In a letter to Transport Minister Dean Nalder, Osborne Park resident Jaime Herder said the change of route made no sense, catering for those unlikely to use it in Princeton Estate and ignoring those who want the service.
‘The new route caters to an unlikely, affluent clientele of multiple car ownership along Hamilton Street and Telford Crescent, and more ridiculously, traverses Princeton Estate, the residents of which are apparently petitioning against this out-of-character, intrusive and unneeded service,’ he said.
Mr Herder said the alternate routes, along Karrinyup Road, proposed by the PTA did not take into account that he was 78-years-old.
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READ NOW‘I was offered the option of taking the 99 bus to Stirling and from there a train to the city,’ he said.
‘Imagine, if you would, the intervening walks and waits.’
Mr Herder said anyone walking one kilometre on a hot or rainy day would appreciate that route 99 offered ‘no solution at all’.
Balcatta MLA Chris Hatton said he had received several complaints from residents in Princeton Estate not wanting the service through their area.
‘I spent the next couple of days door knocking all along the estate. The petition was actually facilitated through my office,’ he said.
PTA spokesman David Hynes said the PTA constantly monitored the patronage of bus routes and did not design routes on socio-economic circumstances.
‘The changes mean people living in the suburbs of Mt Hawthorn, Joondanna, Tuart Hill and Osborne Park have the option to connect to Stirling Station,’ he said.
‘Transperth consulted with the community in October last year about the proposed changes to Route 403.’