CATCHING the bus in Elizabeth Street is expected to become a much more pleasing experience once improvements are carried out.
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The bus zone behind McDonald's Bathurst is set to get a $10,000 upgrade after Bathurst Regional Council secured the funding from the NSW Government.
The existing pedestrian island, located next to the access laneway that runs along the current bus spaces and waiting bays, will be widened as part of the works.
Accessible ramps will be built and changes to parking spaces and associated line marking will be made around the site to identify the new access arrangements.
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A small bus shelter and bus stop sign will be installed on the island to serve the bus bays.
"Designs have been completed and consultation with the adjoining residents and businesses has recently been carried out with no complaints," council's engineering services director Darren Sturgiss said.
"It is our understanding that we will have the project completed by the end of this calendar year. We're looking to proceed towards the end of October."
Councillor Monica Morse has been calling out for upgrades to the Elizabeth Street bus zone, especially after recently seeing how difficult it was for elderly and disabled people to board buses from that pick-up area.
She said there were about 30 people who were set to go on an outing, with the majority of them using mobility aids.
One issue they faced was the path, which was quite narrow and not a smooth surface.
"This path had a lip on it, which made it very difficult for people with walkers to get on," Cr Morse said.
"The bus door opened in such a way that they had to get off the path to go round the door to get their walkers into the bus. It didn't work, it was just a shambles."
Cr Morse also said that, if a shelter was to be constructed, it needed to be one that could accommodate and not impede passengers with disability.
When work does start on the upgrade, mayor Bobby Bourke said bus users can expect to encounter minor disruptions.
"Council anticipates minimal disruption during the works, with minor impacts on adjacent parking spaces and bus bays during concreting and line marking works," he said.