Hundreds of human and electronic eyes will be watching the movement of all buses from Sunday when CBD routes change – the biggest overhaul of CBD transport in a generation.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Andrew Constance, Minister for Roads Duncan Gay and CBD Coordinator General Marg Prendergast today announced an Olympics-style Joint Operations Centre is being established to ensure route changes are successful for bus customers and other road users.
“Experts will troubleshoot emerging issues, police motorcycle response teams will be on CBD streets to manage congestion and bus marshals will be helping customers board and alight at busy stops,” Mr Constance said.
“We’ll keep a watching brief – if we see areas where we can make improvements, where the new network presents problems, we’ll deal with it as soon as possible.”
“This is one of the biggest projects, one of the biggest challenges this city will ever face – we’ve been working hard to make it work,” Mr Gay said.
“More than 300,000 pamphlets and bus route brochures have been issued to customers, road works at critical locations will make it easier for buses to use the new routes and bus lanes and bus stops have been moved ahead of the network changes.”
CBD Coordinator General Marg Prendergast said she expected teething problems as bus customers and bus drivers got used to the changes.
“With any major change, it will take some time to bed-in, so we expect some issues will present themselves in the first days and weeks, but we will overcome that, improve the network where we can and support customers and staff,” Ms Prendergast said.
“Habits are hard to break, and there’s every chance a bus might take a wrong turn at some point – that’s why these changes are happening now, before we begin to close sections of George Street for light rail construction.”
If you have not looked at how you are affected by the changes, it is essential that you:
Look for pink: staff and signs in the CBD will guide you in the right direction, both before and after the changes take effect.
Plan your trip: the route that best serves you may be changing, so plan your journey at visit mysydney.nsw.gov.au/bus