Alterations to northern suburban bus routes

14/10/93

Transport Minister Eric Charlton said today alterations would be made to bus routes between Scarborough, Glendalough, Stirling and the city to improve services and cut down passenger waiting times.

Changes would be introduced next month to make the transfer time much shorter for people using bus routes 423, 425 and 402 at the Stirling Station.

In addition, buses on route 400 would provide a 20 minute service, midweek, through to Glendalough with off-peak deviations to the Innaloo bus station.

Mr Charlton said buses on routes 410, 411 and 412 would terminate at Stirling Station instead of Glendalough and a new bus stop would be sited in Odin Road for the use of shoppers wishing to travel to the Innaloo shopping centre.

The adjustments were recommended in a survey by Transperth planning staff.

"The survey suggests that what is proposed is the best possible mix for this area," Mr Charlton said. "The changes will produce a much improved bus service."

Mr Charlton requested the survey following approaches from Scarborough MLA George Strickland, who received complaints from people over changes to bus movements, following the introduction of the Northern Suburbs Transit System.

Mr Strickland helped gauge public opinion in the district which contributed to the changes.

Responding to criticisms by Glendalough MLA Carmen Lawrence, Mr Charlton said Transperth did not include Mount Hawthorn residents and traders in the Innaloo survey because bus services there had not changed significantly since the introduction of new services associated with the rail interchanges.

He rejected the notion that any decline in business trading in Mount Hawthorn was due to changes to bus services.

"The route 400 service was in fact no different to the old 260 service; the number 15 route is still the same and the 402 follows the same route as the old 250 service," Mr Charlton said.

"Based on the passenger checks Transperth conducted prior to and after implementing the service alterations, this level of service should be more than sufficient to cater for demand for access to the shopping centre."

Media contact: Dean Roberts 321 7333