Ministerial Statement: Alternative travel project cuts greenhouse gas ...

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
12/02/2008

Alternative travel project cuts greenhouse gas and congestion

Thousands of Brisbane Northside residents slashed their private vehicle use by an average 13 percent through one of the world's biggest travel behaviour change projects.
Transport Minister John Mickel today released the results of the18-month Brisbane North TravelSmart Communities Project.

Mr Mickel said the reduction in private vehicle use meant a cut of 31,900 tonnes in greenhouse gas emissions each year.

"It means a 114 million kilometre per year drop in private car trips on Brisbane streets and roads," he said.

"These are remarkable results. They make a very important contribution to the battle against global warming and traffic congestion.

"There was also a 49% increase in walking, 58% increase in cycling and 22% increase in public transport usage among participants.

"TravelSmart North has proven that Brisbane residents are ready and willing to join the battle against global warming and use more sustainable forms of transport than the private car," Mr Mickel said.

He said TravelSmart was a project under which team members worked with residents in selected areas to identify sustainable travel options for them.

TravelSmart encourages people to use environmentally-friendly transport, such as public transport, cycling, walking and carpooling.

TravelSmart North was jointly funded by the State Government, Brisbane City Council and the Australian Greenhouse Office at a total cost of $4.2 million.

Project team members contacted 75,000 households in Brisbane's northern suburbs from May 2006 to offer advice and information about sustainable transport. Of these, 37,699 households were active participants.

The project extended from Strathpine and Brighton, east to Nudgee and Banyo and west to Bridgeman Downs, Keperra and The Gap.

"TravelSmart's success proves many people are keen to make the right choices, change their lifestyles, and leave the car at home if offered guidance and support," Mr Mickel said.

"I want to thank everyone that took part. They are helping the city become the greenest city in Australia and getting fit and healthy.

"TravelSmart North has been a resounding success and has made a genuine, measurable impact on greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion," he said.

"It proves that people and companies are prepared to do what they can to avoid global warming and I congratulate and thank everyone who took part in the project.

"A wonderful side effect is participants enjoy better health because of the exercise they get from choosing sustainable transport," Mr Mickel said.

The Minister said TravelSmart was part of a wide State Government strategy to reduce reliance on private cars.

Other measures included:

. The 2008 TransLink rail timetable is being finalised and will include an additional four three-carriage trains on the Gold Coast corridor offering more than 8000 additional passenger seats from Monday to Friday

. Establishment of the new Urban Transit Authority to oversee all public transport operations in South East Queensland from July 2008

. Commitment of $235 million by 2026 to build an integrated South East Queensland cycling network from Noosa to the Gold Coast and Ipswich

. Expansion of the Brisbane busway network, with the $333 million Inner Northern Busway on track for completion by mid-2008

. Duplication of railway lines to the Gold Coast, Ferny Grove and Kuraby to enable more and faster services

. Purchase of 44 new 3-car trains for the suburban network

. More than 230 new buses to the Brisbane fleet funded by Brisbane City Council - and more than 500 extra buses on the road across South East Queensland since July 1, 2004.


February 12, 2008

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[ozbob]

Pity not more Citytrain services northside?

Maybe come September?

[mufreight]

An observation by Mufreight.
A lot of spin but little substance
one local MP while claiming support for all the green credentials, getting people to use public transport so as to reduce conjestion,greenhouse emissions and to reduce dependancy on oil fuel is opposed to any extension of the suburban electrification west of Rosewood to Gatton where the Government of which she is part has a University, is building a 5000 bed prison and on current traffic counts has better than 1100 people per day commuting by private car from the residential corridor between Gatton and Rosewood to employment in the Ipswich and Brisbane metropolitan regions.
How many other Government members hold similar views and for how many of them is the deciding factor first the needed expendature and also the posible loss of revenue from coal traffic due to the number of paths needed for the increased passanger traffic.
Your thoughts please and ask your local member both State and Federal.

[mufreight]

More from Mufreight
Perhaps we could reduce the greenhouse gasses and become more energy efficient by harnessing all the hot air and political spin to provide energy for our rail system

[Derwan]

Perhaps this is why patronage on the Shorncliffe line has suddenly increased!