Article: Bid for bus beef-up in Knox

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From the Knox Weekly click here!

Bid for bus beef-up in Knox

Bid for bus beef-up in Knox
BY TARA MCGRATH
15 Aug, 2012 04:00 AM

MORE buses in Knox aren't just a quick fix to the city's public transport woes, they're a long-term strategy for when a rail line to Rowville is finally built.

That's according to Cr Mick Van de Vreede, who has renewed a push for the state government to commit to extra bus services in Knox.

"We're not going to stand back and accept poor services," he said.

He has called for a direct or express service from Stud Park to Ferntree Gully railway station, more express services between Stud Park and Glen Waverley station, and for an extension of the shuttle bus between Huntingdale station and Monash University to include Stud Park.

Cr Van de Vreede, also a member of the Eastern Transport Coalition, said it wasn't a resignation that the Rowville Rail may never come to fruition.

"We do expect a government to deliver Rowville rail, but we recognise that it will take eight to 10 years to deliver because of construction."

He said the buses push was not a quick fix because the buses would provide feeder services through the streets if the rail line was built.

"Rail can't go through the streets, so we would need these bus services anyway, so we don't end up with an eight-storey car park," Cr Van de Vreede said.

Public Transport Users Association outer east convener Jeremy Lunn backed Cr Van de Vreede's call for improved bus services in Knox.

"There should be buses every 10 minutes from 6am 'til midnight seven days a week along the main roads," he said.

Ferntree Gully MP Nick Wakeling said he would wait for the final stage one report of the Rowville rail study to be released before commenting.

"The draft report included recommendations to look at short and medium-term measures to improve public transport and I'm looking forward to reading the final report and and recommendations or comments in this regard."