There are many bus stops in Glenorchy where infrastructure can be described as truly awful in terms of safety.
But Council comments have always suggested that it was unclear where responsibility for those bus stops lay – Council or the state Department of State Growth (DSG).
A recent email from the DSG concerning the Bus Stop Upgrade Program said “it is expected that bus stop infrastructure on local roads or local footpaths will continue to be owned by local government”. Clearly, the department believes that Council “owns” the bus stops. However, the same email says “final arrangements for maintenance continue to be discussed between the department and councils”. That program will provide funds to Council for upgrades to “high priority” bus stops. Council will be responsible for the upgrades. It seems the program demands clarity on responsibilities when the program work is complete.
It will be interesting to see whether Council takes on responsibilities for bus stops unaffected by the program.
I certainly hope that Council informs us of the resulting situation because there are certainly bus stops in the city that require work. Here are a couple of the worst I’ve come across in my travels.
Stop 39 on Berriedale Road
A narrow path is the only access. Surrounded by trees and no street lighting, so unlit on a dark night. No assistance crossing the road from the bus stop. Anyone waiting would be invisible to bus drivers. No shelter whatsoever (but that is not unusual). No timetable attached to the pole. It is clearly designed to be a good-weather day-light drop-off stop only. Awful!
Stop on exit to Glenorchy from Bowen Bridge
Well here is another that is almost as bad, on the left hand side as you go toward Glenorchy from the Bowen Bridge. It is clearly intended (I hope) only for people to get off a bus – but it is unsafe even for that limited purpose. It takes more than a small bus stop sign stuck to a light pole to make a safe bus stop. Cheap and dangerous.
Further information from the Pedestrian & Public Transport Users Group
(on Facebook 04/04/2021 09:37)
Source: Christian Bell.
Met with State Growth, they stated that was their position. Policy no longer resides with Metro, it’s the departments position. The stated they might provide new seats and shelters on new routes (at their discretion) but on existing routes it was up to local government. Whenever the public ring up wanting a new seat. If they ring up the response they will get from the state government is “try local government”, if they ring up local they get the response “try state government”. Local government just views the State Governments position as cost shifting.
Pedestrian & Public Transport Users Group (on Facebook 04/04/2021 09:37)
Glenorchy City Observer 
Surely Metro must have some input. Who makes the decisions as to where the bus routes are? Like a lot of Govt Businesses. The more that are involved the less chance of having to take any responsibility.
Thanks for your comment Phil.
As far as routes and bus stop location are concerned, I’ve read in various places that Metro Tas consults with councils. But I’ve found nothing that describes the form that consultation takes or who makes the final decision.
As for the bus stop infrastructure, I suspect that Metro Tasmania (or their predecessor) was responsible for the construction of existing bus stop infrastructure all those decades ago. And maybe they initially believed that they would be responsible for maintaining it. Given the very modest budget Metro Tasmania has always had, it is not surprising that at some point they (or State Growth) started to change the story. In fact, if you try to notify them using the website, the downloadable form ( https://www.transport.tas.gov.au/documents/passenger/buses/PT503_-_Bus_Stop_Complaints.PDF ) says, and I quote,
“Often issues such as bus shelters, footpaths, street lighting, and condition of the road or the roadside is the responsibility of your local council. In this case your complaint will be forwarded to the appropriate council and you will be notified.”