The commitment from the Allan Labor government " target="_blank" aria-invalid="true" rel="noopener">https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/works-powering-ahead-melton-line-upgrade) for the long-anticipated Melton electrification is welcome, however buses must be in the planning process.
Too often buses are left unreformed for years after major infrastructure changes, if at all. A current example is the proposed rerouting of buses 496 and 498 to be more direct to Laverton station " target="_blank" aria-invalid="true" rel="noopener">https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/bus-bonanza) via the "new" Maher Road bridge over the railway line. This bridge was built in 2019, meaning it took up to 8 years for the bus network to reflect reality on the ground.
This is of course not the first time that the bus network has lagged behind infrastructure.
In Ginifer and St Albans the bus network is layed out to avoid congested peak hour level crossings. Except of course those have been removed by the LXRP a decade ago. This means that whilst cars enjoy the benefits of the LXRP, the level crossings still exist as "phantom level crossings" just for buses.
Of of the most well used bus stations in suburban Melbourne, most have large bus interchanges with relatively frequent routes, such as Box Hill, Oakleigh, Clayton , Bentleigh and Glen Waverley. When the car parks fill up, buses continue to bring passengers in all across the day.
Even in the west, the very busy Tarneit station with over 1 million passenger boardings a year has a large bus interchange. This is why it is vital that planning for the Melton line electrification includes bus planning.
When the first electric trains roll on to Melton, there must be a fast, frequent and connected bus network to provide access for residents of Melbourne's booming west, not just the few that live within walking distance of a station and those who got early enough in the morning to get a car parking spot.
"If the Melton line is electrified in 2033, we can't wait until 2043 for a frequent bus network" says Sustainable Cities spokesperson Adam Bain. "Too often infrastructure planning and service planning are siloed apart from each other on Victoria, in contrast to international best practice".
In addition to bus planning, Sustainable Cities urges the government to fast forward the vital Mount Atkinson and Thornhill Park railway stations , long advocated for by the community. These stations will provide additional much needed coverage, and can be opened before electrification is complete.
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