Restoring axed bus routes will cost you less
West Ward Liberal Councillor Ross Grove is floating an amendment to the speculative Parramatta-Pemulwuy 810 route which will cost taxpayers up to 35% less than the current proposal with additional options to restore axed routes in Greystanes.
“Its one thing to stand up and criticize the government’s proposals but it is a less-than-common occurence to present a better idea and then show where the money is coming from.” Clr Grove said
“My proposal will reroute the proposed 810 service from Pemulwuy to Merrylands via Greystanes. It will give Pemulwuy residents unprecedented access to community facilities and transport hubs at Parramatta, Merrylands, Blacktown and Liverpool.
“It’s vital that Pemulwuy and Greystanes residents are properly connected to the train station at Merrylands. We’re not going to solve capacity issues along the Western Line by sending more people into Parramatta — Merrylands is both closer and less congested.
“Funding to support the proposal will come from money already allocated to subsidizing the speculative 810 route and the shorter distance to Merrylands would mean that taxpayers will shell out less money for an improved service.
“The proposal includes three options; namely a fast route which runs the length of Merrylands Road, the restoration of services back to Whalans Road, or the Flower Streets or any combination of the above.
“Option One would provide a fast service spanning the length of Merrylands Road. It would boost service frequency and compliment the other proposed services. In addition to this Pemulwuy residents will be able to access extra schools, libraries and other civic and community facilities.
“Option Two would restore services back to Whalans Road and make services more accessible to the people who live in the surrounding streets at no cost to on-time running.
“Option Three would restore 813 services back to the Flower Streets and make services more accessible to people living in and around Alpha Road, Dahlia Street, Gardenia Parade, Carnation Street, Tulip Street and Daffodil Street as well as providing Pemulwuy residents with access to Widemere Public School which has capacity for more enrolments. Relative to the other options this alternative would take a longer distance but is still shorter compared to the state government’s proposal.
“And there’s no reason why we can’t use a combination of these options to provide skeletal support to those areas where there is lower demand for bus services but greater obligation to ensure those most vulnerable aren’t completely isolated through lack of public transport.
“At the end of the day the proposal as laid out by the state government does very little to support our community and the very fact that the state Labor government let this proposal go public is a testimony to the need for a change of government in NSW.”
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Media enquiries:
Ross Grove on 0412 897 130
We really need our Greystanes buses back, especially the 813. We’ve been greatly inconvenienced by the canellation of these bus routes, upon which we’ve relied to provide us with a simple connection to Parramatta, (in particular) a very versatile and important place. Buses from the flower streets are minimal and inconvenient for school children, hence we NEED the 813 back because it was one that we were well adjusted to. PLEASE BRING THE BUSES BACK.