Ministerial Statement: Inner Northern Busway takes the birthday cake

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Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
19/05/2009

Inner Northern Busway takes the birthday cake

Today marks the first birthday of the $333 million Inner Northern Busway and there is every reason to celebrate according to Transport Minister Rachel Nolan.

"Since its opening on this date last year, six months ahead of schedule, approximately 11.5 million passenger trips have been made using the busway," Ms Nolan said.

"This is a remarkable achievement and is evidence that the Inner Northern Busway is every bit the success the Queensland Government had planned it to be."

Ms Nolan said recent figures showed that patronage was up a staggering 57 per cent on 26 key routes that use the Inner Northern Busway compared to the month before it opened.

"With more than one million passenger trips occurring each month in March and April this year, the success of this critical piece of transport infrastructure is obvious," Ms Nolan said.

"When you consider that the Inner Northern Busway saves commuters up to 20 minutes on their journey, it's no wonder people are flocking to these services."

Ms Nolan said further extensions to the busway network were currently being rolled out as part of the Bligh Government's record $17 billion infrastructure plan.

"The Boggo Road Busway, Eastern Busway and Northern Busway are all under construction right now, creating a combined 11,421 jobs and delivering an extra 8.15km kilometres of busway and bus priority," Ms Nolan said.

Ms Nolan said it was also important to recognise that the services on these important busways were heavily subsidised by the Queensland government.

"Many people forget that when a commuter pays their fare on a Brisbane Transport bus, it only covers about 37 per cent of the cost," Ms Nolan said.

"39 per cent is contributed by the Queensland Government - a total of $74 million in 2007-08. This subsidy is up by a massive $27 million, or 57 per cent, since TransLink was introduced."

Ms Nolan said that while the Queensland Government puts in the majority of funding for Brisbane Transport buses, Brisbane City Council's $47 million in 2007-08 was also a significant contribution to better public transport for their ratepayers.

"Brisbane City Council has also increased their contribution to bus services by 17 per cent since TransLink was introduced, which is a very welcome contribution," Ms Nolan said