Public transport passengers in the Australian Capital Territory will soon encounter penalties for fare evasion, marking a significant shift more than a year after the introduction of the troubled MyWay+ ticketing system across Canberra's bus and light rail network.
Compliance Measures to Roll Out Early This Year
Transport Minister Chris Steel announced on Wednesday that the first stage of fare compliance efforts would commence early this year. This decision follows the MyWay+ validators achieving over 99 per cent usability since last year, indicating a stabilisation of the system after initial difficulties.
"Last year the government recruited a dedicated team of transport enforcement officers to support safety and accessibility on our bus network, with the visibility of these officers over the last couple of months already having an encouraging impact for our drivers and passengers," Mr Steel stated.
Broader Public Transport Improvements Planned
Alongside fare enforcement, the Transport Minister revealed that planning and consultation would begin on a substantial program of enhancements to public bus services, slated for implementation before the next election in 2028.
These improvements are set to include rapid bus connections linking key areas:
- Lanyon to the city centre
- The future Molonglo town centre to Belconnen
- Molonglo to the city
Mr Steel also indicated consideration of a new rapid service for Ginninderry in West Belconnen, which would replace existing small-bus connectors with full-size rapid services extending to the city, potentially serving southern Belconnen suburbs.
Recent Network Changes and Fleet Updates
A new bus timetable took effect on Monday, reducing more than 180 weekday services. The government defended this move as necessary to maintain reliability during the long-term Commonwealth Avenue Bridge renewal works.
On a positive note, Mr Steel confirmed that 106 battery electric buses previously promised by the government are now operational, with the delivery of 90 Y12 buses completed a year ahead of schedule.
"This year we will procure the next tranche of 30 battery buses, following funding through the 2025-26 Budget, and progress planning and design of a fourth bus depot on the northside to ensure we have the capacity and energy infrastructure required for a larger, fully electric zero emission fleet," he elaborated.
Ongoing System Improvements and Data Transparency
The government will continue recruiting bus drivers and surveying network travellers to inform passenger-focused improvements. Mr Steel emphasised that these initiatives form part of a comprehensive program to deliver a safer, cleaner, more frequent, and accessible public transport system across all Canberra regions, despite temporary constraints from the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge project.
Addressing concerns about the MyWay+ system, which the ACT Greens suggested should be considered for contract cancellation due to numerous issues, Mr Steel assured continued improvements, including enhancements to the customer interface.
He also announced that patronage data would soon become publicly available after extended work to link MyWay+ data with government systems.
