Bus stop upgrade program
The Tasmanian Government has made an election commitment of up to $10 million over the next four years to provide all-access, all-weather bus stops at priority locations. This commitment recognises the importance of bus stop upgrades to improve access for people with disability.
This funding will deliver a significant improvement to bus stop infrastructure across the state, increasing compliance with disability standards and enhancing the passenger experience. This will contribute to the aim of reducing traffic congestion by encouraging greater public transport patronage.
The intent of the all-access all-weather bus stop program is to work in partnership with local government to
Funding will be delivered via a grant-style program similar to the Vulnerable Road User Program (VRUP) program. This means preference will be given to upgrading stops where councils are willing to work in partnership with the Department of State Growth.
The Program is only open to local government areas (LGA) in Tasmania.
Round 2 of the Grant Program is now open, and applications can be submitted until 5:00 pm on Friday, 24 November 2023.
Submit a Round 2 application via Smarty Grants.
Download the Round 2 Grant Program Guidelines (PDF 1MB).
Round 1 is now closed, and councils were notified of successful applications in June 2023.
Summaries of the bus stops approved for upgrades in each local government area are below.
It is anticipated that Round 1 bus stop upgrades will be completed by the end of January 2024.
| Bus Stop Location | Suburb |
1 | Stop 75, Cove Hill Shopping Centre | Bridgewater |
2 | Stop 58, Opposite Bridgewater Plaza | Bridgewater |
3 | Stop 58, Outside Bridgewater Plaza | Bridgewater |
4 | Stop 65, No.39 Scott Road | Bridgewater |
5 | Stop 50, No.22 Gunn Street | Bridgewater |
6 | Eddington St Opposite Weston Place | Bridgewater |
7 | Stop 55, No.102 Gunn Street | Bridgewater |
8 | Opposite No.2 Ashburton Road | Gagebrook |
9 | Stop 57, No.8 Green Point Road | Bridgewater |
10 | No.5 Ashburton Road | Gagebrook |
11 | No.2B Ashburton Road | Gagebrook |
12 | Stop 54, No.6 McShane Road | Bridgewater |
13 | Stop 57, Opposite No.14 Green Point Road | Bridgewater |
| Bus Stop Location | Suburb |
1 | New Norfolk Central Bus Station | New Norfolk |
2 | 56-61 George Street | New Norfolk |
3 | 7 Blair Street | New Norfolk |
4 | 47 George Street | New Norfolk |
5 | 89A Benjamin Terrace | New Norfolk |
6 | 256 Back River Road | New Norfolk |
7 | 101 Blair Street | New Norfolk |
8 | 37 Benjamin Terrace | New Norfolk |
9 | Arthur Square, Pioneer Avenue | New Norfolk |
10 | 5 Blair Street | New Norfolk |
11 | 32 North Crescent | New Norfolk |
12 | 14 Southview Crescent | New Norfolk |
13 | 18 Back River Road | New Norfolk |
14 | 13A Sixth Avenue | New Norfolk |
15 | 74 North Crescent | New Norfolk |
16 | 55 Derwent Terrace | New Norfolk |
17 | 243 Back River Road | New Norfolk |
18 | 38 Rocks Road | New Norfolk |
| Bus Stop Location | Suburb |
1 | Stop 9, Mowbray Shops | Mowbray |
2 | Stop 10, Invermay Road/Foch Street, In | Mowbray |
3 | Stop 14, No.116 George Town Road | Newnham |
4 | No.63 Charles Street | South Launceston |
5 | Stop 16, No.168 George Town Road | Newnham |
6 | No.96 Poplar Parade | Youngtown |
7 | Stop 6, No.226-232 Wellington Street | South Launceston |
8 | Opposite No.65 Howick Street | South Launceston |
9 | Stop 15, No.156 George Town Road | Newnham |
10 | Stop 10, Invermay Road/Foch Street, Out | Mowbray |
11 | No.62 Ravenswood Road | Ravenswood |
12 | Stop 4, Invermay Road (York Park) | Invermay |
13 | Stop 13, No.78 George Town Road | Newnham |
14 | Stop 17, No.202 Hobart Road | Kings Meadows |
15 | Stop 16, No.178 Hobart Road | Kings Meadows |
16 | No.5 George Town Road | Newnham |
17 | Stop 9, No.421 Wellington Street | South Launceston |
18 | Stop 3, Opposite No.27-33 Invermay Road | Invermay |
19 | Stop 15, No.117 George Town Road | Newnham |
20 | Opposite No.194 Charles Street | Launceston |
21 | No.194 Charles Street | Launceston |
22 | No.95 Poplar Parade | Youngtown |
23 | Stop 17, No.233 Hobart Road | Kings Meadows |
24 | Stop 12, No.71 Hobart Road | Kings Meadows |
25 | Stop 17, No.189 George Town Road | Newnham |
26 | Stop 16, No.147 George Town Road | Newnham |
27 | Stop D2, No.168 Brisbane Street | Launceston |
| Bus Stop Location | Suburb |
1 | Stop 16, No.322 West Tamar Highway | Riverside |
2 | opp. 51 Freshwater Point Road | Legana |
3 | 20 Beach Road | Legana |
4 | Freshwater Point Road/Orchard Avenue | Legana |
| Bus Stop Location | Suburb |
1 | No.31 Rice Street | Port Sorell |
2 | Port Sorell Road (Past Parkers Ford Road) | Port Sorell |
3 | Port Sorell Road (Before Alexander Street) | Port Sorell |
| Bus Stop Location | Suburb |
1 | Railton, Foster St after Esplanade | Railton |
| Bus Stop Location | Suburb |
1 | No.84 Payne Street | Acton |
2 | No.102 Payne Street | Acton |
3 | Acton Recreation Reserve - Payne Street | Acton |
4 | Stop 16, Bird Street (Montello PS) | Montello |
5 | Stop 20, Wright Street Opposite Lorymer Place | Shorewell Park |
6 | No.31 Wright Street | Shorewell Park |
7 | No.17 Wright Street | Shorewell Park |
8 | Stop 18, No.8 Wright Street | Shorewell Park |
9 | Stop 1, No.2 Aileen Crescent | Hillcrest |
10 | No.1 Aileen Crescent | Hillcrest |
11 | No.26 Manuka Drive | Romaine |
12 | No.27 Manuka Drive | Romaine |
13 | No.39 Main Road (Main Road/Corcellis Street In) | Wivenhoe |
14 | No.47 Payne Street | Hillcrest |
15 | Stop 20, No.44 Payne Street | Hillcrest |
16 | No.39 Main Road (Main Road/Corcellis Street Out) | Wivenhoe |
17 | Stop 11, No.3 Manuka Drive | Romaine |
18 | No.45 Manuka Drive | Romaine |
19 | No.46 Manuka Drive | Romaine |
| Bus Stop Location | Suburb |
1 | No.23 Don Road | Devonport |
2 | No.60 Nixon Street | Devonport |
3 | No.29 Valley Road | Devonport |
4 | No.20 Valley Road | Devonport |
| Bus Stop Location | Suburb |
1 | PCYC, Marlborough Street | Longford |
2 | Opposite Pool, Main Street | Cressy |
3 | Marlborough Street / High Street | Longford |
4 | High Street, before Elizabeth Court | Campbell Town |
5 | Outside pool; Main Street | Cressy |
To ensure funds are used effectively, State Growth has developed a Bus Stop Prioritisation Framework to focus upgrades where they are most needed.
The Framework uses a selection of socio-economic, patronage and community measures to rank bus stops based in each LGA. Stops are further broken down on an urban and rural basis to ensure a balanced outcome.
To apply this method, ‘need scores’ have been developed for bus stops that have then been indexed to provide a hierarchical list that ranks stops by need within each LGA.
The Framework will be used to identify a ‘first cut’ of priority bus stops, which will be further refined in consultation with bus operators and councils.
Download the Bus Stop Prioritisation Framework (PDF 618KB).
Bus shelters provide a safe and comfortable place to wait for public transport, and offer protection from wind, rain and the sun.
State Growth has developed a bus shelter provision guideline based on:
Bus stops are often the first point of contact a passenger has with public transport, so the provision and design of bus shelters contributes to the overall customer experience and makes public transport more attractive.
All new general access bus stops and shelters are required to be compliant with disability standards. There is also a requirement that if a bus stop is being substantially upgraded, an existing shelter, if still required should also be upgraded or replaced with a compliant product.
Typically, bus shelters should be provided at stops where there are high numbers of boarding passengers. They are not typically provided where the majority of passengers are getting off the bus.
Download the Bus Shelter Guideline (PDF 553KB).
State Growth has conducted several phases consultation to date, including engagement with bus operators, local government, and advocacy groups.
State Growth will continue to engage with these stakeholders throughout the Program.
This Program is designed to assist state and local government progressively comply with their obligations under
According to the DSAPT, any bus stop constructed after 2002 must be compliant with the DDA.
Compliant bus stop infrastructure improves access to public transport for everyone, particularly for families with children using prams, older Tasmanians and people living with a disability.
State Growth has developed a guide on the planning and design of Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (DDA) compliant bus stops. The guide is based on the Australian Human Rights Commission guidelines for promoting bus stop compliance. It should be noted that these guidelines are based on the minimum requirements for a DDA bus stop.
Guideline - moving towards more accessible bus stops (WORD 2318KB)
Guideline - moving towards more accessible bus stops (PDF 1609KB)
State Growth has also developed standard accessible bus stop, shelter and bus stop blade designs.