Bus stops across Tasmania are getting an upgrade to make them more accessible for disabled and vision-impaired passengers, with work underway on 89 shelters across the state.
The upgrades include larger concrete waiting areas, ramped access, improved footpaths and drainage and tactile ground markers to assist people who are vision-impaired.
Work has already been completed at stops along South Arm Highway at Lauderdale, Lyell Highway at Tynwald Park, Bagdad on the Midland Highway, and near MyState Bank Arena on the Brooker Highway.
The next phase begins in November, with 15 bus stops between Huonville and Dover set for improvement along the Huon Highway.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Kerry Vincent said the program spans regions including Burnie, Launceston, Hobart, the Huon Valley and South Arm.
“We’re upgrading right around the state in each region,” he said.
“Bus stops … are a major part of getting on and off the bus, but they’re important areas for people to meet, people to greet waiting for the bus and we’re very pleased to have this upgrade program in place.”
The state government has spent more than $500,000 so far, with another $700,000 to $900,000 planned for the next 12 months.
All stops are being brought up to Disability Discrimination Act 1992 standards.
Shane Dewsbury, Managing Director of Tassielink Transit, said accessible stops are particularly important in regional and remote areas.
“With the new design of our buses, the upgrades help [meet] the accessible standards and we welcome that right across the state,” he said.
“If we can make the process simpler for our customers, it makes it easier for them to catch the bus, well we could get more people on our buses.”
