Huge boost to Sunshine Coast buses

Sunshine Coast commuters will have an extra 265 bus services running every week within a year following an announcement by the State Government today that it will put 13 new buses on the region’s road.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said under the TransLink Network Plan $1.9 million more would be spent on Sunshine Coast buses to keep pace with booming patronage that has risen by 49 per cent on the coast since July 2004.

“These 13 new buses will provide an extra 650 seats for each and every trip they make on the Sunshine Coast,” Mr Lucas said.

“TransLink is constantly monitoring demand growth and providing extra services and infrastructure where it's needed most.

“Three new bus routes will be introduced on the Sunshine Coast and other services upgraded as part of that process," Mr Lucas said.

Mr Lucas said a massive $127.8 million would be spent in the next 12 months on public transport infrastructure improvements on the Sunshine Coast.

"This enormous expenditure will fund works on the Caloundra to Maroochydore bus priority project, along with more bus priority measures on major coast roads and improvements to bus stops and waiting areas.

"This level of expenditure reflects the government's absolute commitment to provide the best possible transport infrastructure and services for the Sunshine Coast.

"This new expenditure builds on the enormous improvements we already have made to Sunshine Coast bus services since TransLink was established. In the previous three years spending on service improvements rose to $8.1 million per annum and $39.6 million has been spent on public transport infrastructure improvements for Sunshine Coast commuters," he said.

Minister Lucas said bright new TransLink livery would start appearing within weeks across the Sunshine Coast to make transport services even more visible and easier to catch.

"The new blue, green and orange livery signifies a new era for the TransLink network and a new era for public transport in Southeast Queensland.

"We can have a cleaner, greener environment and better, more efficient movement around what is the fastest growing region in Australia by embracing these services."

Mr Lucas said planned improvements to Sunshine Coast services this year include:

NEW ROUTES

·New route 629 linking Noosa Business Centre to Tewantin and Noosa Heads

·New route 603 Bell Vista to Little Mountain to connect residential areas to business and transport hubs

·New limited stops service between Maroochydore and Caloundra to provide connections between key business centres and reduced travel times

SERVICE IMPROVEMENTS

·Upgrading five small buses to large vehicles and increasing evening and weekend frequency on Route 600 Maroochydore to Caloundra

·Increasing weekend frequency on Route 620 Noosa to Maroochydore

Media inquiries: Robert Hoge 3237 1942