School buses off busy road

In a letter to Ocean Reef MLA Albert Jacob, Transport Minister Dean Nalder said Transperth intended to introduce the deviation into Anchorage Drive when the Butler Train Station and bus interchange opens.

Public Transport Authority spokesman David Hynes said the changed route would coincide with several diversions that will come into effect when the station opens in September.

‘During school times, route 480 will deviate to Mindarie Senior College, Peter Moyes Anglican School and Quinns Baptist College via stops on Anchorage Drive, removing the need for many students to cross Marmion Avenue,’ Mr Hynes said.

Mr Jacob welcomed the change, which he had been working towards with Mindarie Senior College for a year, and said the change would make a ‘huge difference’ during the early school run.

‘It’s going to mean there is less risk of students being injured crossing a busy road like Marmion,’ college principal Janice Sander said.

Mr Hynes said the existing route 480 would run from Clarkson station to Butler station via Marmion Avenue every 10 minutes during peak periods, and every 30 minutes during non-peak times on weekdays.

‘From September, route 490 will operate from Butler station to Two Rocks via Marmion Avenue every 20 minutes during peak-hour, and every hour during normal weekday operations,’ he said.

‘This service will be co-ordinated with the new route 491, which will run from Yanchep to Butler Station on a similar frequency.’

Mr Hynes said students from Butler College, Irene McCormack Catholic College and Clarkson Community High School may still need to change buses when using the 490 or 491 services, and could do so at either train station.

In May, the Times reported on calls to reduce the speed limit on Marmion Avenue around the three schools, with principals and parents concerned about children crossing the dual carriageway.

Roadwise School Community Group spokeswoman Helen Randall said she was thrilled to hear about the bus route change and any measures to get students safely across Marmion Avenue.

Until the change comes into effect, Mr Jacob said students should use the underpass south of Hester Avenue to cross Marmion Avenue.

‘My plea to students is, ‘please don’t be running across the road’,’ he said.