Brimbank Council is again calling on the Victorian Government to upgrade bus services in Melbourne’s west after university research identified inefficiencies and recommended improvements.
A recent briefing paper from the University of Melbourne highlighted urgent upgrades that were needed to bus services to significantly improve access to regular, reliable public transport for people across the region.
Their review of existing services considered what could be achieved if the bus network were to be re-routed to provide more direct and frequent services.
This new approach would replace the meandering routes that currently exist and means:
- capital investment would be required to connect roads and span some of the region’s natural transport barriers such as the Maribyrnong River valley and Kororoit Creek
- ongoing operational costs would be comparable to the previous bus services while providing an overall better system.
Council met with one of the researchers to discuss the work in greater detail and to understand how these improvements could support Council’s broad policy agenda to transform Brimbank and address climate emergency and social justice.
“Thank you to the University of Melbourne for this important review of bus services that highlights urgent upgrades needed in in Melbourne’s west,” Brimbank Mayor Cr Jasmine Nguyen said.
“The research identified a gap between the bus services in this region and other parts of Melbourne and how inefficiencies were not providing good value for money for the State Government.
“Advocating for access to reliable, regular public transport is one way Council can help to improve social inequality and address climate emergency by promoting an environmentally-friendly alternative to car travel.”
The research findings align with Council’s Transport Priorities Paper which seeks reforms to the metropolitan bus network to significantly improve regional connections to areas such as the Sunshine Priority Precinct.
Council emphasised in their paper the importance of ensuring that the region’s public transport offering remains accessible to all, and for those who are unable to walk a longer distance to access routes, that possible on-demand services are provided.
Brimbank Council supports the Better Buses in Melbourne’s West campaign lobbying the Victorian Government.
