Media Release: Shane Rattenbury MLA
Minister for Territory and Municipal Services, Shane Rattenbury, today launched the completed $10.5m Belconnen to City transitway.
The project has seen the construction of a new dedicated bus lane on Barry Drive from Clunies Ross Street through to Kingsley Street in the City; a new bus station at City West servicing the new Australian National University (ANU) Exchange development with improved bus connections and access; on and off-road cycling facilities along Barry Drive; and new pedestrian facilities.
“The Belconnen to City corridor on Barry Drive is one of the busiest bus commuter routes in Canberra connecting people to Civic as well as the University of Canberra, CIT Bruce Campus, Calvary Hospital and the ANU,” Mr Rattenbury said.
“The completion of the transitway will improve public transport for people travelling between Belconnen and the City by cutting the journey time, particularly during peak periods.
“Surveys undertaken in 2011 during the morning peak period along Barry Drive show that 1800 people were being moved in 31 buses along the corridor between 7.45 am and 9.15 am. This made up around 25% of all people travelling during that period and that figure is only expected to increase over time.
“Buses will now connect into the new bus station at ANU Exchange. The design splits outbound and inbound platforms into two locations. The inbound platform will be located adjacent to the ANU’s two new student accommodation buildings, while the outbound platform is located adjacent Latin American Plaza on Marcus Clarke Street.
“This will significantly improve bus access to the ANU and the ever expanding City West which in recent years has becoming increasingly vibrant with street frontage cafes and commercial businesses.”
The new signalised intersection at the corner of Marcus Clarke Street and Rudd Street will allow buses to access the City West bus station and a second right-hand turn lane from Barry Drive into Clunies Ross Street to improve capacity and safety at this intersection.
“The completion of the Belconnen to City transitway project significantly improves sustainable transport options on this critical corridor. It will allow for quicker and safer trips into the city for bus users and cyclists and add to the ongoing development of City West,” Mr Rattenbury said.
Buses will be using the new transit lane from Saturday 16 March 2013. Some minor works will continue for the next few weeks on Barry Drive to complete the widening works.
This page was last updated on 15 March 2013
