and passengers constantlycomplain about in the CBD. It will bea great relief to drivers thatbottlenecks around Druitt Street andthe Anzac Bridge will finally beaddressed. The QVB area has been asource of significant complaint bydrivers and we welcome any actionthat will reduce CBD trafficcongestion.”RTBU Bus Division President Peter Jenkins and SecretaryRaul Baonza, with workplace delegate Ron Landi and Councillor Alice Murphy,Mayor of Liechhardt address a meeting at Leichhardt Depot on the needfor a dedicated bus lane on Victoria Road.The RTBU Bus Division made buslanes priority and better access apriority issue in their 2002 electioncampaign. Over recent months theRTBU Bus Division has not only beenworking on the CBD issue but hasalso been running a campaign to havethe RTA provide a dedicated bus laneon Victoria Road.The RTBU has also welcomed theextension of bus lane operating hoursfrom 6:00am – 8:00pm on weekdaysand the provision of bus laneenforcement cameras.RTBU Bus Division President, PeterJenkins, stated to the media,“Although it may take time for peopleto get used to the extension of buslane operating hours it is probably themost important aspect of the wholeplan as it provides drivers andcommuters with an unimpeded runthrough the city. I acknowledge therewill be some interest groups who willoppose this aspect of the plan;however, we do not believe this willhave a negative impact on localbusinesses. To increase the patronageon public transport it has to becomemore attractive and able to get peopleto where they want to go quicklyincluding shopping trips. Theextension of bus lane operating hoursis fundamental to making thishappen.”Rail and Road - June 2005
*Rail and Road JUNE 05 7/9/05 12:03 PM Page 7The RTBU Bus Division will be usingevery chance they have to promote theneed to have the operating hours ofbus lanes extended. The RTBU BusDivision believe it is a matter ofeducating the business communitythat this bus priority plan is importantand needs to happen and it will also bea benefit to the business community.The RTBU Bus Division believes theproposed trial of off-bus-only ticketsales in the Northern Beaches areawill be a resounding success and willdefinitely speed up travelling timesfor passengers. This initiative willalso reduce the amount of cash that ishandled by our members.The RTBU Bus Division supports theproposed trial and hopefully anextension of the trial would beimplemented through out the StateTransit Bus contract areas.THE CBD BUS PLANThe key elements of the bus plan to beintroduced in the lead up to andfollowing the opening of the CrossCity Tunnel include:■ New bus lanes on Druitt,Liverpool, Park, Elizabethand Chalmers streets;■ Druitt St to serve as primaryinbound and outbound buscorridor between the CBDand the Anzac Bridge,requiring:• Bus crossover on theWestern Distributor to DruittSt ramp• Bus lanes on Druitt St andthe Western DistributorRTBU member and Ryde Depot Committee member William Wilson assistingin the recent bus lane campaign• Bus-only link on Druitt Stbetween Kent and Clarencestreets• Bus-only right turn fromGeorge St southbound intoDruitt St.■ Extending CBD bus lanesoperating hours from6:00AM to 8:00PM onweekdays (excluding thosealready operating 24-hoursa-day);■ Installing new bus laneenforcement camerasacross the CBD;■ A trial of off-bus-only ticketsales at some locations tospeed up boarding times,further reducing bus traveltimes; and■ Programs to improvepassenger movements atbusy locations includinguniversities, hospitals,Moore Park and Fox Studios.■ A Premier’s Business Forumlater this year to discussfurther ideas for improvingCBD access for people andgoods, including:• Commencing major retailhours after the morning peak(eg, 10:00am to 7:00pm);• Limiting delivery hours tooutside peak periods;• Further priority measuressuch as new bus lanes,changes to on-street parkingand a ‘Transit Mall’ in GeorgeStreet between Bridge andMarket Streets.If you would like moreinformation about the CBDBus Priority Plan or theCampaign to have a bus laneon Victoria Road do nothesitate to contact the RTBUBus Division Office on (02)9319 7277.Rail and Road - June 2005 7
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June 2005 Rail and Road - Rail, Tram and Bus Union of NSW

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