Lucas announces massive bus boost

Almost 150 new buses will be delivering an extra 5000 services a week across South East Queensland following a $27 million Beattie Government bus funding boost.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas announced the bus boost today and said the first new services would begin July 23, with all 148 new buses on the road by June 2008.

The State Government funding brings the total annual commitment for bus service improvements to a record $90 million a year, which is on top of the $780 million a year already spent running the public transport network.

“People are voting with their feet when it comes to public transport,” Mr Lucas said.

“A total of 163 million trips a year are taken on public transport in South East Queensland.

“That’s an increase of 40 million trips a year – or 30% – since we introduced TransLink just three years ago.”

Mr Lucas said highlights of the $27 million boost included 112 new buses for Brisbane, Logan, Ipswich, Redcliffe, Redlands and Caboolture, 23 new buses for the Gold Coast and 13 new buses for the Sunshine Coast.

“The increased funding means commuters will get extra peak hour weekday rocket services, more dedicated services to education and shopping precincts and more weekend and after-hour services,” Mr Lucas said.

“This massive new investment under the TransLink Network Plan will ensure we can continue to provide a world-class integrated public transport network.

“Growth in public transport usage is good news for traffic congestion and good news for the environment.

“Every full bus takes about 40 cars off our roads.

“Patronage growth in the 2005-06 financial year alone saved 15.2 tonnes of greenhouse gases from being released into our atmosphere.

“That's a great reason to leave your car behind and take the bus, train or CityCat instead.”

Mr Lucas said the TransLink services across the region would be integrated like never before, and to reflect this, buses would all sport the new TransLink colour and design scheme.

“The bright new TransLink design will start appearing within weeks to make transport services even more visible and easier to catch.

“The new blue, green and orange colours signify a new era for the TransLink network and a new era for public transport in South East Queensland.”

Mr Lucas said the service improvements were on top of a massive infrastructure investment.

“This financial year we’ll spend $502 million on track and rolling stock upgrades on the Citytrain network. Plus we’ll spend $483 million on our busways and on bus priority measures, including completion of the Inner Northern Busway extension.”

Mr Lucas said the improved infrastructure and extra services would help provide a cleaner, greener environment and better and more efficient movement around Australia’s fastest growing region.

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