Noosa - free buses from 15 December 2018 to 28 January 2019

[ozbob]

https://www.noosa.qld.gov.au/go-noosa



Free Buses

During the Queensland State School holidays from 15 December 2018 to 28 January 2019, Council in partnership with Sunbus and TransLink are providing free public transport for everyone in Noosa.

The free services include:

    Route 626 Tewantin to Sunrise Beach via Noosa Heads
    Route 627 Tewantin to Sunshine Beach via Noosa Heads
    Route 628 Noosa Parklands to Noosa Junction via Noosa Civic
    Route 629 Tewantin to Noosa Junction via Noosa Civic
    Route 632 Noosa to Cooran via Cooroy and Pomona
    Boreen Point-Tewantin Flexilink
    Council Cabs

This year the 064 Peregian Shuttle Service will operate between Peregian and Noosa Heads.

The Free Holiday Buses initiative aims to reduce traffic congestion at Noosa's busiest locations by making free, easy, stress-free and convenient public transport available to all residents and visitors. This initiative is funded by the Sustainable Transport Levy.

Timetables

    For bus timetable information visit TransLink or phone 13 12 30 anytime.
    Peregian 064 Shuttle bus timetable [PDF 950KB]
    Normal booking procedures apply for Council Cabs and Flexilink services.
    Route Map [PDF 915KB]

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/rdasc/status/1093041648488071169

[Stillwater]

The free Noosa buses are set to return at Easter – from 6 to 28 April 2019.

Here are some very interesting statistics:

Free buses were well patronised with over 90% of passengers either very satisfied or satisfied with their bus trip. 
Approximately 69% of survey respondents would have made their trip by car if the buses were not free.
Where applicable, 80% of survey respondents said the digital road-side information boards, showing car parking capacity in Noosa Heads helped to inform their travel choices.

Also, year on year, the take-up of public transport in Noosa Shire is increasing, as people get a feel for travelling conveniently by bus in air-conditioned comfort -- with someone else up front worrying about the congestion. Bus-only lanes are being considered too.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Noosa transport drives congestion-busting future


Holiday crowds in Noosa take to the free buses in larger numbers than ever. Picture Amber Macpherson

NOOSA is being looked at by transport authorities as congestion-busting guide to the future, according to Noosa Council, as latest figures from its traffic management trials show a five-minute saving in travel time from Noosa Hill to the Hastings St precinct.

That represents a 35 per cent time saving to this congestion hot spot, according to the Go Noosa - Christmas and Easter traffic management trials project manager Adam Britton.

He and project officer Joanna Ferris have given councillors a briefing on the latest holiday evaluations which showed a 41 per cent free bus patronage increase over Christmas/New Year holiday period and a 33 per cent gain over Easter holiday period.

Mr Britton said the Noosa trials were being mentioned at the highest level in the Department of Transport as it looked to improve bus services and other transport options.

He said the use of roadside traffic controllers probably reduced congestion in the key pinch point the most by clearing the roundabouts and stopping traffic from backing up.

All up, the free services attracted 296,633 passenger bus trips, while Noosa trialled the use of smart boards to direct service park and riders to empty parking bays in Noosa Junction before boarding shuttle buses.

The free bus service survey showed 95 per cent of survey respondents were "either very satisfied or satisfied with their bus trip".

He said better information to guide people to where the parks were would help level out parking issues.

Cr Frank Pardon said the latest trial feedback showed the junction had enough parking capacity for to meet the present peak holiday demand.

Mr Britton said the peak parking demand was "very short" and "it's only for about an hour if that that that (demand) curve gets close to capacity".

Cr Joe Jurisevic said the one figure that was "a little disappointing" was just a 2 per cent reduction in vehicle usage.

However, he said a survey of bus passengers showed 64 per cent would have driven their car without the free option.

"We would have had a significant increase in the number of vehicles on the road had there not been free buses," he said.

Cr Jurisevic said pushing more people into the free buses had the potential economic driving benefit of increasing retail patronage.

Mayor Tony Wellington warned the council not to pretend that providing alternative transport was automatically going to reduce congestion.

He said congestion was self-levelling.

"And we know that people will still use their cars, so if we take a number of cars off the road, there's a good chance that other cars will come in and fill the gap."