BUSES will no longer queue up on Lydiard Street north, following the official opening of the Ballarat Station bus interchange.<\/p>\n
Located between the north platform and multi-level carpark, the $17 million accessible interchange has been funded by the State Government, and includes 12 bus parks, shade, and seating.<\/p>\n
Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said the project is a \u201cgame changer,\u201d and its completion is not just good news for bus commuters.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany residents living in Soldiers Hill have had buses parked out the front of their house for a long time now, so they will certainly welcome this decision,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt links up with the station, providing a fantastic interchange between not only bus services, but train services… to Melbourne and the region.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really welcome this upgrade, which is not only for today. It\u2019s been future-proofed so as the Ballarat community grows, this interchange will be able to take in more services for our community.\u201d<\/p>\n
Member for Buninyong Michaela Settle said the infrastructure is crucial to ensure the many residents who rely on the bus service can get around the city.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have one spot to come to. They\u2019ve got cover, connection, it\u2019s fully accessible… and it\u2019s a safe place to make the connections to get where they need to go in Ballarat,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cMost of us can remember what it was like beforehand, walking from the train station to our cars. There was no lighting and it didn\u2019t feel safe.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s extraordinary about the development of this whole area now is that people have a well-lit, safe space to use public transport, and that\u2019s incredible.\u201d<\/p>\n
Planning to make the interchange as accessible as possible, the State has put an additional 73 bus services on the city\u2019s seven-day timetable.<\/p>\n
The Sebastopol route, for example, will now run every 30 minutes, rather than hourly.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been a real shift in community mindset about public transport, and with the redevelopment of The Goods Shed in the station precinct, the interchange is perfect,\u201d Ms Addison said.<\/p>\n
\u201cCome down, have a few drinks, catch up with some friends, and catch the bus home. It\u2019s a really great asset.\u201d<\/p>\n
Regional Development Victoria Grampians region director Michael Bailey said the interchange has been delivered just in time for a summer of events.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have the cycling Nationals, cricket, and then will roll into the football season, so we expect and encourage everyone to participate in the bus and public transport,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cNumbers on buses…across COVID have remained pretty strong, and we expect that to grow.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BUSES will no longer queue up on Lydiard Street north, following the official opening of the Ballarat Station bus interchange. Located between the north platform and multi-level carpark, the $17 million accessible interchange has been funded by the State Government, and includes 12 bus parks, shade, and seating. Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said the […]<\/p>\n