A proposal to install priority bus lanes on Springvale Road and Stud Road is part of a Brumby Labor Government plan to ease congestion on the major arterials in the eastern suburbs
Roads and Ports Minister Tim Pallas and Public Transport Minister Lynne Kosky announced today that consultation with local councils and key stakeholders was about to begin regarding the priority bus lanes.
“The Brumby Labor Government is taking action now to invest in our road network, tackle congestion, improve traffic flow and make our roads safer,” Mr Pallas said.
“Bus lanes are being introduced on key routes across the Melbourne to help improve service reliability and travel times to keep traffic moving. Giving buses dedicated road space helps them avoid delays along their route.
“Before the construction of EastLink, VicRoads identified that it would be possible to provide increased priority for buses along the South East corridor on Springvale Road and Stud Road as traffic levels decrease.
“The opening of Eastlink has successfully seen a decrease in traffic volumes of up to 27 per cent on Springvale Road and Stud Road with even greater reductions in truck traffic.”
The bus lanes are part of the Brumby Labor Government’s $113 million Keeping Melbourne Moving plan that includes a range of measures to tackle traffic congestion in the short term.
“This proposal would involve making the left lane along sections of Springvale Road a bus lane during peak times. The proposal for Stud Road involves making the left lane along sections of the road full-time bus lanes,” Mr Pallas said.
“These changes will only be on three lane sections of both roads, with no signed parking to be impacted. Bus lanes will also be set-back from intersections, stopping approximately 250 metres from an intersection, providing traffic with access to all lanes at these points.”
Ms Kosky said the bus lanes on Stud Road would close some of the gaps on an already extensive network of bus lanes in the Knox area.
She said the bus lanes on Springvale Road would give additional priority to buses, with construction of some full-time bus lanes already underway.
“This bus lane proposal complements the Government’s improvements to public transport in the South Eastern corridor – meaning more viable travel choices for commuters,” Ms Kosky said.
“The installation of these bus lanes would give buses greater on-road priority and provide people better public transport access to services in their community and better connections to Melbourne's train and tram network.”
The part-time bus lanes on Springvale Road would require new signage and line marking only, with no major works. Full-time bus lanes on Stud Road would require new signs and red pavement similar to other bus lanes already operating on the road network.
VicRoads will work closely with local councils and stakeholders to ensure any new measures will benefit all road users.
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