The Public Transport Association of Canberra (PTCBR) has called for immediate improvements to Canberra’s bus and light rail network, as well as a better focus on long-term transport planning, in its submission to the 2024-25 ACT Budget.

Building on PTCBR’s 5 Point Plan for improving public transport in Canberra, the submission recommends improvements to bus punctuality, minimum one-hourly bus frequencies seven days a week, funding for the final stage of the Belconnen Transitway, and prefeasibility work on future stages of light rail identified in the refreshed Light Rail Network Plan.

According to analysis of figures provided by Transport Canberra, buses in the ACT run on time only 75 per cent of the time, PTCBR states – an unacceptable number. Suburban routes run every two hours on Saturday nights and all day on Sundays, which PTCBR considers too few.

The submission also calls for the creation and implementation of a public transport infrastructure standard that sets a basic standard of amenity for bus stops and interchanges, ensuring that passengers have appropriate shelter, seating, maps and directions to key nearby locations. Currently, PTCBR states, these features are not present at all major bus stop locations in Canberra.

PTCBR Chair Ryan Hemsley said the association and its members want the ACT Government to focus on delivering an integrated bus and light rail network that gets the basics right.

“Canberrans want public transport that is on time, frequent, reliable, and pleasant to use,” Mr Hemsley said. “Our submission calls on the ACT Government to focus on improving these fundamental elements of our public transport system.

“For example, it is unacceptable that Transport Canberra’s buses run on time only 77 per cent of the time. Punctuality is a key aspect of service delivery, and we need to see drastic improvements as a matter of priority.”

Mr Hemsley emphasised that the best way to get more people using public transport is to make it better.

“The evidence is clear – if you provide better services, more people will use them. We’ve seen it with the recent improvements to Saturday bus services, which resulted in the highest number of local bus trips recorded on a Saturday.

“It’s time the ACT Government adequately funded our public transport network to ensure all aspects of service are done well, seven days a week.”

Canberra Liberals MLA Mark Parton, Shadow Minister for Transport, said: “Isn’t it fascinating that aside from PTCBR’s call to continue with the expansion of the light rail network, much of their submission lines up perfectly with the recently announced Canberra Liberals transport policy.”

The Canberra Liberals promised to bring back a seven-day bus network that was easy to understand and use, and remove two-hour waits.

“Like the Canberra Liberals, PTCBR is sick of waiting for the promised tram development, and their submission calls on the government to improve public transport in ways that are available to them now. Should we win government in October, I look forward to more input from PTCBR so that we can genuinely deliver better public transport outcomes for Canberra.”

A spokesperson said the ACT Government would consider PTCBR’s submission as part of the budget process.