Emails reveal faulty Kingborough bus interchange built by council despite concerns from State Growth
The bus stop design failed across a number of tests. (Department of State Growth)
In short:
New details have emerged surrounding the botched design of a bus interchange south of Hobart that remains unused almost a year after construction finished.
Issues include features that do not comply with disability standards, safety risks, insufficient bay capacity and a site test by a bus driver with 20 years' experience that revealed problems.
What's next?
The local mayor says the council has made updated design documents and she hopes the rebuild will start in January.
A simple design flaw that has left a million-dollar bus interchange unusable could have been avoided, recently released documents show.
The long-awaited, off-road bus interchange at Kingston, south of Hobart, has been idle since construction finished almost a year ago, with costs totalling $1.25 million.
Last month, Kingborough Mayor Paula Wriedt told ABC Radio Hobart that the carriageway's curvature was too tight for buses to use but that the design had been "ticked off" as approved by the Department of State Growth.
However, a State Growth spokesperson at the time denied this and said the department had "repeatedly raised concerns with council" about safety and accessibility.
Now, documents obtained by the ABC under right to information (RTI) legislation have revealed State Growth warned the council about issues with the curved kerb months before construction started.
Kingborough Council says "after the interchange was completed … bus operators had identified the need for design adjustments". (Kingborough Council)
Almost 200 pages of emails and reports between State Growth and the council detail the issues plaguing the project — most of which stem from a design that was never going to be fit for purpose.
In an email dated November 11, 2022, State Growth thanked the council for "the opportunity to provide feedback" on the design documents.
"Our main concerns are … curved kerb for bus bays will not be DDA [Disability Disrimination Act] compliant — second bus bay should be straightened if/where possible".
After it was built, State Growth commissioned a 39-page independent report following complaints from bus drivers who had tried to use the interchange.
The report, also included in the RTI documents, found the final interchange that was built still "fails to comply with disability standards, as buses can't sit flush against the kerb to allow passengers a seamless transition when getting on and off the bus".
Multiple issues found with bus stop
The independent report identified what was described as "several challenges to safe and efficient bus operation and the overall passenger experience".
The report noted "insufficient bay capacity", the risk "buses become stuck … or block other buses", the layout meaning drivers are "unable to facilitate rear-door boarding", the problem of "passengers not sure where their service will stop", and "safety concerns for passengers, passing pedestrians and cyclists".
Other issues included:
- Buses overhang onto the boarding area, which could potentially injure passengers waiting to board.
- The sightline for buses leaving the interchange become impacted when another bus is still at the first bus stop, which can pose a safety risk to nearby pedestrians.
- Dangerous overtaking means buses will be delayed if they have to wait until the stop in front of them is clear before exiting, and there is no way for the different bus operators that will use the interchange to communicate their movement plans to each other.
- Even though there is a small amount of space for a third bus to enter the interchange and wait, it sticks out too far from the kerb to operate as a bus stop.
Testing showed buses not able to align with the kerb due to a lack of manoeuvrability. (Department of State Growth)
The RTI documents show "a driver with more than 20 years' experience" tested the bus stop, finding in one test that it was "not possible to align the front doors parallel with the kerb and boarding point".
State Growth suggested changes to the bus stop to make it usable, including relocating light poles, removing landscaping and straightening the roadway.
It also said the "drainage pit may need to be relocated".
The decision to build the interchange and move buses off the main road was meant to reduce congestion, create more room for on-street parking, and provide a safer location for the community to access public transport.
But the emails reveal the department at one point raised the idea of scrapping the interchange altogether and putting buses back on the Channel Highway.
However, it noted the potential for reputational damage if the promised infrastructure was not delivered.
Recommended changes to bring the bus stop up to standard include rebuilding the roadway to be less curved and removing landscaped areas. (ABC News: Luke Bowden)
Bus interchange to get 'alterations'
In a statement this week, Kingborough Mayor Paula Wriedt said the council could have done better.
"We acknowledge we could have worked more closely with the department and the stakeholders in the early stages of this project," she said.
She said Kingborough Council had given State Growth updated design drawings this week.
"Moving forward, our focus is on getting these alterations agreed to by the many partners involved and making the necessary changes.
"Council is hopeful this work can start in late January, depending on contractor availability."
An artist's impression of the bus stop in operation. (Kingborough Council)
On its website, the council says it "appreciates your patience as we work to improve this vital transport hub for the Kingston community".
"Further updates will be shared as progress continues."
For now, buses heading to Hobart from Kingston will continue to be diverted along Goshawk Way.
It is unclear how much the changes to make the bus stop compliant and usable will cost.
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