Sunshine Coast Mass Transit Project Strategic Business Case

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Transforming Coast to a 30-minute city

SUNSHINE Coast Council is on the verge of releasing the business case for a mass transit-style public transport system to transform the Coast into a "30-minute city".

The ambitious project is outlined in the working draft of the Sunshine Coast Mass Transit Project Strategic Business Case, obtained by the Sunshine Coast Daily under the Right to Information Act.

The heavily redacted document does not identify the mode of transport to form the basis of the system, but aligns heavily with the Sunshine Coast Sustainable Transport Strategy, which favours light rail. The business case highlights the urgent need for a "high-frequency public transport network" that will connect key education, employment, residential and residential centres.

It focusses on the Sunshine Coast Enterprise Corridor, which stretches south from Caloundra to Maroochydore and the Sunshine Coast Airport.

The business case argues that the lack of an adequate public transport network has resulted in "disjointed land use outcomes, limiting appetite for urban renewal in key areas... meaning long term urban renewal targets are unlikely to be achieved".

It states that residents and visitors do not have access "to a reliable, convenient, high-capacity, and integrated public transport service, thereby driving high levels of private vehicle usage and resulting road congestion".

According to the report, the Sunshine Coast is the ninth largest city in the country and is considered the only one not supported by a mass transit system.

It claims that by 2041, the region's population is expected to grow by more than 70 per cent compared to Australia's overall population, expected to increase no more than 1.8 per cent a year.

The business case states the projected growth will also coincide with an employment increase on the Coast from 118,000 in 2016 to about 195,000 in 2041 and without intervention to more sustainable transport modes, an additional 830,000 daily vehicle trips are forecast. It said the current 90 per cent of residents who worked and lived within the region were "not supported by an accessible public transport network".

The business case highlights the shortcomings of the Coast's current public transport network, stating that "the bus network in mixed traffic cannot provide a viable alternative to the accessibility, convenience, comfort and travel times provided by private vehicle travel".

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Community backs new transport suggestion

LIGHT rail has the overwhelming support of Sunshine Coast residents according to the results of consultation published in the working draft of the Sunshine Coast Mass Transit Project Strategic Business Case.

After undertaking two stages of community feedback, 87 per cent of respondents admitted to rarely or never using public transport, with only two per cent who used it daily.

However, 81 per cent agreed the reliance on cars needed to be reduced and strongly supported the need to increase public transport.

Key responses found the main deterrents from public transport were poor accessibilty and inconvenient frequencies.

Community consultation from June and July last year found 97 per cent of respondents supported the council's actions for further investment in transport and of those 77 per cent supported investment in light rail to help manage the growth impacts and maintain lifestyle. The report found the majority of respondents agreed that travel behaviour change was critical and the community had a significant role to play.