Hobart Bus Mall

The Hobart Bus Mall (also called the Hobart City Interchange) is the main urban bus interchange for Metro Tasmania in the Hobart central business district. Situated on Elizabeth Street, it serves daily commuters from suburbs, nearby cities, and towns including Clarence, Glenorchy, Richmond, Cambridge and Kingborough. The interchange spans Elizabeth Street between Macquarie and Collins streets, with additional bus stops at Franklin Square and one on Liverpool Street near the Elizabeth Street Mall's north end. The interchange is within 500 metres (1,600 ft) of connecting coach services (operated by Tassielink) on Murray Street, ferry services and airport bus services (operated by SkyBus) at Brooke Street Pier.

Hobart Bus Mall
Bus interchange
Metro bus in the bus mall, Elizabeth Street, 2014
General information
LocationElizabeth Street
Macquarie Street
Liverpool Street
Coordinates42°52′56.9″S 147°19′46.4″E
Owned byCity of Hobart
Operated byMetro Tasmania
Platforms12
ConnectionsCoach (Murray Street)
Ferry (Brooke Street Pier)
SkyBus (Brooke Street Pier)
Construction
ParkingNo
Bicycle facilitiesYes
AccessibleYes
History
Previous namesGPO Terminus

History

Double-decker tram terminating at the Hobart GPO, circa 1940s

The Hobart Bus Mall has historically been a hub for various transportation routes connecting different parts of Hobart and its surrounding areas. Serving as a central transfer point where passengers can switch between lines, the interchange has a long history of public transportation, previously offering horse-drawn carriages, trams, trolley-buses and taxis.[1] Commencing operations on 23 September 1893, the Hobart Electric Tram Company's city interchange was established outside the Hobart General Post Office on Elizabeth Street. A small tramway shelter, named the "pagoda" was erected on Elizabeth Street to provide protection for tramway officers in 1935.[2] Trams ceased operations in Hobart on 21 October 1960. Trolley-buses ran from 29 October 1935 until 22 November 1968. Following the closure of Hobart railway station on 18 July 1978, the Hobart Bus Mall became the city's primary public transportation hub.

On 19 November 1991, an eight bay bus station opened with Elizabeth Street closed between Collins and Macquarie streets to normal traffic.[3]

Upgrades

In 2015, the Hobart City Council announced a $2 million upgrade to the mall.[4][5] The upgrades include double the sheltered space, 3-meter-wide pedestrian footpaths, additional seating, improved lighting and bike racks.[6] Commencing in 2017, work on the upgrades was divided into multiple stages[7] as a means to minimise disrupting services[8] and the bus mall reopened in October 2020.[9]

2018 vision

The Tasmanian Liberals released a public transport policy document showcasing a new underground bus mall for the 2018 Tasmanian state election. The plan included concept designs of a new revitalised Elizabeth Street interchange featuring a sunken courtyard with a stepped profile, Macquarie Street as an overpass bridge, with rapid transport electric buses, premium bus stops featuring digital signage and amenities. Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding announced that if the Liberal government was re-elected, they would take over management of Davey and Macquarie streets from the Hobart City Council.[10] With a cost exceeding $100m, Hidding noted the project would take two years to construct. In spite of the reelection of the Liberal Government, the project has seen no advancement.[11]

Smoke-free Hobart

After the adoption of the ten-year strategic plan by the Hobart City Council, titled Hobart: A community vision for our island capital, specific areas within Hobart's CBD, including the Hobart Bus Mall, were designated as smoke-free zones starting from 15 April 2020.[12]

Pedestrian scramble

Commencing in July 2023, the City of Hobart, in collaboration with the Department of State Growth, activated two pedestrian scrambles, granting pedestrians the ability to traverse in any direction when the traffic signal is green. The initial phase has been initiated at the intersections of Liverpool and Collins Streets, situated at either end of the Elizabeth Street Mall.

Services

Metro Volgren bodied Scania L94UB departing the Hobart GPO

Along Elizabeth Street, the Hobart Bus Mall has bus stops outside the Hobart GPO (A1, A2), NAB House (A3), Franklin Square (D3) and the Hobart Town Hall (D4). On Macquarie Street, there are stops situated outside the Colonial Mutual Life Building (C1) and Franklin Square (D1, D2). Situated at the northern end of the Elizabeth Street Mall is a single stop (L1) located on Liverpool Street, facilitating services to the suburbs of Mount Stuart and West Hobart.

Ticketing

A Metro shop located at 40 Elizabeth Street is open from 8 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday. During daylight savings time in Tasmania, it also operates from 9:30 am to 2 pm on Saturdays. The shop offers free bus schedules and assistance for bus routes, timings, fares, and discounts.

Routes

Hobart's bus routes are numbered with three digits, according to their geographical area:

  • Routes for destinations numbers south of Hobart City Centre are prefixed with 4.
  • Routes for destinations numbers north of Hobart City Centre are prefixed with 5.
  • Routes for destinations numbers east of Hobart City Centre are prefixed with 6.
  • Express route variants are prefixed with X.
  • School bus routes on the western side of the River Derwent are prefixed with 2 series, and on the eastern shore they are prefixed with 3. For morning services the third digit is odd, in the afternoon it is even.[13]
Bus Route Destination Departing Stop
500, 501, 502 Glenorchy Elizabeth St A1 (Hobart GPO)
503 Tolosa Park Elizabeth St A1 (Hobart GPO)
504 Jackson Street Elizabeth St A1 (Hobart GPO)
510 Austins Ferry Elizabeth St A1 (Hobart GPO)
511 Claremont Elizabeth St A1 (Hobart GPO)
512 Cadbury's Estate Elizabeth St A1 (Hobart GPO)
513 Chigwell Elizabeth St A1 (Hobart GPO)
520 Bridgewater Elizabeth St A1 (Hobart GPO)
522 Gagebrook Elizabeth St A1 (Hobart GPO)
722 New Norfolk Elizabeth St A1 (Hobart GPO)
X10 Granton Elizabeth St A2 (Hobart GPO)
X11 Claremont Elizabeth St A2 (Hobart GPO)
X20, X30 Bridgewater Elizabeth St A2 (Hobart GPO)
X21 Brighton Elizabeth St A3 (NAB House)
X22, X23 New Norfolk Elizabeth St A3 (NAB House)
601 Shoreline Shopping Centre Elizabeth St A3 (NAB House)
615, X15, 616, X16 Tranmere Elizabeth St A3 (NAB House)
624, 625 Clarendon Vale Elizabeth St A3 (NAB House)
634, X34 Roches Beach Elizabeth St A3 (NAB House)
635 Seven Mile Beach Elizabeth St A3 (NAB House)
646, X44 Opossum Bay Elizabeth St A3 (NAB House)
685 Geilston Bay Elizabeth St A3 (NAB House)
695 Risdon Vale Elizabeth St A3 (NAB House)
X01, X08 Huntingfield Macquarie St D1 (Franklin Square)
X07, 407, 408, 409, 427, 428, 500 Blackmans Bay Macquarie St D1 (Franklin Square)
410 Kingston Macquarie St D1 (Franklin Square)
411 Howden Macquarie St D1 (Franklin Square)
412 Margate Macquarie St D1 (Franklin Square)
X13, 413 Snug Macquarie St D1 (Franklin Square)
415 Woodbridge Macquarie St D1 (Franklin Square)
416 Middleton Macquarie St D1 (Franklin Square)
417 Gordon Macquarie St D1 (Franklin Square)
426 Taroona Macquarie St D1 (Franklin Square)
429 Summerleas Road Macquarie St D1 (Franklin Square)
X710, 710 Huonville Macquarie St D1 (Franklin Square)
712 Ranelagh Macquarie St D1 (Franklin Square)
714 Cygnet Macquarie St D1 (Franklin Square)
714 Geeveston Macquarie St D1 (Franklin Square)
718, 719 Dover Macquarie St D1 (Franklin Square)
446 Marlyn Road Macquarie St D2 (Franklin Square)
447 Strickland Avenue Macquarie St D2 (Franklin Square)
448, 449 Fern Tree Macquarie St D2 (Franklin Square)
401, 402 Lower Sandy Bay Elizabeth St D3 (Franklin Square)
X58, 457, 458 Mount Nelson Elizabeth St D3 (Franklin Square)
501, 601 University Elizabeth St D3 (Franklin Square)
541 Springfield Elizabeth St B1 (Mövenpick Hotel)
X42, 552, X50 Glenorchy Elizabeth St B1 (Mövenpick Hotel)
551, 552, 553 Lenah Valley Elizabeth St B1 (Mövenpick Hotel)
560, 561 Glenorchy Macquarie St C1 (Colonial Mutual Life Building)
562 Springfield Macquarie St C1 (Colonial Mutual Life Building)
606 Shoreline Shopping Centre Macquarie St C1 (Colonial Mutual Life Building)
654, 655 Mornington Macquarie St C1 (Colonial Mutual Life Building)
664, X64 Seven Mile Beach Macquarie St C1 (Colonial Mutual Life Building)
676 Rosny Park Macquarie St C1 (Colonial Mutual Life Building)
725 Richmond Elizabeth St D4 (Hobart Town Hall)
726 Campania Elizabeth St D4 (Hobart Town Hall)
731, X31, X33 Sorell Elizabeth St D4 (Hobart Town Hall)
732, X32 Dodges Ferry Elizabeth St D4 (Hobart Town Hall)
734 Nubeena Elizabeth St D4 (Hobart Town Hall)
736 Swansea Elizabeth St D4 (Hobart Town Hall)
737 Bicheno Elizabeth St D4 (Hobart Town Hall)
540 Mount Stuart & West Hobart Liverpool St L1 (Elizabeth St Mall)

References

  1. "Man gaoled for imposing on taxi driver". The Mercury. Vol. CLXXIII, no. 25, 855. Tasmania, Australia. 30 October 1953. p. 5. Retrieved 15 August 2023 via National Library of Australia.
  2. "Tramway "Pagoda" near Hobart GPO". The Mercury. Vol. CXLII, no. 20, 109. Tasmania, Australia. 6 April 1935. p. 3. Retrieved 15 August 2023 via National Library of Australia.
  3. Metro City Opens Transit Australia March 1992 page 69
  4. "Bus Mall Improvement Project". Hobart City Council. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  5. Howard, Jessica (29 January 2015). "Hobart City Council pledges $2m to upgrade bus mall". The Mercury. Retrieved 25 July 2015.
  6. Howard, Jessica (26 July 2015). "HCC plans $2.5m upgrade of bus mall next year". Perth Now. Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  7. "Elizabeth Street Bus Mall upgrade resumes". Hobart Observer. 9 July 2019. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  8. "Hobart bus mall returns to two-way movement". Hobart City Council. 12 October 2020. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  9. Kitto, James (17 September 2020). "The completion of major upgrades to the Hobart bus mall will see it reopen next month". The Mercury (Hobart). Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  10. Burgess, Georgie (1 February 2018). "Liberal Party's vision for Hobart transport criticised as 'bereft of detail'". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  11. "Whatever Happened to Hobart's Underground Bus Mall?". Tasmanian Times. 27 March 2021. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  12. "Smoke-free Hobart". City of Hobart. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  13. Hobart Interchange Metro Tasmania
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