Govt Puts Kybosh On Shuttle Bus Plan
Illawarra Mercury
Saturday April 28, 2007
A $20 MILLION Wollongong public transport initiative is in jeopardy after the NSW Ministry of Transport rejected a proposed city council shuttle bus service.
The proposal was packaged with a range of initiatives aimed at offsetting increases in traffic over the next 25 years.But the shuttle bus service faces being scrapped after the transport ministry rejected the idea.The idea was first investigated in 2005 and later integrated into the city's revitalisation plans.If implemented the bus service would connect the city centre to Wollongong Hospital, the University of Wollongong and its Innovation Campus, North Wollongong and Wollongong railway stations.The shuttle bus was also the key to plans worth $20 million to improve movement within the city. Ward 3 councillor David Brown, a consistent supporter of public transport initiatives, said the council would now have to investigate alternatives to alleviate traffic problems."I've always had my concern that the idea of a shuttle bus was not financially sustainable," he said. "It does not surprise me that modelling is not looking favourable, but public transport has got to be a key commitment to the city or the council," he said.The Ministry of Transport did not respond to requests for comment.
© 2007 Illawarra Mercury