Whittlesea - Public Transport Victoria

Summary Reportfor Whittlesea BusService Reviewwww.transport.vic.gov.au/buses

IntroductionLocal bus services are a vital link in the public transport network,providing for local travel needs and delivering connections tothe emerging cross-town bus network and the rail network.As part of the Victorian Government’s Meeting Our TransportChallenges action plan, a program of 16 geographically basedbus reviews are being conducted across the metropolitan area.The bus reviews aim to assess the key restraints of thecurrent network, such as route design, hours of operation,service frequency, connectivity, geographical coverage andfunctionality. Following this assessment, a revised network willbe proposed in an attempt to better meet the community’sneeds in an effective and efficient manner.The project methodology for the bus review wasbased on:• A detailed understanding of the current demographic andsocio-economic conditions in the bus review area• A technical appraisal of the bus routes currently provided,and an analysis of their respective strengths, weaknessesand opportunities for improvement• A high degree of involvement and cooperation with keyindustry and community stakeholdersWhittlesea Bus Service ReviewThe Whittlesea Bus Service Review was undertaken by Booz& Company, a leading transport planning services company,which has an extensive background in the area of bus servicesplanning both in Melbourne and internationally.A total of 16 local bus services were included in the review,which cover the suburbs of Epping, Thomastown, Bundoora,Mill Park, Mernda, Doreen, South Morang, Whittlesea and Lalor.Consultation processStakeholder consultation provided a major input into the busservice review, ensuring that the issues, concerns, commentsand recommendations of bus users, Bus AssociationVictoria, VicRoads, Whittlesea City Council, bus operators,representatives from local schools and universities, localMembers of Parliament, community representatives andmembers of the community were canvassed, discussed,collated and, where appropriate, incorporated into the finalbus review recommendations.Stakeholder consultation was undertaken through thefollowing methods:• Discussions with local bus operators, local councils andVicRoads• Community workshops• Written submissionsTwo rounds of community workshops, being four workshops intotal, were convened and attended by representatives from thelocal community. At the first round of workshops participantswere given an opportunity to raise both high level andspecific issues concerning bus services in the area. Duringthe second round of workshops an overview of the proposedimprovements was presented. Participants were given anopportunity to comment on the proposals and to provide anyadditional feedback.Submissions were received during the consultation phase.These were considered and, where appropriate, incorporatedinto the final bus review recommendations.Main issues identifiedThe most commonly raised general issues were:• Limited span of hours and days of operation• The need for increased frequency of bus services• The need to expand geographical coverage of the busnetwork• Accessibility of bus stops and terminals, includingprovision of information, and stop/interchangeinfrastructureOther frequently raised issues included:• Traffic management issues, such as road network, trafficcongestion, delays and access constraints• Poor connections and coordination between train and bus• Newer estates may have road networks that do notsupport bus operations, for example, some estates arephysically ‘fenced off’ from main roads and it may beoperationally impractical to access these areas• Pedestrian access – long walking distances alongaccessible routes indicates a need for interconnectingfootpaths between roads to reduce this distanceProposed network plan recommendationsThe proposed bus network changes resulted from theconsultation process as well as a technical assessment of thecurrent bus network and the opportunities for improvement.Proposed route structure changes have been developed inresponse to the following principles:• Provide improved access to key activity centres• Provide bus routes that connect local facilities andcommunities• Provide access to key transport interchanges• Provide bus routes within 400m of most households• Ensure new and developing areas are adequately servedby the bus network

• Provide user friendly bus routes, that are direct, logical,intuitive and efficient• Provide a consistent network with minimal route variationsand loopsRecommendations include:• Reduce unnecessary route overlaps or complications toallow improved service legibility and free up resources toimprove service levels• Expand bus services into the growth areas of EppingNorth, South Morang, Mernda, Doreen and the UniversityHill development, for example:• Split Route 566 (Northland - Greensborough - Lalor)into two distinct services at Greensborough and adda third local route to Lalor• Re-align Route 564 (Epping - Bundoora RMIT) toinclude Plenty Valley Town Centre/South Morang• Streamline routes and improve overall network directness,particularly on major routesThe proposed bus network has been developed so that itcomplements and supports the ongoing implementation of theSmartBus network.Timetable RecommendationsThe review recommends a series of improvements totimetables:• All key routes in the study area to meet Meeting OurTransport Challenges minimum service standards forservice frequency and hours of operation. (Hourly servicebetween 6am-9pm Monday-Friday, 8am-9pm Saturdayand 9am-9pm Sunday)• Improve connectivity across the network, with routes timedto encourage rail and bus connections• Improve “memory headways” – where the gap betweenbus services is consistent so that it is easily remembered(eg. services at 60, 30, 20, 15 or 10 minute frequencies)• With the off-peak train frequency in the review area being20 minutes, bus services planned for train connectionsshould operate at either 60 or 20 minute frequencies• Where train connections are not critical, bus servicefrequency should be between 60 and 30 minutesTraffic and infrastructure recommendationsTraffic issues within the bus review area were raised throughoutthe consultation process highlighting the importance of localcouncils and VicRoads to provide suitable road infrastructurewhich supports bus services. Inappropriate traffic managementtreatments can have major impacts on the effectiveness andaccessibility of public transport services provided by buses.The review recommends:• A range of on-road network improvements to infrastructureand access such as upgrading of roads, increases inlanes, and the reduction of congestion on Camp Road andPlenty Road during peak periods, to be implemented toenhance priority and improve journey times for buses• Once planned road infrastructure upgrades arecompleted, further investigation should be carried out intothe potential of new transport connections in Epping, MillPark Lakes and Mernda, as well as linking Yan Yean andMerndaNext stepsThe implementation strategy for the recommendations will bedependant on a number of issues:• The input and cooperation of key stakeholder groups• The resolution of operational issues• The resolution of any bus operator contractual issues thatmay arise• The prioritisation of multiple recommendations arisingfrom concurrent bus reviews occurring throughout themetropolitan area• The development of a further funding program• The need to align with other transport plans and strategiesStage 1 – Upgrades to local bus services, alreadyintroduced as part of the review• Routes 554 and 557 (Thomastown circular services)– Routes restructured to provide better coverage andconsistent operation. Operating hours extended to 9pmseven days a week. Commenced 14 July 2008.• Route 562 (Humevale - Whittlesea - Greensborough) –Significant increase in the number of services on Sundaysand public holidays. Commenced 13 April 2008.• Route 564 (Epping - Bundoora RMIT) – Operating hoursextended to 9pm seven days a week. Commenced 7 April2008.• Route 571 (South Morang - Epping - Roxburgh ParkStation) – Saturday operating frequency upgraded onpart of the route between Epping and Roxburgh Park,with operating hours extended to 9pm. New Sundayservice also introduced for the first time, operating to 9pm.Commenced 9 November 2008.• Route 572 (Mill Park Lakes - Bundoora RMIT) – Operatinghours extended to 9pm seven days a week. Commenced7 April 2008.

• Route 577 (Mill Park Lakes - Epping Plaza) – Weekdayoperating frequency upgraded to 30 minutes and routemarginally extended into Mill Park Lakes. Commenced 14July 2008.Stage 2 – Action Plan for upgrades to local busservices, to commence by April 2009• Route 575 (Thomastown - Epping North) – Extend routefurther into the developing areas of Epping North (AuroraEstate) with an improved operating frequency, extendedhours of operation to 9pm seven days a week and aSunday service for the first time. To commence by March2009.• Route 572 (Bundoora RMIT - Mill Park Lakes) – Extendroute north into the developing areas of Mill Park Lakes,Mernda and Doreen with service to operate to 9pm sevendays a week. To commence on 20 April 2009.• Route 520 (Yan Yean - Greensborough) – To assistresidents in the developing areas of Doreen, includingLaurimar Estate, significant upgrading of servicefrequency and extended hours of operation on weekdays,with Saturday and Sunday service for the first time. Tocommence on 20 April 2009.Note: The new timetables for Routes 572 and 520 will be combined atDoreen (Laurimar Estate) to allow residents to travel in both directionswithout having to change buses.Recent upgrades to local bus services in thereview area• Route 555 (Epping – Northland via High Street) –Operating hours extended to 9pm seven days a week.Commenced 4 June 2007.• Route 556 (Epping – Northland via Dalton Road) –Operating hours extended to 9pm seven days a week.Commenced 4 June 2007.• Route 563 (Greensborough – Northland) – Operatinghours extended to 9pm seven days a week. Commenced2 October 2006.• Route 566 (Lalor – Greensborough – Northland) –Operating hours extended to 9pm seven days a week.Commenced 4 June 2007.• Route 571 (South Morang – Epping - Roxburgh ParkStation) – Amalgamated with Route 571A (which has beenwithdrawn) and extended to Roxburgh Park with extraservices on weekdays and Saturdays to complement thenew rail line extension from Broadmeadows to Craigieburn.Commenced 1 October 2007.• Route 575 (Thomastown – Epping North) – A new servicecovering the developing areas of West Lalor and Haystonwhich has since been extended into the expanding AuroraEstate. Commenced 27 February 2006.• Route 577 (Mill Park Lakes - Epping Plaza) – operatinghours extended to 9pm seven days a week. Commenced4 September 2006.Recent infrastructure upgrades to local bus stopsin the review area• Epping Railway Station – construction of 11 new bus bayscomplemented by 11 new bus shelters• New indented Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)compliant bus bays at the following locations:- In Findon Road at Glendale Avenue- In Findon Road at Devora Avenue- In Findon Road at Trafford Way- In Findon Road at Gloucester Way- In Findon Road near Boral Quarry access road- In The Lakes Boulevard at Jardier Terrace- In The Lakes Boulevard at Capital Way- In The Lakes Boulevard at Trinity Way- In Riverside Drive at Gorge Road- In Epping Road at Findon Road• Installation of new bus shelters at the following locations:- In The Lakes Boulevard at Jardier Terrace- In The Lakes Boulevard at Capital Way- In The Lakes Boulevard at Trinity Way- In Findon Road at Devora Avenue- In Findon Road at Trafford Way- In Findon Road at Gloucester Way- In Findon Road near Boral Quarry access roadDOT3865/08For more information about the Metropoltian Bus Service Reviews, contact the Department of Transport on (03) 9655 6000 orvisit www.transport.vic.gov.au/buses