Brisbane Airport workers pool their resources for the planet

Today Brisbane Airport became the first airport in Australia to introduce a carpooling and sustainable travel program, aiming to significantly cut emissions and congestion at one of the country’s busiest airports.

The Department of Transport and Main Roads joined forces with Brisbane Airport Corporation (BAC) to establish Brisbane Airport Trippers (BAT) – a carpooling and sustainable transport program for airport employees.

Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace said the program had the potential to be one of the largest of its kind in the country, with more than 16,000 people working at the Brisbane Airport precinct able to participate in the initiative.

“This is an opportunity to create a model for sustainable travel that can be replicated by other precincts and businesses across the state in order to cut traffic congestion and emissions,” Mr Wallace said.

The BAT website portal allows employees to find colleagues to carpool with and provides prize incentives to encourage them to track their trips by public transport or carpooling.

“Already more than 55 people have signed up to become BAT members over recent months, with more than 21,500 kg of greenhouse gas emissions saved by employees choosing to carpool or catch a bus or train to the precinct,” he said.

Mr Wallace said the program had been warmly received by businesses at the precinct with eightsponsors already onboard to offer prize incentives to active BAT members.

“We’re delighted to welcome our BAT sponsors, who are committed to helping the environment via this great initiative and in particular our premium sponsors Airtrain and Coachtrans,” he said.

BAC CEO and Managing Director Julieanne Alroe said the initiative was part of Brisbane Airport’s commitment to become Australia’s most sustainable airport.

“BAC is undertaking initiatives that work for our environment and our workforce,” Ms Alroe said.

“The Brisbane Airport Tripper program achieves both by encouraging the use of public transport.

“This is a program from which all businesses, visitors and employees at the Airport will benefit from.

“We must find ways to strike a balance between economic and environmental sustainability. Brisbane Airport is keen to be a leader in our industry.”

Brisbane Airport recently received the International Water Association Award for the world’s best water management and has now set new targets to reduce the airport’s carbon footprint.

Priority parking bays have been allocated for carpoolers in the staff carpark and BAC employees have access to designated BAT automobiles to share rides to meetings.

Mr Wallace said the BAT program was an initiative of the Brisbane Airport Task Force, which had been actively working to improve access to the precinct over the past 18 months.

“Task Force achievements include the upgrade to the alternative route via Sugarmill Road and Lomandra Drive, boosting public transport services, improving traffic access, and raising awareness of travel options to the airport,” Mr Wallace said.

“The State Government has identified easing congestion around the airport as a top priority and we remain committed to delivering projects, such as BAT, to ensure every avenue for reducing congestion is explored.”

ENDS –

Background

1.The Brisbane Airport Trippers (BAT) program is available to all employees based at the airport precinct, they can register at www.brisbaneairporttripper.com.au. Access beyond the landing page is restricted to airport employees only.

2.The Department of Transport and Main Roads established the Brisbane Airport Task Force in October 2007 to identify and implement short-term solutions for improving traffic flow at the airport. The Task Force released its report of six recommendations in December 2007.

3.Brisbane Airport Task Force representatives include the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads, Brisbane Airport Corporation, RACQ, Queensland Taxi Council, Brisbane City Council, Queensland Motorways Limited, Australia Trade Coast and the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.

4.The Task Force’s major achievements to date included:

Improving traffic access and congestion

·Brisbane City Council (BCC) installed new traffic signals at the intersection of Sugarmill Road and Kingsford Smith Drive.

·BAC recently upgraded the Sugarmill Road/Lomandra Drive intersection with a roundabout.

·BAC plans to signalise the Airport Drive/Lomandra Drive intersection are due to be completed shortly as well as plans to signalise the Lomandra Drive/Qantas Drive intersection.

·Quicker traffic incident response times achieved on the Gateway Motorway and airport interchange roundabout, with the Motorway Breakdown Response Service responding in 15 minutes in peak hour and 30 minutes in off-peak.

Raising awareness of travel options

·Developing the BAT carpooling and sustainable transport program for Brisbane Airport precinct employees.

·Alternative route to access the precinct via Lomandra Drive, Sugarmill Road and Kingsford Smith Drive promoted, with directional signs to advise motorists. Traffic surveys show usage of the route increased 38% from November 2007 to April 2008.

·One-stop shop website about transport options and traffic conditions to help travellers and employees to access and plan their trip to and from the airport www.mainroads.qld.gov.au/airportyourtrip.

·Travel brochures circulated to inform Brisbane airport precinct staff, shoppers and travellers of travel options to and from the precinct.

Boosting public transport services

·Increased Airtrain services linking airport terminals to Brisbane and Gold Coast stations.

·Airtrain offering discounts for workers at Brisbane Airport, for travel between the airport and city stations.

·Airtrain now provides single trips between the Domestic and International Terminals.

·go card available for use on Airtrain.

·Brisbane Airport has provided a courtesy bus for passengers from the International and Domestic Terminals to DFO as well as a bus for staff travelling between the two terminals.

·The 308 bus route has been extended to start from Chermside and frequency of the services has increased.

·The 320 bus route, which provides connections to Airtrain services via Eagle Junction train station traveling through Chermside, Wavell Heights and Bowen Hills, Fortitude Valley and the City. Now running an additional 25 trips per weekday.

5.For further details about the long-term road projects visit www.airportbrisbaneaccess.qld.gov.com.au

Media contacts: Minister’s office on 3896 3689 or Brisbane Airport Corporation’s Jim Carden 0413 120 341