Released 04/07/2016
Joint media release by Andrew Barr and Meegan Fitzharris
The ACT’s new public transport agency Transport Canberra was officially launched today, making moving around Canberra easier and more convenient, providing more transport choices for Canberrans wherever they live and integrating buses and active travel options seamlessly with the light rail network.
To coincide with the launch, work has started on a new integrated transport ticketing system for buses and light rail across Canberra.
The work, which was allocated $3 million in the 2016-17 ACT Budget, will look at options to upgrade or replace the current MyWay system that is used for travel on ACTION buses and will be rolled out on light rail when it starts operating in late 2018/early 2019.
The Transport Canberra free City Loop service also started today, changing the way people move around the Canberra CBD and making public transport more frequent and easier to use, with a strong focus on customers.
Transport Canberra’s mandate is to deliver a quality public transport system that is convenient, efficient, affordable and reliable. It will be responsible for integrating buses with the light rail network, ensuring a single ticketing system, a central contact for information and coordinated timetabling. It will reallocate more than a million bus kilometres freed up by the first stage of light rail across the bus network.
Today’s launch of Transport Canberra is the next step in making public transport in the ACT even better, and ensuring our beautiful city remains the most liveable in the world. Transport Canberra will focus on improving public transport will help us manage Canberra’s growth, reduce congestion and protect our liveability.
The ACT Government is committed to providing a better experience for its customers and Transport Canberra will focus on making public transport a more attractive option for everyone, a genuine alternative to driving.
Minister for Transport and City Services Meegan Fitzharris said:
“The launch of Transport Canberra today is the most exciting change to public transport in Canberra’s history,” Minister Fitzharris said.
“We have created a new agency, but we are also backing it up with innovative ideas, policies and practical solutions to revolutionise our public transport and keep Canberra moving.
“By 2032 there will be almost 500,000 people living in Canberra, and if we don’t plan now and make positive changes to our transport system, congestion will cripple the lifestyles we all enjoy – we already know that without light rail, commuters from Gungahlin are looking at an hour-long trip to work in the morning. The time to think about solutions to those congestion problems is now and the answer is an integrated transport system for the people of Canberra.
“Our comprehensive survey of the ACT community has told us that Canberrans want public transport to be easy to use, to be there when they need it and to get people where they need to go on time.
“Transport Canberra will implement a range of public transport improvements over coming weeks, months and years, including improvements to ACTION to deliver a better bus service, a single ticketing system to ensure seamless travel between different modes, and a commitment to convenient travel in our city for everyone – no matter where you live.”
- Statement ends -
Andrew Barr, MLA | Media Releases