2014-08-19 Infrastructure and Services Committee Agenda

INFRASTRUCTURE & SERVICES COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                  19 AUGUST 2014


Asset Design & Investigations
2                         FREE HOLIDAY BUSES CHRISTMAS 2014/15 & EASTER 2015
DOCUMENT IN FOR MATI ON




Author                           Senior Project Officer, Joanna Ferris
                                 Planning & Infrastructure Department

Index                            ECM\Subject\Traffic and Transport
                                 ECM\Project & Contract\Pub – Trans: PT- FHB

Attachments                      1.    Easter 2014 Free Holiday Buses Timetable


EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Free Holiday Buses were first introduced by Noosa Council in 2000. The primary aim is to reduce
traffic congestion during peak Easter and Christmas holiday periods as well as encourage
greater use of public transport throughout the year. It is recommended that the service continue
and approval be obtained from TransLink to provide Free Holiday Buses for the periods of
26 December 2014 to 4 January 2015 and 3 to 12 April 2015.

The following TransLink services operate within the Noosa Shire only:
Route 626:                     Sunrise Beach to Tewantin via Noosa Heads.
Route 627:                     Sunshine Beach to Tewantin via Noosa Heads.
Route 628:                     Noosa Junction to Noosa Parklands via Noosa Civic.
Route 629:                     Noosa Junction to Tewantin via Noosa Civic.
Route 632:                     Noosa to Cooran.

Additionally, the following TransLink services operate within and outside the Noosa Shire:
Route 620:                     Noosa Heads to Maroochydore.
Route 623:                     Maroochydore to Noosa Junction.
Route 630:                     Noosa Junction to Nambour via Eumundi.
Route 631:                     Noosa Junction to Nambour via Eumundi and Cooroy.

The 2014 Easter Free Holiday Buses included only those TransLink services within the Noosa
Shire (Routes 626, 627, 628, 629, 632) and also provided additional shuttles between Noosa
Heads to Peregian Beach and a loop service from Noosaville to Noosa Junction via Noosa
Heads and Gympie Terrace.

If it is possible for TransLink to accommodate free travel for Noosa only journeys for TransLink
services which travel outside the Noosa Shire (Routes 620, 623, 630, 631) then there would be
no need to provide additional shuttles. However, if this is not possible it is recommended that the
additional shuttles continue to be provided and Noosa residents and visitors are well informed
regarding which TransLink services are not free.

The marketing budget for the 2014 Easter Free Holiday Buses was $24,638, this could be
reduced by not printing Free Holiday Buses timetables, only having online surveys, not installing
park and ride signage, installing less street banners, less variable message boards, and reducing
the passenger assistant hours. A reduced marketing budget of approximately $16,000 for both
Christmas and Easter Free Holiday Buses is proposed.




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