Premier Statement: Busways connect to cut travel time

[ozbob]

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
16/04/2009

Busways connect to cut travel time

Construction on the Boggo Road and Eastern Busways has reached a major milestone with the two busways now connected over Ipswich Road.

Premier Anna Bligh said both projects are now due to be completed in August this year with the Eastern Busway now five months ahead of schedule.

"That means that up to 10 minutes will be cut on some journeys from the southern and eastern suburbs to the University of Queensland in August," she said.

"For example, passengers from Eight Mile Plains will be able to travel straight from Buranda to the Eleanor Schonell Bridge along the dedicated busway corridor."

The Premier said the two busway projects - which will have created 2855 jobs by the time they are completed - are an integral part of the Queensland Government's long-term plan to meet Brisbane's transport needs.

"When both busways are completed they will take up to 600 buses off the road every day which means up to 13,000 passengers will use them daily," she said.

"Just one full bus takes 40 cars off the road and this busway will cut up to 10 minutes off the travel time for some buses from the eastern and southern suburbs to the Queensland University."

The A$226 million 1.5 kilometre Boggo Road Busway will connect the University of Queensland and the Eleanor Schonell Bridge to a new busway station near Park Road rail station and the Boggo Road Urban Village.

It links to the $140.8 million Stage 1 of the Eastern Busway which involves building a new 600 metre busway linking the Boggo Road Busway to the South East Busway at Buranda, and constructing a new busway station at Princess Alexandra Hospital.

"The Princess Alexandra Hospital busway station is now taking shape. The station structures are complete and the area is currently being fitted out with lift towers and lighting," said the Premier.

"This busway will provide thousands of students and staff travelling from the eastern and southern suburbs with a fast, effective and affordable alternative to battling traffic on Coronation Drive," she said.

Ms Bligh added that as part of the first section of the Eastern Busway, the State Government is funding a $12 million shared cycleway.

"The 920 metre long shared cycleway will connect the existing South East Cycleway to the Princess Alexandra Hospital busway station and provide safe access over Ipswich Road," she said.

"The shared cycleway will provide more cyclists and pedestrians with access to the South East Freeway Bikeway and V1, a major route into the city from the south, as well as Eleanor Schonell Bridge that links to the University of Queensland."

The Boggo Road Busway and shared cycleway are on schedule to be opened by August this year while the first section of the Eastern Busway is now also due for opening in August.

16 April 2009

[O_128]

We could cut times down even further if there was a road built through UQ

[Jon Bryant]

It would be great to complete a loop through/under UQ to Toowong and then back to the City along a restored median strip on Coronation Drive to connect to the Inner Northner Busway at Roma Street....followed by convertion to Ligh Rail.