Bus service improves city
Now easier to get places for residents
BY NOON yesterday Kearneys Spring resident Anne O’Mahoney had caught a bus four different times.
It was the first day of TransLink’s new and improved bus network for the Garden City and Ms O’Mahoney wanted to be one of its first customers.
She caught the bus into the CBD to pick up some groceries, returned home and then came back to have lunch on Neil St.
“It was very good and I wasn’t confused at all,” she said.
TransLink, a division of the Department of Transport and Main Roads, launched the improved bus network yesterday after it gathered feedback in September and October last year.
Changes were introduced after significant growth in the past 12 years, including in Highfields and Wilsonton Heights.
There had also been an increasing demand for more services to key activity centres like Toowoomba Bus Station, Toowoomba Hospital, University of Southern Queensland and local shopping precincts including Grand Central, Clifford Gardens and Market Square Wilsonton.
At the Toowoomba Bus Station yesterday, there was a groundswell of support from commuters and plenty of thumbs up.
Samantha Drummond remembered a time just last week when her bus didn’t even show up.
“It’ll be so much easier to get around now and be on time,” she said.
“The weekend service has been much needed.”
She tested route 907 from Wilsonton Heights to USQ via the city.
The route services the length of Hogg St, between Esmond and Greenwattle Sts, operating as a loop.
There are now eight routes with more than 1150 services each week, an improvement of more than 30 per cent from the former network.
Two routes will operate at 30 minute frequencies during peak periods and six routes at hourly frequencies.
TransLink also introduced Sunday services on popular routes and longer operating hours.
It’ll be so much easier to get around now and be on time — Samantha Drummond