An independent MP and a Hobart councillor have pushed back on a new state government report that found a rapid bus network would best meet Hobart’s public transport needs.
The Greater Hobart Rapid Bus Network Strategic Business Case, released today, recommends rapid buses across all three major transport corridors, promising faster and more reliable public transport for thousands of daily commuters.
Transport Minister Kerry Vincent said rapid buses offered the most flexible and cost-effective option for the city’s suburbs.
“The report makes it clear greater Hobart needs a transport solution and rapid buses provide a flexible and scalable option,” Vincent said.
“This proposal is also the most cost-effective and fastest option to deliver, meaning Tasmanians will get the benefits sooner rather than later.”
However, the announcement has sparked criticism from MP Kristie Johnston, who argues rail would deliver superior benefits for Hobart’s northern suburbs.
Johnston pointed to the government’s own 2020 Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor report, which found rail brought “four to five times more social and economic benefit than a rapid bus service”.
“Minister Vincent thinks one size fits all when it comes to Hobart’s three public transport corridors but a rapid bus service does not fit the north,” Johnston said.
“He’s ignoring the unique opportunities in each corridor.”
Hobart councillor Ryan Posselt also criticised the proposal, noting council formally supported light rail for the northern suburbs.
“There is strong evidence that rail-based transit results in urban renewal and investment in housing along the rail corridor that does not apply to bus investment,” Posselt told Pulse.
He also questioned the government’s 2037 delivery timeline, saying it was “unacceptable” for a bus network.
“Buses generally go on roads … it should not take 10 years to deliver a bus network,” he said.
“If we’re going to have that sort of timeframe, then we might as well build light rail.”
The Hobart Northern Suburbs Rail Action Group called on the government to admit they were wrong about the suitability of Bus Rapid instead of rail and that they will now go back to the drawing board.
HNSRAG President Toby Rowallan said they support the concept of Bus Rapid to the Eastern Shore and Kingston but maintains that a new commuter rail service is the optimal plan.
“This plan is a rapid route to failure, and it won’t even be delivered before the stadium is supposed to be completed,” he said.
“It isn’t even close to being the cheaper or affordable option that the government claimed that it would.”
The government’s business case found the rapid bus network would be “easier, faster and cheaper to implement than an equivalent light rail network”.
