Planning studies and research

The ACT Government investigated options for bus stops along Adelaide Avenue at Curtin, Yarralumla and Deakin.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate three potential bus stops along the Yarra Glen–Adelaide Avenue corridor, to be serviced by frequent rapid buses to provide improved and safe access to public transport to residents, workers and visitors between Curtin and Deakin. The study aimed to determine:

• the feasible locations for bus stops along Adelaide Avenue between Curtin and Deakin
• the best design solutions for these bus stops (with consideration of passenger safety, access, traffic flow, landscape, surrounding land-use and future change).

Study findings

The study showed that the Kent/Novar Streets location provided the strongest economic return with more benefits. The study recommended close coordination with the Canberra Brickworks redevelopment project to establish the exact location of the bus stop, including investigation of the performance of adjacent intersections surrounding the bus stops and the existing pedestrian and cycle network in the suburbs to ensure pedestrian and cyclist accessibility to the new bus stops.

The study has been used to inform the planning and development for Stage 2 light rail.

Read the Executive Summary of the Final Report (PDF 3.4MB).

Community consultation

A community information drop-in session was held in Curtin on 25 February 2012. The feedback received was used in the next phase of the project, including the selection and development of a preferred option. The second drop-in community information session on the preferred options was held on Saturday, 25 August 2012 at the Curtin Shops.

More information

Read about:

• the information presented at the session (PDF 1.33MB)
• Adelaide Avenue Bus Stops Study Flyer (PDF 898KB)
• Adelaide Avenue bus stops feasibility study - Preliminary consultation report, April 2012 (PDF 3.42MB).

Funding of $8.2 million was allocated in the 2010–11 budget to undertake a feasibility study, detailed design and construction for dedicated bus priority measures for Canberra Avenue.

The project has seen the construction of bus priority traffic lights at Ipswich and Geelong streets, on-road cycle lanes between Hindmarsh Drive and the Monaro Highway as well as:

• a city bound bus lane from Faulding Street to the Monaro Highway
• a shared path link from Yallourn Street to Ipswich Street
• two major bus stops to service the Canberra Eye Hospital
• a new signalised pedestrian crossing on Geelong Street
• paths compliant with the Australian Government’s Disability Discrimination Act 1992.

Stage 1 construction was completed in August 2014.

Future stages of work also include:

• bus priority at traffic light controlled intersections on Newcastle Street and Ipswich Street
• enhanced pedestrian facilities with a new signalised pedestrian crossing at Geelong Street and additional footpaths to Narrabundah and the Canberra Eye Hospital
• enhanced lighting for pedestrian footpaths and cycle lanes
• widening of the bridge over Jerrabomberra Creek to accommodate the new bus lane
• removal of some trees along the road corridor which will be replaced with tree plantings of a similar species to ensure the character of Canberra Avenue is retained
• tree planting to provide a screening for residents of the Canberra South Motor Park.

There are more than 3,000 bus stops across the ACT network, and many of them need replacement to provide a more attractive, comfortable and secure waiting environment for passengers.

In 2010 consultants McCormickRankinCagney (MRC) were engaged to conduct a $150,000 feasibility study to identify and recommend where major bus stops should be located, and which ones should have priority for upgrade.

Based on the study, $1.6 million was budgeted for construction, of 25 locations based on the map of major bus stops (PDF 1.3MB) priority program. This began in 2011 and was completed in 2016.