CHURCH Street residents have won their battle with the Newcastle City Traffic Committee as Watt Street shapes as the next stop for Keolis Downer bus layovers.
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The residents waged a war with Newcastle Transport operator Keolis Downer and the city traffic committee - which consists of City of Newcastle, Roads and Maritime Services, NSW Police and Newcastle MP Tim Crakanthorp - after buses began stopping outside their homes in November before the Newcastle 500.
Buses that were laying over on Church Street have now been shifted temporarily to Bolton Street, with the bus zone space on Church Street reverting to car parking.
The Newcastle Herald understands the traffic committee has agreed to Transport for NSW and Keolis Downer's commitment to use Bolton Street until March 31, when it is expected buses thereafter will layover on Watt Street outside The Station.
Although in a response to the Herald on Thursday, Keolis Downer said it would take "some time" for the move to Watt Street to occur.
"Keolis Downer provided options for the City of Newcastle Traffic Committee to consider, which will continue to meet customer needs and will minimise impacts on residents," a Keolis Downer Hunter spokesperson said.
"The new location of the bus stops and layovers in Bolton Street is a temporary measure.
"Some time is needed to make scheduling, customer information and other operational changes, before buses will start to layover on Watt Street."
The plan for the layover site in Watt Street is a stunning turn of events, with Transport for NSW previously indicating a preference not to have buses crossing the light rail tracks.
The old layover site, next to The Station on the corner of Wharf Road and Watt Street, is expected to be redeveloped in coming months.
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