Ministerial Statement: GARDENING GURUS GREEN NEW BUS INTERCHANGE

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Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
18/09/2008

GARDENING GURUS GREEN NEW BUS INTERCHANGE

Transport Minister John Mickel today joins a group of young gardeners to add a final green touch to the new bus interchange at Mitchelton train station.

Mr Mickel and the year six gardeners from Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Primary School will be doing their bit to replace trees that were removed to make way for the new car park.

"I thank our gardening gurus from Our Lady of Dolours Catholic Primary School for making Mitchelton train station and bus interchange a greener space," he said.

The new, secure 72-bay car park off Kedron Avenue is just one feature of the revamped public transport precinct. The $2.7 million upgrade also includes :
? new seating
? waiting shelters
? better signage
? bike lockers
? a "kiss 'n' ride" facility for passenger set-down and pick-up
? additional lighting and security cameras.

Importantly, better public transport services have stemmed from the open ing of the new interchange.

"The bus interchange had provided more choice and opportunity for residents and commuters by co-ordinating bus and rail services at one convenient location," Mr Mickel said.

"Mitchelton station is a busy public transport node and commuters will be better off with the integrated bus and rail services."

Mr Mickel said since the bus interchange became operational, bus services for Ferny Grove, Arana Hills, Grovely and Ferny Hills had been boosted to include new weekend and evening bus services.

Since the Mitchelton bus interchange became operational last month, routes 397 and 398 from Ferny Grove to Brookside provide weekend and evening bus services for the first time for residents of Ferny Grove, Arana Hills, Grovely and Ferny Hills.

"Among other service improvements is a new peak hour only service - route 396 - which provides a fast and direct trip from Ferny Hills to Mitchelton station, integrating with peak hour trains," Mr Mickel said.

For further information about services, please visit www.translink.com.au or call 13 12 30, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Thursday 18 September 2008

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