New bus network for the Sunshine Coast

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/seq-bus-network-review-2013/sunshine-coast

Our plan - a new bus network for the Sunshine Coast

Our future direction for the Sunshine Coast is to develop a series of high frequency corridors between key centres, to support local travel patterns. This new network will provide the following key benefits:
A simpler, more direct network design with more frequent services where they're needed most

The new Maroochydore bus station will become a world class hub for public transport on the coast

Better connections between bus and train services

Better uni services

Services in new places for the first time

Better late night services

This is an exciting time for public transport on the Sunshine Coast. Get on board!

More --> http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/seq-bus-network-review-2013/sunshine-coast

[Arnz]

There's that "World Clarse" phrase again when it comes to referring to a bus station.

Interestingly, for those coverage routes that only operate on a hourly frequency that go through the residential areas, "Some AM and PM services will also be removed to better match passenger demand", after looking at the coverage hours for those routes, which now have either later starts and early finish times, that meant removing the "early morning" (before 7am) and "late evening" (after 6pm) services similar to when they removed the late night 607/636 last year due to little to no patronage (and those late night 607/636 services were partially subsidised by the Uni that year).

On a positive note, Route 600 would be the first route out of the SEQ bus review to get a better than 15 min off-peak service, up to every 12 mins.  As much as that would benefit me from a local perspective, it is however disappointing that the spare buses put to the Route 600 increase (from the deletions of the 601 and 613) could've been better used upgrading Route 620 from every 30 minutes to every 15 mins during the day, as from ancedotal evidence, a number of those buses at certain times of the day such as School pick-up hours are at seated capacity with a few standees.  Route 616 from ancedotal evidence is also another busy route at certain times of the day carrying University Students, School Students and Pensioners in the Buderim area between Uni, Buderim and Maroochydore.

It is also good to see the gaps on the 605/615 bus to rail timetable being filled, along with steam-ironing the 605 and terminating/hubbing it into Caloundra to improve reliability and feeding into the high-frequency route 600 service.

Even with the number of buses at both TAG depots (Marcoola and Caloundra), along with the upcoming order of 10 extra buses coming in late August/Early September, there would still be enough spares to operate at least a 20 minute Route 620 frequency between Maroochydore and Noosa, along with possibly upgrading the 616 from every 30 mins to every 15-20mins during the day.

[Stillwater]

More incentive to catch the bus on the Sunshine Coast:

The Sunshine Coast Daily today reports that the SC Council is seriously considering the introduction of car parking fees at Maroochydore.  In this way, it is argued, visitors who bring their cars to the Coast will pay for parking, including construction of a multi-story car park.  The parking solutions won't be paid for exclusively by local ratepayers to be enjoyed free by visitors who motor to the Coast.

On page 10, a story about an $81 million interchange on the Bruce Highway to give fast access to Beerwah from Caloundra and (eventually) South Caloundra.  Mal Brough, federal member for Fisher, is quoted as saying that some commuters who currently drive to Landsborough and park their car to catch the train will find it more convenient to travel to Beerwah, via the highway flyover.