Canberrans will be able to take a bus at least every 30 minutes on weekdays from the beginning of term 4.
A new bus timetable released on Wednesday shows increased frequency of buses throughout the day from Monday, October 9.
The frequency had dropped, not returning to pre-COVID levels while Transport Canberra said it was managing driver shortages as a result of sickness and other factors.
Transport Canberra deputy director-general Ben McHugh said Transport Canberra was losing between 80 to 90 drivers a year, but reruitment had since picked up allowing the frequency of services to increase.
Transport Canberra has about 1000 drivers on the roster.
Mr McHugh said a return to 30-minute weekday frequencies meant improved services during the off-peak hours between 9.30am and 3.30pm across the network.
Changes in the new timetable
- a return to increased daytime frequency of 30 minutes or better (previously 60 minutes) for all bus routes except route 47
- increased daytime frequency to 15 minutes (previously 30 minutes during daytime off-peak) for route 59
- increased morning peak frequency to 30 minutes (previously between 30-60 minutes) for routes 18 and 24
- some minor timing adjustments to first and last services to reflect improved frequency.
The new timetable has also refined school services based on school and community feedback.
School services changes
- timetable changes to 14 school services to align with updated school bell times
- route change for school service 1015 to accommodate students along Anthony Rolfe Avenue travelling to Mother Teresa Primary School and Harrison School.
However, the new timetable does not include changes to weekend bus services or the reintroduction of all previously cut late-night services.
Mr McHugh told ABC radio transport officials planned to increase the frequency of buses at the weekends, especially on Saturday afternoons, but it "relied heavily" on driver numbers.
Bus drivers can volunteer for weekend work but cannot be compelled to fill shifts outside of regular Monday to Friday rosters. The government has long sought to amend the agreement, but bus drivers again rejected proposed changes to weekend work in May.
Drivers had been offered a penalty rate package paid for all work after they had worked 12 weekend days in a year.
"We know reliable services are important to Canberrans and that our travel habits have changed in recent years. The new timetable considers all of our driver resources, post-COVID travel behaviours and the full Transport Canberra bus fleet," Mr McHugh said.
"The timetable also accommodates a number of construction projects such as raising London Circuit and the CIT Woden precinct and interchange."
Transport Minister Chris Steel said late last year the government would consider reinstating some cut bus services if disruptions due to light rail workers were not as significant as feared.
Transport Canberra quietly released the 2023 bus timetable in December, and revealed significant frequency cuts to weekday services and a reduction in the number of late-night weekday services.
Only a tiny fraction of bus boardings in the ACT during the week are made after 11pm, Mr Steel said in February, defending a decision to reduce late-night services.
Students and families are encouraged to check their school timetables and to plan ahead for the new school term. There are no changes to the light rail frequencies.
For more information on the new bus timetable, including school packs, visit: www.transport.act.gov.au.
