Transport Minister Michael Ferguson is claiming there has been a positive community response to the Northern bus route changes made earlier this year, despite several Letters to the Editor stating otherwise. Several letters to The Examiner have complained about the new bus routes diverting around the Launceston General Hospital, stop relocations and school bus route changes. However Mr Ferguson said the changes ensured bus services more accurately reflected the needs of the community. IN OTHER NEWS: He said they were continuing to review feedback but recognised the need to balance the needs of communities against the specific needs of individuals when making decisions. "Improvements to the Northern bus network are intentionally designed to achieve faster, more frequent and more direct services so that more people want to catch the bus," he said. "I completely understand it's not possible to please everyone, but the Department of State Growth and Metro Tasmania have been working to that high goal. "We are now working with the Department and Metro to see where any possible fine-tuning to services may be possible and to roll out such improvements as soon as practical." An increase of 674 adult passengers for the first month of the network's new operation was recorded, taking adult passenger numbers from 15,448 compared to 14,774 during the same dates last year. The new Metro Bus routes and timetables were implemented in Launceston on January 20. What do you think of the changes? Have your say with a letter to the editor:
Transport Minister Michael Ferguson is claiming there has been a positive community response to the Northern bus route changes made earlier this year, despite several Letters to the Editor stating otherwise.
Several letters to The Examiner have complained about the new bus routes diverting around the Launceston General Hospital, stop relocations and school bus route changes.
However Mr Ferguson said the changes ensured bus services more accurately reflected the needs of the community.
He said they were continuing to review feedback but recognised the need to balance the needs of communities against the specific needs of individuals when making decisions.
"Improvements to the Northern bus network are intentionally designed to achieve faster, more frequent and more direct services so that more people want to catch the bus," he said.
"I completely understand it's not possible to please everyone, but the Department of State Growth and Metro Tasmania have been working to that high goal.
"We are now working with the Department and Metro to see where any possible fine-tuning to services may be possible and to roll out such improvements as soon as practical."
An increase of 674 adult passengers for the first month of the network's new operation was recorded, taking adult passenger numbers from 15,448 compared to 14,774 during the same dates last year.
The new Metro Bus routes and timetables were implemented in Launceston on January 20.
What do you think of the changes? Have your say with a letter to the editor:
