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The SmartBus program was originally a policy initiative of the Kennett Liberal (conservative) state government of Victoria, Australia in the late 1990s. However it has been slowly implemented under the current Labor government headed by Steve Bracks. Undertaken as a part of Metlink, the program seeks to eventually establish a series of key suburban bus routes, and orbital bus routes, around Melbourne. Key aspects of this program include more frequent services, extended hours of operation to include late evening and Sunday services, improved timetable information at bus stops, and priority at traffic lights. Jeffrey Gibb Kennett AC (born 25 July 1948), Australian politician, was one of the most influential and controversial men to hold the office of Premier of Victoria (6th October, 1992 to 20th October, 1999). ...
Capital Melbourne Government Constitutional monarchy Governor David de Kretser Premier Steve Bracks (ALP) Federal representation - House seats 37 - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05) - Product ($m) $222,022 (2nd) - Product per capita $44,443/person (5th) Population (End of September 2006) - Population 5,110,500 (2nd) - Density 22. ...
Stephen Philip Bracks (born October 15, 1954), Australian politician, has been Premier of Victoria since 1999. ...
Metlink is the marketing name of the public transport network of Melbourne, Australia. ...
Current SmartBus Routes
As of the 16th October 2006, there are 5 routes that have been upgraded to SmartBus standards.
They are:
- 700 Box Hill to Mordialloc via Wattle Park, Holmesglen, Chadstone, Oakleigh and Mentone (operated by Ventura)
- 703 Middle Brighton to Blackburn via Bentleigh, Clayton, Monash University, Syndal & Forest Hill Chase (operated by Ventura)
- 888/889 Nunawading to Chelsea via Forest Hlll Chase, Glen Waverley, Springvale, Keysborough and Edithvale (888)/Chelsea Heights (889) (operated by Grenda's)
- 900 Caulfield to Rowville (Stud Park S.C) via Chadstone, Oakleigh, Huntingdale and Monash University. (operated by both Grendas & Eastrans (Kefford))
Some "Smartbus" features also feature on the Skybus route linking Melbourne Airport & Southern Cross Station in the Melbourne CBD, however this service is still not officially stated as a SmartBus service.
In the near future, there will be up to 3-5 more Smartbus routes which will operate in Melbourne.
In context, SmartBus routes are chosen because of their excellent 'cross-town' abilities, linking numerous train/tram lines, as well as offering more services to major arterial roads, along with extended hours of operation to suit retail trading hours.
Orbital Bus Routes According to the Melbourne Transport Plan,[ 1 ] in the coming years, the Victorian Government plans to roll out a series of Orbital Bus Routes around Melbourne. These routes will include: - Blue Orbital: Sandringham to Williamstown (inculding parts of current 246, 504 or 508, & 472) via St Kilda, Richmond, Clifton Hill, Moonee Ponds and Footscray.
- Red Orbital (including current 700 and 291 and parts of 527, 513 and 411): Mordialloc to Altona via Chadstone, Box Hill, Doncaster, Northland & Sunshine.
- Green Orbital (including current 888/889 & 560): Chelsea to Werribee via Springvale, Glen Waverley, Nunawading, Eltham, Greensborough, Keon Park, Broadmeadows, Keilor and Deer Park
- Yellow Orbital (including current 830/831, 665, 286 along Blackburn Road and 293 north of Doncaster): Frankston to Melbourne Airport via Dandenong, Knox, Ringwood, Doncaster, Greensborough and Epping.
The first orbital route to be in rolled out in its entirity (red) is already months behind schedule and is set to delay the installation of all other routes. This is to be followed by Yellow, Green, and finally Blue.
SmartBus Features SmartBus aims to provide a premium bus service to commuters with quality stops and tram-like frequencies. However, SmartBus has attracted much criticism due to poor implimentation and low standards: - Services at least every 15 minutes during weekdays in the daytime (from 5:30am-around 7:30pm/8pm), with services to carry on every 30 minutes till around midnight. Weekend services to operate half-hourly from 6am until 10pm (midnight on Saturday). Realistically, Saturday services operate every 20-30 minutes during the daytime, though 40 minute frequencies operate on route 888/889 Nunawading-Chelsea. Routes 700 and 900 are the only SmartBus routes to run until midnight on Saturday nights, while the 703 and 888/889 run only until around 9:00pm. Because of this, SmartBus has received much criticism by travellers and the public, due to not operating until midnight to help party-goers, late night travellers from the city etc. On Sundays, frequencies range from every 30 minutes to 40/45 minutes from 6:30am (Route 700), 7:00am (Route 900) or 7:30am (Routes 703 and 888/889) till arond 9:30pm. Sunday services on the 703 have also been criticised, with Sunday services terminating short at Bentleigh Railway Station.
- Connections to other services. Connections are often designated, though are poorly implimented due to conflicting frequencies (weekend buses are half hourly, and are supposed to connect with each train operating at 20-minute frequency), or services depart shortly before train arrivals (such as route 700 on weekdays at Box Hill, or route 900 at Huntingdale).
- Real-Time passenger displays. These are supposed to be available at all SmartBus stops along SmartBus routes once infrastructure is available, though many PID's were turned off since November 2005, after they continuously malfunctioned. As of August 2006, new PID's began to be installed, with new SmartBus colours of Orange and grey. By early 2007, these had been installed at numerous bus stops on all 5 routes, though still have many gliches and are not available across the entire system.
- The ability to request a traffic light green extension or an early green to allow the bus to pass through an intersection when it is running late, in turn assisting the driver to help to keep on time and to reduce journey times for passengers.
- Priority "Head start" lanes at intersections
- Bus stops that are in conjunction with the Commonwealth Discrimatory Act, with tactile tiles and better signage, as well as lower ground to allow the elderly or wheelchair bound passengers easier access to buses.
- More low floor buses with ramps to accommodate for the elderly and wheelchair bound passengers as stated above.
Footnotes - ^ State Government of Victoria / Department of Infrastructure, "Melbourne Transport Plan", 2004: p. 47.
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