La Trobe University has welcomed the State Government's announcement of additional bus services improving access to campus.
The extra services for the 301, 551 and 561 were announced by the Government ahead of the 2026-27 Budget.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Theo Farrell also welcomed additional services for the Bendigo and Shepparton community where La Trobe also has campuses, with details still to come.
"With the current cost-of-living challenges, extra public transport helps a future nurse or teacher to remain at University so that they can complete their degree and meet our skills needs," Professor Farrell said.
Almost 70 per cent of La Trobe students currently drive to the University's Melbourne campus in Bundoora. Only 20 per cent regularly use public transport and around 10 per cent use active transport.
"A real opportunity exists to enhance connectivity and reduce the cost-of-living burden by getting more students on to public transport," Professor Farrell said. "The key to this change is frequency of service."
The Government's long-term vision is for the Suburban Rail Loop to connect with La Trobe's Bundoora campus.
"In the short and medium term, we welcome additional services that will enable more students to reach the University via public transport and active transport," Professor Farrell said.
"We look forward to further engagement with Government to develop plans to grow connectivity and public transport usage in the short, medium and long-term."
