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Objectives and outcomes

The year’s developments

Under the four-year regional bus replacement program, which began in 2007/08, 41 newer buses will progressively be transferred from the Transperth fleet to regional town operators. This will include sufficient low-floor (accessible) and air conditioned buses to operate the timetabled town bus services. This program will ensure that the regional bus fleet meets Federal disability access standards. It is also reducing the average age of the regional fleet to around 12 years and improving the standard and comfort of regional bus services. Currently there are 56 low-floor accessible buses operating in regional areas.

Service review highlights during the year included:

• Geraldton services were reviewed, and changes made to town and school services. Many dedicated school services were replaced with town services deviating to schools to provide the entire community with additional travel options. The town network was also extended into new and developing areas to address growth. All service changes were based on patronage data from the SmartRider ticketing system.
• Kalgoorlie services were reviewed prior to the introduction of the SmartRider ticketing system, scheduled for July 2010. However, service changes will not start until SmartRider patronage data is available to shape the review recommendations.
• A comprehensive review of Bunbury services began this year. Widespread changes are required across the town and school service network to meet the changing needs of the community and address growth in outer suburbs. In consultation with the community and key stakeholders, we have been working with the local operator, Bunbury City Transit, to develop a new bus network. This review is ongoing, and service changes are scheduled to be implemented in September 2010.

During the year, a number of service audits were carried out on the PTA’s regional town bus service contractors in Busselton, Bunbury, Carnarvon, Geraldton, Esperance, Karratha, Port Hedland and Kalgoorlie. The audits involved checking route effectiveness, operational record-keeping, patronage statistics and occupational safety records.

SmartRider ticketing was rolled out in Busselton in December 2009. To facilitate the new system, new bus stops had to be sited and installed throughout the town. The Busselton fleet was replaced with a wholly PTA-owned fleet and the service re-branded to TransBusselton with a bus livery consistent with the Transperth fleet. Kalgoorlie will be the next town to receive an upgrade to SmartRider ticketing, due to start in July 2010.

Cost of the service

The cost of operating regional bus services in 2009/10 was $15.8 million, an increase of 10.5 per cent from $14.3 million in 2008/09. For intra-town services, the cost rose by 11 per cent from $13.6 million to $15.1 million, while the cost of inter-town services increased by 3.6 per cent from $0.702 million to $0.727 million.

Patronage

Total boardings on regional bus services increased 4.7 per cent from 2.363 million in 2008/09 to 2.473 million, while fare paying boardings of 2.089 million remained at the same level as 2008/09.

On intra-town services, total boardings showed an increase of 4.7 per cent to 2.466 million, while fare paying boardings rose by 0.05 per cent to 2.083 million. Both of these figures represent eight year highs. On inter-town services, both total and fare paying boardings decreased by 21.2 per cent, due mainly to the winding back of the Karratha, Dampier, Roebourne , Wickham and Point Sampson service from four to two days a week.

Passenger consultation

Typically, passenger consultation sessions are undertaken before major service changes occur. Passenger consultation was held in Geraldton in November 2009 prior to new town and school services starting in January 2010. The consultation results were largely in favour of the proposed changes. Public consultation also took place in June 2010 for the Bunbury service changes, with results yet to be finalised.

Planned major initiatives for 2010/11

• Installation of the SmartRider ticketing system in Kalgoorlie
• Installation of Global Positioning System (GPS) bus stops in the greater Bunbury area for the accurate recording of data into the Transperth Route Information System (TRIS)
• Continuation of the scheduled bus replacement program, with Transperth buses transferred to regional centres to improve the standard and comfort of regional services
• Purchase of land and construction of a new bus depot in Busselton
• Possible purchase of land for new bus depot in Bunbury

Major service reviews scheduled for 2010/11 include:

• Completion of the Bunbury services review, with changes scheduled to be implemented in September 2010
• Review of Busselton/Dunsborough services to incorporate new developments in the region and an extension of the Public Transport Area
• Kalgoorlie post-SmartRider review of town and school services in 2011
• Albany town and school services review in 2011