When a new subdivision is developed, it’s accepted that the ACT Government would not approve the development unless certain infrastructure is installed from Day 1—assets such as the roads, footpaths and street trees.

So why then is it that infrastructure essential to uptake of public transport is not also required up-front?

Gungahlin suburbs finished years ago still have huddles of amazingly tolerant bus users standing around shivering in winter drizzle and sweltering under summer suns. Meanwhile Roads ACT works through a waiting list of hundreds of well-used bus stops, installing a handful of open-air seats a year. Really popular stops with small crowds waiting every day might hit the jackpot and score a shelter—with seating for just three people! Go figure the maths on that.

Is it any wonder that at the first sight of rain, so many people abandon the bus in droves, and the roads become choked with cars?

By not requiring adequate public transport infrastructure up front in new estates, the ACT Government is effectively training new residents to instead use their cars.

Up-front, quality bus shelters should be installed throughout new suburbs, and interchanges should be built in town centres. New arterial roads should have priority bus lanes built at the same time as the roads. Why for instance is the Flemington Road duplication nearing completion but parts will then be torn up again to put a bus lane down the centre where is was originally planned to go?

It’s not good enough to say that the main developer is the government, through its development arm the Land Development Agency. A new government could with a single resolution do away with the LDA. Our planning laws must be framed for a situation where all development is private, and no cost-shifting from developers to the wider community tax base is allowed.

The much-touted deal with Adshell is also backfiring. All bus shelters are now supposed to be built and maintained by Adshell. But understandably they only care about shelters in high traffic locations where people will see their ads. And they aren't going to be keen on shelters in brand new empty estates. This is another example of our government focused on a single cost item without considering the far higher road construction costs that result from people shirking public transport.