ACT government unveils seven new rapid bus lines for Canberra

Public transportation across the Australian Capital Territory will start to improve next year as the government plans to double the capacity of the existing rapid bus network in Canberra.

At least 80 new buses serving seven new routes will be added to existing Blue and Red rapid bus services operated by Transport Canberra. According to Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris, the new routes will all be in place in 2020, with the first two routes running from Wooden to City via Barton and Beconnen to Gungahlin by 2017.

The new rapid bus services serving commuters from Woden to City via Weston Creek and Belconnen to Watson via Dickson will start operation in 2018, followed by the bus line from Tuggeranong to City via Erindale. Meanwhile the new rapid bus services carrying commuters from Lanyong to Canberra Airport via Barton and from Belconnen to the airport via City will both commence trips in 2020. A bus depot is likely to be constructed in Mitchell.

"When people know that there's always going to public transport where they need it... that really drives patronage," Fitzharris said.

"That's exactly what these rapid bus services already do and what future rapid bus services will do."

Once operational, all rapid bus routes will be served every six minutes during peak hours or every 15 minutes during off-peak time. Fitzharris said the public transportation expansion project is going to open up the inner south suburbs, particularly Narrabundah and Manukah.

The establishment and operation of the new rapid bus routes in the next four years are expected to cost government $3.6 million in between 2017 and 2018, $9.5 million in 2018, $16 million in 2019 and $26 million in 2020.

But Fitzharris said the project will create at least 100 new jobs and employ 80 new drivers.

"This is a clear, costed plan where people know when they'll get their new Rapid services," Ms Fitzharris said.