New Bus Routes Announced to Support Surging Student Population in Growth Corridors
Melbourne’s outer suburbs are set to benefit from a significant boost in school bus services, thanks to a $25 million investment from the Victorian Budget 2022/23.
The Victorian Government is introducing new routes and extending existing ones to accommodate the growing number of students in these rapidly expanding areas.
Minister for Public and Active Transport, Gabrielle Williams, announced the introduction of these new services, highlighting the government’s commitment to improving public transport accessibility and efficiency for students across the state.
Among the beneficiaries are students from Greenvale Secondary College in Melbourne’s north, who will enjoy two new dedicated bus services from Meadow Heights and Greenvale West.
In the west, Springside West Secondary College students will have an additional Aintree – Springside West SC service.
Yarrabing Secondary College, a new educational institution, will receive a return service for students residing in Thornhill Park and Rockbank.
Bemin Secondary College in Truganina will be supported by six new dedicated services, linking students from Williams Landing, Truganina, and Hoppers Crossing.
The start of Term 1, 2024, will also see new services for students travelling from South Werribee and Wyndham Vale to Walcom Ngarrwa Secondary College in Werribee. This is part of a broader initiative to update Wyndham’s school bus network, aiming to meet high-demand areas and minimise service duplication.
These additional services are scheduled to commence on the first day of Term 1, Tuesday, 30 January. Minister Williams emphasised the importance of these developments.
“We are delivering more school bus services to strengthen our public transport network and to make sure our students get to school on time,” Williams said.
She also noted that this aligns with Victoria’s Bus Plan, which seeks to create a more modern bus network to encourage increased bus usage.
Iwan Walters, Member for Greenvale, expressed his support for the investment.
“This investment will ensure schools in growing suburbs like Greenvale remain accessible for all families and make the daily commute even easier for all students,” Walters said.
This expansion is a strategic step towards enhancing the accessibility and convenience of public transport for students, reflecting the government’s commitment to supporting education and easing daily commutes in growing suburban areas.
