Ministerial Statement: Trio of busways receive State Budget boost

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Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
16/06/2009

Trio of busways receive State Budget boost

Today's Budget allocation of over $300 million to the Queensland Government's innovative busway program ensures three key busway projects will be completed by August this year, Minister for Transport Rachel Nolan said.

"The government is tackling traffic congestion head-on with these projects, with southeast Queensland commuters spending less time competing with cars on roads because of this," Ms Nolan said.

"The projects are funded under the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program and demonstrate the Government's commitment to providing more frequent and reliable transport for our increasing population."

Today's Budget allocations to the busway projects include:

?$171.8 million towards construction of the Northern Busway between Enoggera Creek and Kedron

?$138.2 million for construction of the Eastern Busway connection between Buranda and Main Avenue at Coorparoo, and

?$37.8 million towards construction of the Eastern Busway: Princess Alexandra Hospital to Buranda. Construction will include an elevated busway station within the Princess Alexandra Hospital and will be a key link in the regional busway network.

Three key busway projects will be completed by August this year, the $226 million Boggo Road Busway and stage one of the $138.2 million Eastern Busway are expected to cut up to ten minutes off some trips from the southern and eastern suburbs to the University of Queensland.

"Boggo Road Busway will connect The University of Queensland to a new busway station near Park Road train station and the Boggo Road Urban Village," Ms Nolan said.

"Stage one of the Eastern Busway, which is ahead of schedule, links the nearby Boggo Road Busway to the South East Busway at Buranda and includes a new busway station at the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

"These busways are expected to take up to 600 buses off the road every day, which means up to 13,000 passengers will use them daily."

On the north side, the $777 million Northern Busway project will provide a vital link for the northern suburbs to the city. The $198 million first section from Royal Children's Hospital to Windsor will open in August, also ahead of schedule.

Ms Nolan said construction of the next section, from Windsor to Kedron began in October 2008 and was expected to be completed in 2012. Travel between Herston and Kedron will be reduced from 13 minutes to 7 minutes in the morning peak and from 19 minutes to 7 minutes in the evening peak.

"The Government is continuing to invest in the busway network and has already committed $466 million to extend the Eastern Busway from Buranda to Main Avenue, Coorparoo. Construction is expected to start mid 2009 and is scheduled for completion in 2012," Ms Nolan said.

"As the busway network unfolds, passengers will travel on a bus from one side of Brisbane to the other without having to leave their seat.

"The other tremendous benefit of busways is their environmental friendliness, as every full bus takes 40 cars off the road."

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