Ballarat's new bus interchange will open and extra bus services across the city added to the timetable from next month.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
An extra 73 trips per week will be introduced across the Ballarat bus network with extended service hours under the new timetable which will begin from December 19 when the new bus interchange in the Ballarat Station precinct is opened.
The bus interchange features an asphalt loop connected to Nolan Street with 12 shelters for local buses, taking the buses off nearby streets.
The biggest winners of the new timetable will be passengers on the Ballarat Station to Sebastopol route where off-peak service frequency will increase from every 60 minutes to every 30 minutes between 9am and 3pm weekdays.
This will allow for an additional five return trips on weekdays and one extra return journey on Saturdays.
The Ballarat Station to Brown Hill route will have three extra return trips on weekdays and one extra trip on Saturdays.
Most other routes will have at least three extra services a week.
The state government announced the bus interchange four and a half years ago with the $5 million project due to be completed in 2018 subject to planning and heritage approvals.
But delays, a new scope of works and other costs have seen the $5 million commitment blow out to a $22 million project.
The 2021-22 state budget notes cited "complex interface issues at the Ballarat station precinct" as the reason for the $17.393 million increase. Among the "rescoped" project was identifying, relocating or renewing "100-year-old technical wiring" discovered during investigations.
Early concepts for the precinct upgrade mentioned traffic lights for Nolan Street, which is part of the extra costs and completed in recent months.
Public Transport minister Ben Carroll said the boost to services would improve accessibility for Ballarat residents.
"This new timetable is delivering more services, more often, where and when people need them," he said.
"Together with the new Ballarat bus interchange, this is a shift towards a better bus service for the Ballarat community."
All Ballarat bus routes except Route 31 will use the new 12-bay interchange which was developed after extensive community consultation.
Existing school special services will be maintained and coordinated with school bell times, allowing sufficient time for students to arrive in time for school.
IN OTHER NEWS
"These changes will give passengers more options to get where they're going and make it easier for them to plan their trips," said Wendouree MP Juliana Addison.
Buninyong MP Michaela Settle said the extra services on the Sebastopol route would make a big difference to those in the area.
"Many in our community reply on the bus service and the new timetable will see more services across Ballarat and in a big win for Sebastopol buses will arrive every 30 minutes between 9am-3pm weekdays," she said.
Information on the new timetables is available at ptv.vic.gov.au and the PTV app.
Our team of local journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the Ballarat community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark thecourier.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking news, sport and daily headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News