THE Bendigo Business Council has released a position statement on the location of the city’s transport interchange and the routing of buses in the Bendigo CBD.
Executive officer Kevin de Vries said the council supported the City of Greater Bendigo council's position.
“The Bendigo Business Council believes the best location for a transport interchange is at the railway station, and that the best route for buses to take is along Mitchell Street, with bus stops located adjacent to Hargreaves Mall," he said.
That route would see the buses stop in what is now the left traffic lane, further clogging one of Bendigo's busiest streets.
“The City of Greater Bendigo and the Victorian Department of Transport have been discussing the location and impact of bus stops in the Bendigo CBD for nearly two years," he said.
"The BBC acknowledges that local retailers are being affected by the numbers of patrons waiting for buses outside their businesses.”
“The BBC believes that careful and clever design approaches can improve amenity for bus patrons, pedestrians and shoppers, while minimising traffic congestion.
"Bus patrons and city businesses have been waiting on this infrastructure investment since changes to bus routes in April 2008. The sooner we get on with these changes the better.”
Mr de Vries said the BBC considered the needs of consumers, businesses, delivery vehicles and through traffic in its deliberations. Its position statement calls for wider footpaths, extra seating, climate protection, electronic signage, safety cameras, security call points, no-smoking zones, improved lighting, additional rubbish bins and regular cleaning.
“The council and the Department of Transport must work to not only address current amenity issues, but also to prepare for a further 30-40% increase in CBD bus patrons from growing popularity of public transport and additional and more frequent services,” Mr de Vries said.
“The BBC is concerned that $900,000 may be inadequate to address Mitchell Street’s infrastructure needs. We ask that sufficient funding in made available to ensure our vibrant growing regional city has a world-class, 21st century transport solution.”
