Vision to get city moving
Buses, park and ride in mix
NEW buses, modern shelters, a major ticketing overhaul and added school and commuter routes will transform Tasmania, Liberal Infrastructure and Transport spokesman Michael Ferguson says.
The Liberal party has promised an $81.5m regeneration of the state’s public transport service if re-elected on May 1.
The four-year commitment would include $20m towards extra school buses and extra commuter buses on popular routes and another $20m towards park and ride facilities in Hobart’s northern suburbs, south of Rokeby, Sorell and the southern beaches area.
“In particular, we will introduce new buses dedicated to increasing capacity from Kingston to the city, integrating with our new park and ride facilities at Huntingfield and Firthside,” Mr Ferguson said.
The announcement comes after months of lobbying from the community and Tasmania’s peak motoring body, RACT, to allocate Hobart City Deal funds towards a park and ride facility at Huntingfield.
Traffic congestion on the Southern Outlet continues to cause problems for commuters from the Huon Valley, Kingborough and Hobart regions.
Mr Ferguson said the Liberals would also allocate $10m towards rebuilding the state’s bus stops into “comfortable, modern shelters to protect commuters from the weather” and encourage public transport use.
He said a $31.5m ticketing system would operate across all public transport platforms – including ferries – and offer real-time information.
“This will provide commuters with a seamless journey and ensure a fully integrated, intelligent transport solution for users and providers of public transport in Tasmania,” Mr Ferguson said.
“This will provide a range of potential benefits, including fare payment by credit card, phone or wearable smart devices.
“It will make it easier to transfer between services and operators, and it will facilitate innovative and tailored fares and incentivise travel.”
Mr Ferguson hoped the package would encourage more Tasmanians to opt for public transport and in turn ease traffic congestion.
The package follows Labor’s recent announcement of a 10- year infrastructure transport plan, which would offer $25m to a northern suburbs passenger rail as well as urban renewal development, and a two-year cycleway infrastructure revamp worth $15m.
The Liberal party’s $81.5m plan would complement the new ferry which recently joined the Bruny Island service fleet and the announcement of a free cross-Derwent ferry connecting Hobart with the Eastern shore.