Bus projects and programs
The State Government has a program to improve and expand the bus network both in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Information on this page
Latest news
- The popular Colac to Lorne bus service will again run this summer, providing tourists and local residents with easy and affordable public transport through the Great Ocean Road region. Media release.
- Zone boundaries on a number of bus routes around Melbourne have changed. Visit Metlink to check your new bus route map.
- Priority bus lanes will be installed on sections of Stud Road by early next year, to help buses avoid delays along their route. Media release.
- Melbourne's 200th 'green' bus sheter has been installed, and another 100 solar-powered bus shelters are on order. Media release.
In Melbourne
- The innovative SmartBus program will be expanded across Melbourne.
- Since 2006, improvements have been implemented on more than 150 bus routes across Melbourne, with longer operating hours and more services more often. See Metropolitan bus service improvements. The Victoria Transport Plan will invest a further $500 million in new and improved local bus services.
- Two new hybrid-electric buses have been launched. The trial is the first of its kind in Australia and is all part of our plan to achieve a cleaner and more sustainable state. A video about the trial is available on the Low Emission Vehicles page.
- Melbourne's first pre-pay bus stop, the $3.1 million Doncaster Park and Ride facility, is providing easy access to bus services to and from the City and is proving popular with commuters. See the National Bus Company site for more information.
- The successful Think Tram program will be extended to also provide traffic priority for buses along key routes. The 2008-09 State Budget includes $37.8 million for the tram and bus priority program.
- NightRider late night bus services have been boosted with $11.2 million announced in the 2008-09 State Budget. NightRider now runs every 30 minutes instead of hourly on nine routes, and three new routes serve Doncaster, Healesville and Cranbourne.
- A new express bus route from North Melbourne Train Station to the Parkville hospital and university precinct started 3 March 2008. The Route 401 bus is helping ease congestion on the train network by enabling commuters heading to and from the university to bypass the City Loop.
- The Bus Safety Act 2009, recently passed by Parliament, will strengthen regulation to better deal with rapid expansion of bus services and unprecedented growth in bus patronage.
- Twenty-nine new bus contracts started on 1 July 2008 following consultation with the Bus Association Victoria. The contracts will run for 10 years.
- The popular SkyBus service between Melbourne Airport and Southern Cross Station has been secured for another five years.
- As part of the Bus Replacement Program, the Victorian Government is progressively replacing all buses used on regular route services with modern, air-conditioned vehicles that improve passenger comfort and meet the requirements of the Federal Disability Discrimination Act 1992.
In regional Victoria
- A comprehensive review of bus services in the South Gippsland and Bass Coast regions is underway as part of a $14.7 million Brumby Government package to boost the area's transport services.
- The 2007-08 State Budget included $30 million for a four-year program of bus service improvements including for Portland, Colac, Lakes Entrance, Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo. This in addition to other improvements in urban and inter-town bus services throughout Victoria. See Regional bus service improvements for more details.
- A Regional Interchange Program is part of a $90 million upgrade to regional bus services, and aims to make it easier, faster and more convenient for passengers to connect between bus and rail services.
- Stage 2 of the Rural School Bus Safety program began in 2006-07. It will involve upgrading a further 60 school bus interchanges and more than 1,000 school bus stops.
- Regional bus services have been improved across Victoria. This includes new services, connections with Regional Fast Rail services, improved services at night and on weekends in major regional centres, and services to help students and young people access tertiary education, jobs and community facilities. See Regional bus service improvements.
- Stage 1 of the Rural School Bus Safety program delivered 123 new bus interchanges and improvements at more than 600 school bus stops between 1999 and 2004.
Media releases
Please visit the Premier's website for
media releases.