Eastern Express Busway

The Eastern Express Busway is a proposed bus rapid transit line in the eastern suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. It would operate alongside the Eastern Freeway, from Hoddle Street in Abbotsford to Doncaster Road in Doncaster. As a part of the North East Link project and Eastern Freeway upgrade, the entire busway is expected to be commence construction in 2024 and be completed by 2028.[1]

For the busway in Brisbane, Australia and Auckland, New Zealand, see Eastern Busway, Brisbane and Eastern Busway, Auckland.

Eastern Express Busway
Overview
OperatorKinetic Melbourne (projected)
StatusUnder construction
Began service2028 (projected)
Route
Route typeBus rapid transit
LocaleMelbourne, Victoria
Australia
Start Hoddle Street
Via Eastern Freeway
EndDoncaster Park and Ride
Length11 kilometres (6.8 mi)
Stations2
Zone(s)Myki zone 1 and 2
Route map
To City
Alexandra Parade
Hoddle Street
Merri Creek
Yarra River
Chandler Highway
Burke Road
Bulleen Road
North East Link
Thompsons Road
 Bulleen Park and Ride
Koonung Creek
Doncaster Road
 Doncaster Park and Ride
Eastern Freeway
To EastLink
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History
See also: Doncaster railway line

The concept of a busway between the Melbourne CBD and Doncaster was first proposed by Transdev, a French transport company that operated buses in Melbourne from 2013 to 2022, running from Donvale Hospital then along Doncaster Road, through the median of the Eastern Freeway, Hoddle Street, Victoria Parade and Lonsdale Street to a new underground bus terminus at Southern Cross Station. It also included stations at Chandler Highway, Burke Road and Bulleen Road.[2] Originally known as the Doncaster Busway, the project was estimated to cost over 500 million Australian dollars. However, the proposal was rejected by the Victorian State Government.[3] There has also been a proposal to use trackless trams for the busway.[4][5]

In November 2017, Andrews government announced the government's proposal of the busway as a part of the North East Link project.[6] It will run from Doncaster via dedicated bus lanes on the Eastern Freeway to Hoddle Street, with a new bus station at the Bulleen Road intersection.[7] It had been planned for the busway to run along the median in the Eastern Freeway, but has since changed to be built adjacent north of the freeway to better integrate with the intermediate station at Bulleen.[8] The Manningham Council had expressed their support for the facility due to its public space inclusion and public transport benefits.[9]

The first part of the busway, Bulleen Park and Ride, has opened in April 2023. Construction of the main busway will commence in 2024.[10]

Stations

Doncaster Park and Ride
Main article: Doncaster Park and Ride bus station

The park-and-ride was opened in January 2003 by the Bracks government partnered with the former National Bus Company.[11] It will be rebuilt as part of the construction of the project to enable entry to the busway.[10]

Bulleen Park and Ride
Main article: Bulleen Park and Ride bus station

The station cost $69 million AUD,[12] and opened on 30 April 2023 four years ahead of schedule along with timetable and route changes.[13] It is fast-tracked due to expected impacts to Doncaster Park and Ride, which will be closed during its rebuild for the construction of the busway, and completing the facility early will remove the need for building a temporary park and ride station at the Doncaster interchange.[14]

See also

References
  1. "Melbourne's First Dedicated, High-Speed Busway". Premier of Victoria. 25 November 2017. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  2. Carey, Adam (7 June 2017). "Doncaster to CBD: Special busway may run down middle of Hoddle Street". The Age. Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  3. Carey, Adam (29 September 2017). "Red light for Transdev's rapid busway between Doncaster and CBD". The Age. Retrieved 17 June 2023.
  4. "Push for trackless trams on the Eastern Freeway". No. Herald Sun. 29 October 2019. Archived from the original on 22 April 2023. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  5. Barton, Rod. "Trackless trams for Doncaster Rail". Archived from the original on 7 June 2020. Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  6. Andrews, Daniel. "Fast Tracking Victoria's First Green Roof Park And Ride". www.premier.vic.gov.au. Premier of Victoria. Retrieved 6 April 2023.
  7. "Eastern Express Busway". Archived from the original on 5 November 2021. Retrieved 9 February 2020.
  8. Jacks, Clay Lucas, Timna (26 April 2018). "Toll road to kill off future Doncaster rail: public transport group". The Age. Retrieved 20 April 2023.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. Day, Andrew. "Bulleen Park and Ride facility welcomed | Manningham City Council". www.manningham.vic.gov.au. City of Manningham. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  10. "Eastern Express Busway". Victoria’s Big Build. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  11. Inquiry into sustainable urban design for new communities in outer suburban areas (PDF). Melbourne: Victorian Government - Parliament - Outer Suburban/Interface Services and Development Committee. September 2004. p. 168. ISBN 9780975182529. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  12. Godde, Callum (6 June 2022). "Vic to buy more homes near road project". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  13. "Changes to bus routes 200, 305, 309 and 905". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  14. Build, Victoria’s Big (15 June 2021). "Bulleen Park and Ride fast-tracked". Victoria’s Big Build. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
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