Free holiday buses all set to bust traffic congestion

Sunshine Coast Council’s free holiday bus services are all set to ease traffic congestion and parking problems during the busy period from Boxing Day to 3 January.

All the buses on Route 600 from Caloundra to Mooloolaba and on to Maroochydore, ending at Sunshine Plaza, will be free.

Council’s Integrated Transport Services Manager Stuart Arden said the congestion-busting initiative, funded by council’s public transport levy, has strong support from local tourism and business groups.

“It’s an important step towards addressing traffic gridlock around some of our most popular holiday hot spots during the Christmas-New Year period,’’ Mr Arden said.

“This is a genuinely viable alternative to private vehicles for local residents and visitors. The free buses provide a reliable, efficient, stress-free option for people heading to work, the beach, the shops or the cinema.

“We also hope it will encourage new passengers to consider public transport as an option all year round.”

Mr Arden said most buses in the Noosa area will also be free during the same period, and it’s the success of that program in previous years that has seen it extended to the coastal strip between Caloundra and Maroochydore.

The Route 600 service is being funded by Sunshine Coast Regional Council as an initiative of the Public Transport Levy, and delivered in partnership with Sunbus and TransLink. The ongoing Noosa services are also supported by Tourism Noosa.

For more information or timetables, visit http://www.travelsmartsunshinecoast.com.au/ or www.translink.com.au or call TransLink on 13 12 30.

Timetables are also available at all council offices, libraries and Visitor Information Centres - or by calling call 5449 5200