Ministerial Statement: Record bus boost for Brisbane

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
14/01/2009

Record bus boost for Brisbane

The Queensland Government is delivering a strong and reliable public transport system by adding capacity for an extra 64,000 commuters a week on Brisbane buses through a record $6.8 million investment by TransLink for new buses and more frequent services.

Announcing the new services at Aspley Hypermarket Translink bus terminal today, Transport Minister John Mickel said the improved bus services that will start on February 23, would provide almost 1000 new bus service to commuters in Brisbane city and Brisbane's northern, southern and north-western suburbs.

"The Queensland Government is committed to improving our public transport system

"Through TransLink, we will fund the record bus improvements, with services to be delivered by Brisbane Transport.

"This package of improvements is TransLink's single biggest investment in bus services with 26 new buses due to service the new and improved routes.

"Buses carry about two thirds of all passengers on the TransLink network so adding new buses and services are part of meeting the rapidly growing demand on our public transport system."

"There are some substantial improvements in this package that will benefit many commuters," he said.

"The Government has allocated $177 million for bus services in the Brisbane area in 2008-09, up from $146 million in 2007-08.

"In this financial year alone, TransLink will fund an extra 135 buses across South-East Queensland with 90 allocated for Brisbane."

Mr Mickel said some of the new enhancements included a new limited stop service (363 - Herston to Brisbane) and two new prepaid bus services (157- Runcorn to Brisbane and 343 - Aspley to Brisbane).

He said there would be significant improvements along the 140 (Browns Plains to Brisbane) corridor with 10 to 15 minute frequencies throughout the day, seven days a week.

"The frequency of the busiest bus route on the network, the 199 (Teneriffe Ferry - West End Ferry via City), would be expanded to run between five and 10 minutes six days a week."

The improved bus routes will include 66, 124, 140, 141, 142, 150, 153, 156, 157, 161, 162, 199, 343, 345, 363, 372, 373, 377, 378.

Since TransLink was established in 2004, the bus fleet across South-East Queensland has expanded from 1496 buses to 2081 buses in four years - an increase of about 39 per cent.

Mr Mickel said transport service enhancements in February, August and October last year had been well accepted by commuters and reflected in patronage growth.

The last bus enhancement program in October provided more than $5 million for improved Brisbane and Bayside services.


14 January 2009

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[david]

It's a shame to see that the western suburbs have missed out yet again. I believe the last time there were major improvements was in February 2007 with the introduction of the 444 BUZ. That would mean that it has almost been two years since new bus services have been added in the western suburbs. It seems that Translink have gotten their priorities wrong with a lack of train and bus services in this region.

[Mozz]

Not an expert in the area of transport planning but I thought the west of brisbane was the saviour of SEQ in terms of land and room to build more houses.

[mufreight]

The Ministers announcement is in itself worthwhile but once again contains deliberate misinformation, it is well past time that the Minister starts to stick to the facts, see this excerpt from his statement which is far from fact, "Buses carry about two thirds of all passengers on the TransLink network so adding new buses and services are part of meeting the rapidly growing demand on our public transport system."
Come off it Mr Mickel since when do Rail and Ferries combined only carry one third of all passengers carried on the Translink network, if the Ministers statement were accurate, there would be little problem with shutting down the rail network and substituting buses entirely.
How about sticking to facts Mr Mickel, the degree of inferior mushroom fodder in your statements is killing my mushroom crop as well as destroying any remaining credibility that this government may still have with the electorate and strengthens the perceptions of the actions of a desperate and duplicit government.

[ozbob]

I think they might be talking about 'passenger journeys' mu.  If they talk about passenger kilometres well, that is the true picture and an entirely different story ...

[mufreight]

Even in terms of passenger journeys this duplicit Minister is misrepresenting the figures grossly of course he will undoubtedly aportion the blame for any error to someone else, half might have been almost believiable but the current government ant fact have a very distant relationship and then only when politicaly expedient.