The ACT government has implied they aim to build one stage of light rail each decade. Assuming that happens, 20 years from now, stage 2a/b and stage 3 (Belconnen to Airport) will be completed. On that assumption, how will the bus network adapt to the completion of those light rail stages?
Presumably, many Rapid bus services will be rendered useless - the Belconnen-City leg of the R2, nearly all of the R3 except the suburban Belconnen parts, all of the R4 except from Woden to Tuggeranong, and the City-Woden leg of the R5. That really only leaves the R6, R7, R8, R9, and R10 fully intact. And one could even argue that the R7 and R10 may not be left fully intact, given that stage 2b could theoretically take passengers as far as Adelaide Ave/Kent St, where current R7 and R10 services diverge to Cotter Rd, which means said Rapids could potentially be shortened if an interchange were built to accomodate stage 2b transfers to the R7/10 at the Adelaide Ave/Kent St light rail stop.
With the freeing up of many bus resources, then, how will those buses be used instead? What routes do you think TC will contemplate creating or expanding?
There's nothing stopping the R7/10 combining & running upto William Hovell Drive to the City. The only stop missed would be at North Westo Park & Ride.
In 20 years, Gungahlin will complete Kenny. Molonglo will be nearly complete. This will be splitting of the 66 & atleast a route through Sulman.
The Strathnairn region would have expanded & will need new routes.
Word of Lanyon Valley expanding south. Also with infill increasing, all routes will need frequency boost.
All of this is pending favourable economical conditions.
Looking back at 2019, the resources that are freed up can be used to improve frequencies on local feeder routes.
A new rapid will open through Molonglo to Belconnen maybe finally a rapid or two for Gungahlin (actual Gungahlin suburbs that is)?
I hope they introduce a direct rapid from Tuggeranong to city so south Tuggeranong and Lanyon patrons don't have 2 interchanges to get to the city or Barton.
I'd also hope with some more resources they can trial a service to oaks estate. Just my thoughts...
Quote from: Northside on July 23, 2025, 08:12:16 PMA new rapid will open through Molonglo to Belconnen maybe finally a rapid or two for Gungahlin (actual Gungahlin suburbs that is)?
Hopefully. There should be another rapid service in the Gungahlin region, maybe to Casey or somewhere like that is introduced within the next 20 years. Not sure where from though.
Here's a list of changes and new routes I think will go ahead in the next 20 years.
- The Ginninderry region will get a rapid service to the City, this will likely happen within the next 5-10 years since it was an election promise
- Ginninderry will get several new bus routes added as it's population grows, I'd expect around 4-5 routes in total once complete
- Jacka and Kenny in Gungahlin will get bus services, I reckon the Gungahlin bus routes will be remapped a bit and at least 1 new route will be added to Gungahlin in order to service those suburbs
- The Molonglo region will see the most significant growth over the next 20 years. As mentioned by Northside a new Molonglo to Belconnen rapid will be introduced at some point. I also expect to see many new bus services in the planned suburbs of Sulman, Bandler and Molonglo, and the 66 will likely be split as well. Not to mention there are some parts of Whitlam and Denman Prospect intended to have a bus service, but don't yet. I think it's also likely we see a Woden-Molonglo rapid service, or at least a form of direct service
- I'd also like to see a rapid route from Tuggeranong to Majura Park and the airport be introduced at some point. This service would be a bit like the old 786 from Network 12. Currently, it takes at least 3 buses to get to the Airport from the Tuggeranong suburbs, which is way too long to make it an attractive option for commuters
That's all I think will and should happen in the next 20 years, apart from what's already been mentioned regarding the removal of several rapid services due to Light Rail. At this stage, I don't see Stage 3 of the light rail being completed (if it ever goes ahead) until the mid-2040s/early-2050s, which is a very long way off.
I think it is a big ask to even try to predict the 20 years hence, ie 2045, situation. Go back to 2005 and what we knew then. Back then what would have been imagined for 2025? It is very doubtful that such an exercise in 2005 would be within a bull's roar of the actual 2025.
On the other hand, gazing into the fortune teller's ball is entertaining.
The last 20 years they've been pushing for streamlined services (over convenience, cuz who cares about that...) and although not stated but very obvious, a complete disregard for less-able patrons. I won't be surprised if they continue trying to push that for the next 20 years too.
Ignoring that however, I would like to see:
An all-day/week Belconnen <> Tuggeranong route like the 705 but not the crap where it goes via weston. The whole point of that 'Xpresso' was that it was suppose to be faster than the 300 series, but making it go via weston made it take just as long as the 300... Once we get the LRV's in for Woden <> City too (assuming the rapids we got now get scrapped), the extra time it's going to take to get between those locations (because of all the stopping and extended travel via the long way around Parliament house) is going to make the time from Tug to Bel worse.
Gungahlin <> Woden or Tuggeranong
Airport/Fyshwick <> Woden/Weston or Tuggeranong or fix the 902 so that it does at least a part of Fyshwick, then Chisholm and Tuggeranong. The fact that Hume is weekdays only yet they still put the times for weekends on the timetables is such crap, can they not make their minds up... and 90 minute frequency, talk about confusing. You have to feel bad for the east-Narrabundah peeps who would use this route but can't - instead they have to endure sitting on a bus for an hour just to have to get another bus or walk 5 times as far to get a rapid that doesn't actually have stops nearby.
Scrapping loop services. They may look good on paper, but in reality they're horrific (especially on weekends).
Quote from: Sylvan Loves Buses on July 25, 2025, 03:21:50 PMThe fact that Hume is weekdays only yet they still put the times for weekends on the timetables is such crap, can they not make their minds up...
Scrapping loop services. They may look good on paper, but in reality they're horrific (especially on weekends).
What do you mean about Hume? There are businesses there that are open seven days, and Route 902 travels there seven days.
What is "horrific" about loop services?