Doncaster Park and Ride bus station

Last updated

Doncaster Park and Ride
PTV bus stop
National Bus Company MAN 16.240 at Doncaster Park & Ride.jpg
Route 207 bus at Doncaster Park and Ride
General information
Location398-412 Doncaster Road, [1] Doncaster
City of Manningham
Australia
Coordinates 37°47′20″S145°06′17″E / 37.788886°S 145.104825°E / -37.788886; 145.104825
Owned by Department of Transport and Planning
Operated by Kinetic Melbourne
Line(s) Eastern Busway (future)
Platforms1
Bus routes8
Construction
Structure typeAt-grade
Parking400
AccessibleYes―step free access
Other information
Station code21050
Fare zone Myki Zone 2
History
OpenedJanuary 2003
Closed12 January 2025 (temporary)
Rebuilt2028 (expected)
Services
Preceding station Victoria bus logo.svg PTV Bus Following station
Future
Bulleen Park and Ride
towards Hoddle Street
Eastern Busway Terminus

Doncaster Park and Ride was a park and ride bus station and a future busway station located in Melbourne, Australia. It served the suburb of Doncaster and situates next to the Eastern Freeway, and opened in January 2003. On some official sources and signage of the station, the "and" in its name was replaced by a "+" symbol, making it Doncaster Park + Ride. [2]

Contents

It closed on 12 January 2025 to allow room for a new road to be built for temporary access to the Eastern Freeway during construction of the North East Link. [3] It is planned to be rebuilt and reopen in 2028.

History

The park-and-ride was opened in January 2003 by the state government partnered with the former National Bus Company. [4] However, its usefulness was disputed due to a review of the facility by the Department of Infrastructure in 2004 found that of those using it, only one person was a new user of public transport. All other people had previously commuted by bus. [5]

The station car park was part of the upgrades proposed in the Urban Congestion Fund (UCF) was established in the 2018–19 Budget by the federal government to increase the capacity of the car park. This project was approved in May 2020 for AU$6 million, fully funded by the Australian Government and to be delivered by the Victorian Government. [6] However, an audit by Australian National Audit Office (ANAO) found that the program was “not effective” and identification of projects “was not demonstrably merit-based”, and the park-and-ride facility did not qualify for funding. [7] In the 2022–23 Budget, the newly elected federal government withdrew the funding commitment to this project. [8]

As a part of the North East Link project, a dedicated busway will be constructed along with a rebuilt of the station, connecting the Park and Ride facility and Hoddle Street in the city with its own right-of-way. It is expected to be completed by 2028. [9] Due to construction of a new temporary road to maintain car access to the Eastern Freeway, the bus interchange closed on 12 January 2025. [10] The lack of information, length of the closure and poor alternative facilities have been criticised by transport planners and local councils. [3] [11]

Facilities

Doncaster Park and Ride bus station platform Doncaster Park and Ride bus platform in June 2023.jpg
Doncaster Park and Ride bus station platform

The station serviced the 907 and 908 SmartBus services, a part of the Doncaster Area Rapid Transit (DART), as well as seven other bus routes. [12] Apart from a park-and-ride, the station also acts as an interchange between Eastern Freeway express routes and other bus routes. [13]

The station had an indoor waiting area, a sheltered waiting area, a Parkiteer bicycle cage, a toilet, and a customer information centre. [2]

Although this station was served by eight bus routes, there was only one boarding platform with some buses stopping at the same stop in both directions and causing confusion for passengers. Some suggest that the limited platform space and inconsistent stopping spots for buses create a dangerous waiting environment. [14]

Bus routes

Sign showing bus routes departing Doncaster Park and Ride as of 2018. New style wayfinding sign at Doncaster Park and Ride.jpg
Sign showing bus routes departing Doncaster Park and Ride as of 2018.

It was served by nine routes all operated by Kinetic Melbourne, under contract to Public Transport Victoria:

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Property Report" (PDF). Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning . Victoria State Government. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  2. 1 2 Victoria, Public Transport. "Doncaster Park + Ride/Doncaster Rd". Public Transport Victoria. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Doncaster Park and Ride closure | Manningham Council". www.manningham.vic.gov.au. 20 December 2024. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  4. ↑ 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.
  5. ↑ "Myth: Park-and-Ride will encourage public transport use | Public Transport Users Association (Victoria, Australia)". Public Transport Users Association (Victoria, Australia). Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  6. ↑ Hehir, Grant. "Administration of Commuter Car Park Projects within the Urban Congestion Fund" (PDF). ANAO. Australian National Audit Office. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  7. ↑ Karp, Paul (29 June 2021). "Government committed millions to commuter car parks that could never be built, Labor says". The Guardian . Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  8. ↑ "Commuter Car Park Upgrade - Doncaster Park and Ride". Infrastructure Investment Program. Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts . Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  9. ↑ "Eastern Express Busway". Victoria’s Big Build. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  10. ↑ Build, Victoria’s Big (12 December 2024). "Doncaster Park and Ride closure". Victoria’s Big Build. Retrieved 15 December 2024.
  11. ↑ Mallis, Philip (15 December 2024). "Doncaster Park and Ride will soon close for three years | Philip Mallis" . Retrieved 7 January 2025.
  12. ↑ "Making the most of Melbourne's buses" (PDF). Infrastructure Victoria. Infrastructure Victoria. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  13. ↑ "Doncaster Park and Ride – Transit Oriented Development" (PDF). Manningham City Council. Retrieved 22 April 2023.
  14. ↑ "Push to upgrade dingy and dangerous PT hub". Herald Sun . Retrieved 1 April 2023.
  15. ↑ "207 City - Doncaster SC via Kew Junction". Public Transport Victoria.
  16. ↑ "280 Manningham Loop via Tunstall Square SC & Doncaster SC". Public Transport Victoria.
  17. ↑ "282 Manningham Loop via Templestowe Village SC & Doncaster SC". Public Transport Victoria.
  18. ↑ "284 Doncaster Park & Ride - Box Hill via Union Road". Public Transport Victoria.
  19. ↑ "285 Doncaster Park & Ride - Camberwell via North Balwyn". Public Transport Victoria.
  20. ↑ "303 City - Ringwood North via Park Rd". Public Transport Victoria.
  21. ↑ "907 City - Mitcham via Doncaster Rd (SMARTBUS service)". Public Transport Victoria.
  22. ↑ "908 City - The Pines SC via Eastern Fwy (SMARTBUS Service)". Public Transport Victoria.
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