HEAVY VEHICLE NATIONAL LAW
National Class 3 Controlled Access Bus Exemption Notice 2019 (No.1)
Purpose
- The purpose of this Notice is to provide access to controlled access buses that are more than 12.5m long, but not more than 14.5m long, and:
(a) are compliant vehicles; or
(b) have a rear overhang dimension that exceeds regulation limits.
Note: Compliant buses from 12.5m to 14.5m long are also considered Class 2 vehicles under s116 of the HVNL. However, this Notice grants such vehicles access as though they are exempted Class 3 vehicles, and provide the same access.
Authorising Provision
2. The class 3 Notice is made under section 117 of the HVNL.
Title
3. This Notice may be cited as the National Class 3 Controlled Access Bus Exemption Notice 2019.
Commencement
4. This Notice commences on 10 February 2019.
Expiry
5. This Notice expires on 9 February 2024.
Definition
6. Unless otherwise stated, words and expressions used in this Notice have the same meanings as in the HVNL or regulations made under the HVNL.
7. In this Notice—
‘controlled access bus’ means a bus, other than an articulated bus, longer than 12.5m but not more than 14.5m long.
‘rear overhang dimension limit’ means the requirement in section 5(1) of Schedule 6 of the Heavy Vehicle (Mass, Dimension and Loading) National Regulation.
Application
8. This Notice applies to a controlled access bus, as specified in a Schedule.
9. This Notice applies in all participating jurisdictions.
Conditions
10. The driver and operator of the vehicle must comply with all conditions set out in the Schedule for a participating jurisdiction when the vehicle is being used in the jurisdiction to which that Schedule applies.
Peter Caprioli
Executive Director (Freight and Supply Chain Productivity)
National Heavy Vehicle Regulator
SCHEDULE 1 – AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
Application
- This Schedule only applies to compliant controlled access buses more than 12.5m long, but not more than 14.5m long.
2. Rear Overhang length must meet prescribed regulation limits, despite the exemption made in the body of this Notice.
Note: this means that this Schedule only applies to buses with compliant rear overhang lengths.
Definitions
3. In this schedule—
‘approved route’ means a route shown in red on the map titled “Approved routes for 14.5m Controlled Access Bus”, or a route shown in the list titled “Approved routes for 14.5m Controlled Access Bus” displayed on the Transport Canberra and City Services website.
‘conditions of travel’ for a route means any restrictions or conditions specified for that route, in the “restrictions/conditions” column of the list titled “Approved routes for 14.5m Controlled Access Bus” displayed on the Transport Canberra and City Services website.
Note: the Approved routes for 14.5m Controlled Access Bus is maintained by Transport Canberra and City Services, and is published on its website.
Stated areas or routes
4. A controlled access bus may travel on an approved route.
Conditions
5. A controlled access bus operating on an approved route must comply with any conditions of travel for that route.
SCHEDULE 2 – NEW SOUTH WALES
Definitions
- In this schedule—
‘approved route’ means a route shown on the list of approved routes for controlled access buses displayed on the Roads and Maritime Services website.
‘denied route’ means a route shown on the list of denied routes for controlled access buses displayed on the Roads and Maritime Services website.
Note— the Approved and Denied routes for 14.5m Controlled Access Bus is maintained by the New South Wales Roads and Maritime Service, and is published on its website.
Stated areas or routes
2. A controlled access bus operating under this Notice may travel on an approved route.
3. A controlled access bus operating under this Notice must not travel on a denied route.
Note: A route that is not on either list may not have been assessed for use by controlled access buses. A bus operator must apply to the relevant authority for a permit for travel on such a route.
Conditions- Complaint Controlled Access Buses
4. A controlled access bus whose rear overhang does not exceed Regulation limits and operating on an approved route must comply with the conditions specified for that route in the “condition” column in the list of approved routes.
Conditions - Buses with Rear Overhang greater than Regulation limits
5. If the rear overhang of a controlled access bus operating under this Notice exceeds Regulation limits, the excess must not be more than the lesser of 4.9m or 70% of the distance between the centre-line of the front axle and the rear overhang line.
SCHEDULE 3 – QUEENSLAND
Definitions
- In this schedule:
‘approved route’ means any of the following routes displayed on the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) website:
“State Road Network of Queensland Map”; and
“Schedule A, Part 1 - Local government routes other than Brisbane City Council”; or
“Schedule A, Part 2 - Brisbane City Council routes”
‘denied route’ means “Schedule B - State Controlled Roads Not Suitable for Controlled Access Buses” displayed on the Department of Transport and Main Roads website.
Note: The State Road Network of Queensland Map may be found on the TMR website, on the Queensland State Controlled Roads and Region Maps webpage.
Schedules A Part 1, A Part 2 and Schedule B may be found on the TMR website on the Heavy Vehicle Guidelines and Class Permits webpage.
Stated areas or routes
2. A controlled access bus operating under this Notice may travel on an approved route.
3. A controlled access bus operating under this Notice must not travel on a denied route.
Note: A route that is not on any list may not have been assessed for use by controlled access buses. A bus operator must apply to the relevant authority for a permit for travel on such a route.
Stated hours of stated days
4. A controlled access bus may use the stated areas or routes at any time of the day.
Conditions
5. A copy of the applicable route maps must be carried whist operating a controlled access bus.
Conditions - Buses with Rear Overhang greater than Regulation limits
6. The rear overhang of a controlled access bus must not be more than the lesser of 4.7m or 70% of the distance between the centre-line of the front axle and the rear overhang line.
SCHEDULE 4 – SOUTH AUSTRALIA
Application
- This Schedule only applies to compliant Controlled Access Buses referred to in clause 4 of this notice.
2. Controlled access buses with a rear overhang length greater than Regulation limits may not operate under this Schedule.
Stated areas or routes
3. A controlled access bus that is not longer than 14.5m must only use the routes set out in the Controlled Access Bus network as specified on the RAVnet Map system titled ‘14.5m Long Bus Route Network (General Mass Limits)’ set out in Appendix 1, and in accordance with any conditions and limitations specified for those routes.
4. A controlled access bus that is not longer than 13.7m and that does not exceed the dimensions specified in clause 5 below may use an area or route in South Australia that the driver or operator has determined, is safe and suitable for use by a 13.7m bus, in accordance with the Route Assessment Guidelines for 13.7m Long Buses (MR1486), published by the South Australian Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure.
Stated hours of stated days
5. A controlled access bus may use the stated areas or routes at any time of the day.
Conditions
6. A controlled access bus that is longer than 13.7m but not longer than 14.5m must be fitted with a single steer axle and a tandem axle drive group.
7. A controlled access bus that is not longer than 13.7m and does not exceed the dimensions illustrated in Figures 1, 2 & 3, may operate in accordance with clause 2 of this Schedule.
Figure 1 - Illustration of dimension limits for controlled access buses not longer than 13.7m - duel tyres
Figure 2 - Illustration of dimension limits for controlled access buses not longer than 13.7m - six tyres
Figure 3 - Illustration of dimension limits for controlled access buses not longer than 13.7m - eight tyres
Appendix 1
RAVnet Map system titled ‘Controlled Access Bus up to 14.5m (General Mass Limits)’
Note: Networks mentioned in this appendix are published by the South Australia Department of Planning, Transport and Infrastructure, and are available on its website.
SCHEDULE 5 – TASMANIA
Stated areas or routes
- A controlled access bus may operate on a route specified in the Controlled Access Bus network specified in Appendix 1, and in accordance with any conditions and limitations specified for those routes.
2. A controlled access bus must not travel on a route categorised as a restricted route in the Controlled Access Bus network specified in Appendix 1.
Note: A route that is not categorised may not have been assessed for use by controlled access buses. A bus operator must apply to the relevant authority for a permit for travel on such a route.
Stated hours of stated days
3. A controlled access bus operating under this Notice may use the stated areas or routes at any time of the day, except when there is a condition restricting the time of operation in the Controlled Access Bus network specified in Appendix 1.
Conditions - Buses with Rear Overhang greater than Regulation limits
4. The rear overhang of a controlled access bus must not be more than the lesser of 4.3m or 60% of the distance between the centre-line of the front axle and the rear overhang line.
Appendix 1
14.5m long Controlled Access Buses Network
Note: The “14.5m long Controlled Access Buses” network map is published by the Tasmania Department of State Growth, and are available on its website.
SCHEDULE 6 - VICTORIA
Definitions
- In this Schedule:
‘approved route’ means an arterial route shown in green on the map titled “Controlled Access Buses” on the “heavy vehicle map networks in Victoria” page on the VicRoads website.
‘prohibited route’ means an arterial route shown in red on the map titled “Controlled Access Buses” on the “heavy vehicle map networks in Victoria” page on the VicRoads website.
Note: the “Heavy vehicle map networks In Victoria” page may be found on the VicRoads website.
Stated areas or routes
2. A controlled access bus may travel on an approved route.
3. A controlled access bus must not travel on a prohibited route.
Conditions - Buses with Rear Overhang greater than Regulation limits
Definition
4. With regard to s4 and 6 of this Schedule relating to Buses with Rear Overhang greater than Regulation limits:
‘eligible vehicle’ means a controlled access bus that has a rear overhang no more than the lesser of 4.3m or 60% of the distance between the centre-line of the front axle and the rear overhang line.
Stated areas or routes
5. An eligible vehicle may travel on an approved route.
6. An eligible vehicle may not travel on a prohibited route.