Big buses to bypass Bay

State Transit’s new buses will bypass parts of Elizabeth Bay in the new Eastern Suburbs Bus Network.
After eight months of community consultation, Sydney Buses has announced changes to lines 302, 303, X03, 311, X43, 348, 357 and 359, effective from April 26 this year.

While some changes have been welcomed, the 311’s new route is contentious. Key changes are the removal of the Elizabeth Bay loop at Ithaca Rd/ Billyard Ave/ Onslow Ave, the Elizabeth Bay ‘crescent’ route at Greenknowe and Elizabeth Bay Road, and Gresham St as the new termination point, rather than Circular Quay.

The 2011 Residents Association campaigned unsuccessfully against the removal of the loop. “We understand that many elderly people live in that part of Elizabeth Bay and that elderly people often use the 311 to visit health specialists, to go shopping and to visit friends,” said a 2011 Spokesperson.

State Transit claims the loop had to be cut because its narrow streets couldn’t cater for the low-floor, air-conditioned buses now mandatory on all Sydney routes, under Federal Disability Standards.

“These buses better serve less mobile passengers such as the elderly, the disabled, the injured and parents with prams.” said a State Transit representative.

But the issue is how the elderly will actually access these superior buses in Elizabeth Bay.
Sydney Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, is proposing smaller, community buses to service the narrow roads in non-peak periods.

Ms Moore was also concerned about the new termination point. ‘While the vital Central Station link is being kept for the 311 bus service, many passengers will be upset about the loss of access to Circular Quay. Inner east and eastern suburbs bus services have been progressively shut out of this terminus, which is a key transport interchange,’ she said.

The Heritage Houses Trust fears that the new 311 route will make it harder to access Elizabeth Bay House; limiting visitors and threatening the viability of the heritage listed building.

‘These risible changes are simply unsustainable and unacceptable,’ said Potts Point and Kings Cross Heritage Conservation Society President Andrew Woodhouse.

‘In a city that wants to be a global city, we need more and better public transport, not less. And we do not need our heritage threatened.” he said.

Further details of the changes can be found at www.sydneybuses.info.