Satement from Anna Bligh KEEP QUEENSLAND STRONG
8 March 2009
HUNDREDS OF NEW CAR PARKS AND JOBS IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT BOOSTCatching buses and trains will be easier under a re-elected Bligh Government, with $123 million to be spent on more than 1300 extra commuter car parks and station upgrades, generating more than 900 new jobs.
Premier Anna Bligh said thanks to record investment, public transport was more popular than ever.
?Patronage on our buses, trains and ferries is up 40 percent in the last 10 years, the fastest growth in the country,? Ms Bligh said.
?We are rolling out a new train every single month, and building new busways and railways to keep pace with growth.
?But the incredible popularity of public transport is putting pressure on our stations and car parks, and that?s why we need to do more.?
Ms Bligh said that if re-elected, she would invest $123 million over the next three years to provide 1342 car parking spaces at bus and train stations throughout the south-east, particularly in middle and outer suburbs.
She said the package build on Labor?s record of delivering more car parking for commuters.
?Since 2007 we have delivered 871 more car parking spaces across the rail network, bringing the total number of car parks to 18,186.
?Upgrades delivered as part of this program include more parking at Petrie, Loganlea, Mooloolah, Landsborough, Robina, Caboolture and Narangba train stations.
?During our next term, we will focus on delivering better facilities in local areas that are feeling the strain of increased patronage on the public transport network.
?This is about tackling the twin challenges of our future: protecting jobs and protecting the environment. And we can do both.
?Our plan will generate more than 900 new jobs right across the region, and deliver public transport that is even easier to use.
?On top of 1342 extra car parks, we will build five new bus stations, upgrade two existing bus stations and plan for upgrades to another two bus interchanges.
?Delivery of these upgrades is often dependent on other projects, such as shopping centre redevelopments or road works, so we will time construction to ensure it all happens at the same time and the disruption to the community is minimised.?
Ms Bligh said that the projects were a key part of keeping south-east Queensland moving.
?Every full bus takes 58 cars off our roads, and every full train removes 576 cars. Getting more people on public transport will cut our carbon emissions and reduce congestion,? she said.
?Building this new infrastructure will deliver better public transport and a local economic stimulus in these tough economic times.?
Media contact: 3224 4500
See full list of proposed projects below.
New car parking spaces for bus commuters:
? Moggill Road, Kenmore ? 150
? Mount Lindsay Highway, Park Ridge ? 200 (plus new bus station)
? The Gap ? 70
? Bribie Island ? 122 (plus new bus station with three bus bays)
? Algester ? 200
? Jindalee ? 200
? Total - 942
New car parking spaces at train stations:
? Morayfield ? 100
? Burpengary ? 100
? Sandgate ? 100
? Bray Park ? 50
? Birkdale ? 50
? Total - 400
New bus stations:
? North Lakes
? Coomera Town Centre
? Noosa Coastal Transit Centre ? eight extra bus bays (joint with council)
Bus stations to be upgraded:
? University of Queensland Lakes station ? three extra bus bays
? Eight Miles Plains busway station ? pedestrian underpass
Planning for future upgrades
? Peninsula Fair shopping centre, Kippa-Ring (bus interchange)
? Redland Bay marina (bus/ferry interchange)
