Mount DRuitt Standard - Blake's Bus System

A 14 year old has transport fix

Lauren Murada - story posted in newspaper 5/5/2010

A 14 year-old boy says he can the area's public transport woes.

As bureaucrats and politicians argue about traffic chaos, Shalvey student Blake Bardowski has presented a blueprint to clean up bus services. His vision has the approval opf one local lobby group.

Blake said he became aware of problems facing residents after new bus routes were introduced last October.

"A lot of people are disadvantaged and need to get to places they can't with the current system
but could with the old system," he said.

So he combined the best of the old and new systems to create a new network,

"They should fix the problem butb they don't really listen to the people, " he said of the authorities. "They should listen to this because it advantages a lot of people and connects them.

I've listened to what the people want and written it down, an=dd my own bits and touched it up so it will work out."

Blake spent 4 weeks redesigning the routes and is currently finishing the time table.

He has a detailed 49-page presentation with maps outlining the routes for each service.

Blake said the redesign was harder than he expected.

"i really care because a lot of people couldn't get to where they want to go," he said.

"i couldn't get to my grandma's place and some of my friends places and it took me a bit longer to get to school (Penrith High)," Blake showed the new network to the Save Our Bus Services Mt Druitt And Surrounding Suburbs Group, who gave it their approval.

Chairman John Svoboda said they have to tweak a few technical aspects but was very impressed with his work.

"It seems like he's covered every area, places people couldn't get to", he said.

Save Our Bus Services will meeting this Saturday at 10.30am at Holy Family Parish Emerton, to discuss Blake's proposal.

The group hopes arrange a public meting at Hoyts Mt Druitt soon to showhis work to Busways, Westbus , local Mp's and council members.

To attend this week's meeting, call Deb Robertson on 0409669876.

NETWORK EXPANSION
Highlights of Blake's Proposal

+Extending bus services from Penrith, across Mount Druitt and St Marys, to Blacktown and Rouse Hill and a route to Liverpool;

+Features 66 routes in the network. The current system has 55;

+A free shuttle service from Mount Druitt railway station to Mount Druitt Hospital;

+Restore services to the western end of Sedgman Crescent, Shalvey;

+Restore services to Middleton Crescent (Bidwill), Manifold Road (BLackett) and Chestnut Crescent (Bidwill) on Sundays;

+And more services to North St Marys on weekdays,

+And a route to take in North Parade (Mount Druitt), Rooty Hill Road North (Rooty Hill) and Luxford Road.