PTA contradicts residents; says bus stop on Peony Avenue is safe

YANCHEP residents are concerned a bus stop is blocking traffic on Marmion Avenue, but authorities say there is no safety risk.

At recent Two Rocks Yanchep Residents Association meetings, members have raised concerns about the stop on the southbound route, near the Peony Boulevard and Lagoon Drive traffic signals.

Earlier this year, residents thought a temporary stop farther south would resolve the issues, but in July, president Peter Wimsett said recent upgrades, including a bus shelter, proved otherwise.

“They have made it worse because they have put in a bus stand,” he said.

“There’s no embayment to let the buses stop.

“The bus stops to let people in and traffic is just held up.”

Residents said when buses stopped, cars had no space to pass due to the median strip, resulting in traffic building up through the intersection.

Responding to questions from the Times, Public Transport Authority spokesman David Hynes said Transperth did not “make changes to existing bus stops without good reason”.

“Under no circumstances would we move a bus stop to a location that was unsafe,” he said.

“Stop number 25565 was moved to provide passengers with easier access to routes 490 and 491.

“Bus stops will typically be placed as close as possible to a controlled intersection (such as one with traffic lights), to encourage people to cross there.

“It also makes access easier for people who may otherwise have difficulty crossing a major arterial road, like the elderly, parents with prams or small children and people with a disability.”

Mr Hynes said that as the City of Wanneroo planned to widen the southbound lane of Marmion Avenue eventually, creating a bus embayment was not suitable.

“As the cost of bus bays is considerable, we have taken the prudent decision not to use taxpayer funds on a bus bay which would eventually need to be rebuilt,” he said.

“While we accept that some motorists might not like driving behind a bus, they are a vital part of the public transport mix of this city.

“Each bus can carry 60 to 100 people, taking dozens of vehicles off the road and making them less congested for all road users.

“In this instance, the slight delay to vehicles following a bus may be an inconvenience, but is certainly not considered a hazard.”