SmartBus services are more reliable because of bus priority road works that dedicate road space to buses and give buses with priority ahead of other traffic.
Bus priority road works include:
Bus lanes allow buses to drive past traffic in their own lane, or to ‘jump the queue’ at an intersection.
'B' traffic lights are activated by buses approaching an intersection. These traffic lights allow buses to get
through intersections with minimal delay.
Restrictions such as bus zones, clearways and no stopping areas help improve traffic flow and provide
buses with safe, clear areas to pick-up passengers.
Mahoneys Road and Keon Parade, Reservoir/Thomastown
Doncaster Road and Mitcham Road, Doncaster/Donvale
Melrose Drive, Tullamarine
Mickleham Road, Gladstone Park
Dalton Road, Thomastown
Johnstone Street / Pearcedale Parade, Broadmeadows
McIntyre Road, North Sunshine
Bell Street, Coburg and Pascoe Vale South
Bell Street, Preston
St Georges Road, Preston
A proposal to introduce bus priority along Mahoneys Road and Keon Parade, is open for public feedback until 17 December 2009. Read more about the Mahoneys Road & Keon Parade bus priority proposal.
A proposal to introduce bus priority along Doncaster Road and Mitcham Road, is open for public feedback until 10 December 2009. Read more about the Doncaster Road & Mitcham Road bus priority proposal.
Location: Melrose Drive, between Melrose Court and Malvern Avenue.
Description: A dedicated bus/bike lane will be constructed on the east side of Melrose Drive, between Melrose Court and Malvern Avenue. Road widening will be necessary in some areas to create extra space for the bus lane. The traffic signals at Melrose Drive/Malvern Avenue will also be upgraded to include traffic light priority for buses.
View a map of improvements to Melrose Drive [PDF 691KB]
Start date: mid November 2009
Duration (approximate): 4 months
Location: Mickleham Road, between the Tullamarine Freeway and Broadmeadows Road Deviation.
Description: Bus priority works and general road improvements will involve:
- building shared bus/bike lanes on both sides of the road
- installing bus priority traffic lights to minimise delays to buses
- installing new traffic signals at the Broadmeadows Road Deviation roundabout to improve safety and regulate traffic flow
- closing the median gap on Mickleham Road, between International Drive/Gladstone Park Drive and Western Avenue/Rylandes Drive, to ensure the road meets current safety standards and reduce the risk of crashes
- extending right turn lanes at major intersections to accommodate more vehicles
- extending the third traffic lane on Mickleham Road north of Western Avenue to reduce congestion
- installing a double right-turn lane on Mickleham Road at Gladstone Park Drive to accommodate more vehicles
- upgrading bus stops so they’re safer and easier for everyone to use.
View a map of bus priority works on Mickleham Road [JPEG, 100KB]
Status: In progress
Location: Dalton Road, Wood Street and Keon Parade.
Description: A dedicated bus lane is being constructed following road widening of Dalton Road. ‘B’ bus priority traffic signals will be installed at the intersection of Dalton Road and Keon Parade.
View a map of bus priority works on Dalton Road [PDF, 188KB]
Status: in progress - nearing completion
The intersection of Johnstone Street and Pearcedale Parade, Broadmeadows.
A ‘queue jump’ bus lane with 'B' bus traffic signals is now operating on Pearcedale Parade to help buses get ahead of other traffic. As part of these works, a through traffic lane on Johnstone Street (southbound) was converted into a right-turn lane to reduce delays to all traffic turning right into Pearcedale Parade.
View a map of bus priority works at Johnstone Street / Pearcedale Parade [PDF, 207KB]
Status: complete
McIntyre Road, between Berkshire Road and Ballarat Road.
New peak-hour clearways will be installed on 28 September 2009. These clearways will operate Monday to Friday, from 7am - 9am on the east side (even-numbered properties) and 3.30pm - 6.30pm on the west side (odd-numbered properties) of McIntyre Road between Berkshire Road and Ballarat Road.The decision to create new clearways was reached following consultation with the local community.
Status: complete
A proposal to improve bus priority along Bell Street, between the Tullamarine Freeway and Nicholson Street, is currently being evaluated. Read more about the Bell Street proposal.
Bell Street, between St Georges Road and Jessie Street.
New part-time bus lane will be installed on Bell Street and traffic signals at the intersection of Bell Street and St Georges Road will be upgraded to display a 'B' bus signal.
View a map of bus priority works on Bell Street [PDF, 421KB]
in progress - nearing completion
Location: St Georges Road, between Bell Street and Bruce Street.
Description: A new bus lane has been installed on St Georges Road and traffic signals at the intersection of Bell Street and St Georges Road are being upgraded to display a 'B' bus signal.
View a map of bus priority works on St Georges Road [PDF, 421KB]
Status: in progress - nearing completion
To find out more about SmartBus priority works near you please contact us:
Phone: 1300 309 571
Email: smartbus@roads.vic.gov.au