Opening of Curtin University bus station

17/11/99
A joint Government and community initiative aimed at promoting the use of public transport was cemented today with the opening of the Curtin University bus station by Transport Minister Murray Criddle.
The Minister said the $1.5 million station, a project jointly funded by Curtin University and Transport was an excellent example of the State Government and the community working together to provide a viable transport alternative to car travel.
It is estimated that by 2005 approximately 10,000 students will travel to and from the university each day by public transport.
"The university has had an ongoing parking problem and it is encouraging to see that it has chosen to allocate resources to promote the use of public transport to the campus in lieu of additional parking spaces," Mr Criddle said.
"This new Transperth bus station will vastly improve accessibility for students and staff, reduce traffic congestion around the campus and eliminate the need to construct costly multi-storey car parks."
Mr Criddle said the Curtin University bus station was a major stop on the popular Transperth Circle Route, which currently carried over 44,0000 passengers per day.
The new station would provide eight sheltered bus bays with lighting and video surveillance and like all Circle Route buses and stops, it was fully accessible.
The Minister said that in addition to providing a reliable rapid transit option for Curtin students, the Circle Route was widely used by students from the surrounding campuses of Canning College, the Baptist Theological College, South East Metropolitan College of TAFE, and the nearby communities of Rowethorpe and Swan Cottage Homes.
"Students and residents will also be pleased to know that Transperth with be introducing a Sunday Circle Route service to be operating before the start of the 2000 academic year," Mr Criddle said.
He said that plans for similar Transperth bus stations at Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia were already under way.
Curtin University also jointly funds a direct link bus service to and from the City Busport and a shuttle service operates between the campus and the Oats Street train station.
The Curtin University bus station is one of a number of initiatives contained in the Bentley Technology Precinct Transport Planning Study.
The Bentley Technology Precinct is the second largest generator of transport trips in the Perth metropolitan area with more than 30,000 people travelling to and from the area each day and a 50 per cent increase predicted during the next 10 years.
Media contact: Doug Cunningham on 9321 7333