Fare relief will help bust congestion

The Palaszczuk Government’s Fairer Fares package will take the pressure off our congested roads, with cheaper public transport fares expected to drive patronage growth.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said reducing fares and extending off peak travel periods would encourage more people in South East Queensland to use public transport.

“My Government’s Fairer Fares delivers real cost of living relief to public transport users and will make it more affordable to catch a bus, train, tram or ferry to get to your destination,” the Premier said.

“That’s why growing patronage and addressing affordability was a key priority for my Government.

“Public transport fares will be cheaper across the board under our Fairer Fares package, with commuters expected to save between four and 34 percent per trip.

“We’ve also extended the off peak period from 3am to 6am to help shift demand and tackle congestion by encouraging more early morning commuters to get to work using public transport.

“Cheaper public transport fares will attract more public transport users with new modelling predicting an extra eight million trips a year under the new package, which will take seven million cars off roads in South East Queensland.

“By making public transport more affordable, we’ll help take more cars of the road and ease congestion.”

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe said more than 93 percent of public transport users will save money, with cheaper fares across the board, reduced travel zones and extended off peak savings.

“Our Fairer Fares package is the largest investment in public transport services in a decade and will help get more people on board bus, train, tram and ferry services,” Mr Hinchliffe said.

“Despite promising a Fare Review, under the former LNP Government public transport patronage numbers dropped by more than 2 million trips.

“The Fairer Fares package will help to get more people back on public transport with 93 percent of people better off under the cheaper fare structure.

“The modelling confirms that this major investment isn’t just an investment that will benefit regular public transport users, it’s an investment that will help ease congestion for drivers right across South East Queensland battling in heavy traffic.

“To date people in South East Queensland have visited the Fairer Fares website to calculate how much they will save on more than 25,000 journeys.”

State Member for Nudgee Leanne Linard said local public transport users will save money under the Palaszczuk Government’s new Fairer Fares Package with cheaper fares and a reduced number of travel zones.

“Regular commuters who travel from Westfield Chermside to the CBD five days a week could save more than $328.32 per year under the Fairer Fares Package” Ms Linard said.

“These savings and the simplification of the travel zones will make it more affordable and more convenient to use public transport instead of your car.”

For more information about the fare change online, you can view the Taskforce report and the Government Response.

For more information about the fare reform or to have your say, visit the fairer fares website.

Media contact: 0428 510 973 (Premier’s Office) | 0475 950 772 (Transport Minister’s Office)