East Sydney bus services cut short

BY BRENDAN WONG

City of Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, warns that Sydney Buses’ proposed changes to eastern suburbs bus routes will anger and upset residents.’
The changes involve redirecting and withdrawing some services, including the cancellation of route 359 that runs between Bondi Junction and East Gardens. Resident’s will not be offered a replacement service, but are advised to use either the 357 or 400 bus.
The popular 311 bus service will also be particularly affected.
‘The State Transit Authority (STA) proposes to run the 311 between Gresham Street and Darlinghurst, without direct access to Circular Quay or Railway Square, and cutting access to Central Station,’ the Lord Mayor said. ‘It will make it harder to get to the southern CBD and Dental Hospital.’
The 311 buses will now travel along St Marys Road and either Macquarie or Elizabeth Streets instead of William Street, according to Ms Moore. Buses will also cut out the Elizabeth Bay loop (via Ithaca Road, Billyard Avenue and Onslow Avenue).
John Ready, a resident in Haymarket who travels to Potts Point five days a week, is upset about the changes. ‘They’re [STA] carving the route in half and not putting up a replacement,’ he said.
Peter Rowley, CEO for the State Transit Authority would not comment on the proposed changes directly, saying that Sydney Buses had gone to the community to discuss a set of proposals to meet their current needs.
But Mr Ready said that notifications of the changes to the 311 have been poor, with little to no advertising being made on buses, local newspapers or even on the 131500 transport website.
‘The 131500 makes no mention of this change,’ Mr Ready said. ‘Even though the Government promotes the 131500 as the central site for transport.’
The eastern suburbs is one of the most densely populated areas in Australia and that a majority of its residents did not own cars or were elderly, according to Ms Moore.
‘The Government has encouraged people to live here and transport is essential to meet the challenge and responsibility for reducing greenhouse emissions,’ Ms Moore said.