Fixed travel habits are hard to change, so early investment in direct active travel and public transport connections to the nearest local centre will shape sustainable future transport patterns in urban growth areas.
People are more likely to choose public transport when services are frequent or on-demand and follow a fast, direct route.33
In addition, appropriately designing and phasing the construction of road networks in new release areas can make public transport more attractive than car use.
If connecting local road links and bus priority facilities are built early on, operators can avoid circuitous routes and reach more users in multiple greenfield subdivisions with fewer, faster services. This reduces their operating costs and makes it possible to move to a more frequent timetable.
New funding sources (including developer contributions) can also help by temporarily bridging some of the gap between fare revenues and the operating costs for these services.