ACT Public Transport Strategic Network Plan: 5 New Interchanges in 5 Years

[Buzz Killington]

Five new or relocated interchanges are recommended by this plan. All should completed in the next five years. These interchanges are at strategic connection points in the network, and the efficiency of the network would be reduced without them. With the possible exception of City West, none are expensive off-street facilities comparable to the existing major interchanges.

City West Interchange is currently on a temporary site and needs a permanent one. City West has an important function as an access point to the Australian National University and the new dense development surrounding it. Significant capacity is also needed for end-of-line driver-break functions for the many lines ending in the city, which cannot be accommodated at the main City
Interchange in Alinga Street.

Gungahlin Interchange should be in the vicinity of Gozzard Street and Anthony Rolfe Avenue. This site needs to be identified and protected soon before development limits options any further.
   
Dickson Interchange is a recommended new facility located on-street in Challis Street on the west side of Dickson. This interchange allows inner North Canberra and Bruce routes to connect with the Gungahlin-City Rapid, for travel between these areas and Gungahlin.

Erindale Interchange is crucial to providing direct and efficient City access for Tuggeranong area suburbs. It can be developed using the existing bus zones on the east side of the shopping centre.

Barton Interchange is a high-amenity on-street stop on National Circuit or possibly Macquarie Street. It should be located between Kings and Brisbane Avenues, so that buses from Russell to Kingston can service it efficiently without deviation.

Other long-term infrastructure needs will include:

A Major Stops program , to provide a civilised waiting experience and to support the branding of the Rapid and Frequent Local networks.
   
New Rapid stops along Adelaide Avenue and Yarra Glen to provide access to adjacent activity centres.

[Buzz Killington]

So at this stage my first thought about five new interchanges is "....and?"

Are these just going to be two adshels stuck together, with a nice green sign on the side? Will services be improved through these areas? Will layover space be provided at the interchanges or nearby for services commencing there?

As for rapid stops along Adelaide and Yarra, that's going to make the rapid service a little less Rapid.

[lukeo25]

mawson would be a good place for a interchange, but stops along adelaide ave and yarra glen it would slow down services and cause delays unless they built stops at strategic spots on those stretches of road

[Irisbus Rider]

Nah, it could efinately work, how about this;
RedEx: Woden, Albert Hall, London Cct, City.
Intertown: All other stops, via Russell/Barton.

I agree with your skepticism Buzz, now they've built the temporary stops in Belconnen, they're realised how easy it is to bagde something "Interchange". Bring it on though, City West definately needs a bit of work.

[Buzz Killington]

What's wrong with City West? plenty of layover space, a supermarket close by, shelters..

Aside from the fact that it's a prime piece of inner city real estate. It'd be worth millions.

[Irisbus Rider]

Well, the 2 and 3 go past it and do not service it, IMHO, that's a bit of a problem. The layout needs to become a bit more accessible for buses so it can be easy used. At the moment, it's a tad of a shambles, waiting at the traffic light for 3+ minutes doesn't usually help.

[Buzz Killington]

There's nothing wrong with the layout IMO, and the light sequence and timings can be changed fairly easily.

[Irisbus Rider]

The southbound 3 cannot get in there though, that's a slight difficulty.

[Buzz Killington]

Small variation to the route would fix that.

[Bus 400]

Barton Interchange is a high-amenity on-street stop on National Circuit or possibly Macquarie Street. It should be located between Kings and Brisbane Avenues, so that buses from Russell to Kingston can service it efficiently without deviation.

The bus stop on National Circuit is already called Barton Interchange, so what is different? Also Routes 2, 3 & 80 were altered to go through Barton Interchange.

[Barry Drive]

Nah, it could definately work, how about this;
RedEx: Woden, Albert Hall, London Cct, City.
Intertown: All other stops, via Russell/Barton.

Try the other way around: RedEx is supposed to go via Russell/Barton.

Having the Intertown stop on Adelaide Ave and/or Yarra Glen is not a good idea. Better to spend the money on extending the southbound Bus Lane (and making it a Bus Lane again). Either that or designate some services as non-stop and others as 'stopping all stations' like they do with trains. Passengers will still get on the wrong one and complain, but at least those who want to go directly to/from Woden will still be able to.

[Buzz Killington]

The bus stop on National Circuit is already called Barton Interchange

Since when?

[Bus 400]

No idea, but the bollard stops call it Barton Interchange & over the radio they tell drivers "blah blah blah Barton Interchange"

[Irisbus Rider]

Try the other way around: RedEx is supposed to go via Russell/Barton.

I was working on the basis of making the Express a true express, and make the all stops deviate.