Article: Queensland Government spending $17.3b to improve transport ...

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From the Courier Mail click here!

Queensland Government spending $17.3b to improve transport infrastructure and relieve growing gridlock

Queensland Government spending $17.3b to improve transport infrastructure and relieve growing gridlock

    * Elodie Boal
    * From: The Courier-Mail
    * October 04, 2010 2:10PM

AS southeast Queensland battles growing gridlock, 10 significant transport infrastructure projects are promising to provide some relief.

A variety of motorway, busway and rail projects across the region, in total worth almost $17.3 billion, are due to be completed over the next five years, many of them within a year or two.

As the region continues to grow – according to the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program issued by the State Government – the infrastructure projects should see traffic and public transport improve for travellers.

Motorway upgrades – on the Pacific Motorway, the Gold Coast Highway, the Ipswich Motorway and the Bruce Highway – will see the delivery of additional lanes, greater road capacity and quality as well as the creation of job opportunities.

The second-biggest of 10 significant projects is the Airport Link which promises to be the biggest relief valve for travellers as it connects Brisbane city to the airport and many northern suburbs.

With construction already well under way, the link will also connect the Clem7, Inner City Bypass and local roads at Bowen Hills to Gympie Rd, Stafford Rd (Kedron), Sandgate Rd and the East West Arterial.

The 6.7km toll road has been estimated to cost the state $3.3 billion and is set to be finished in 2012.

For those who prefer public transport, a variety of busway upgrades and improved rail connections are expected to attract many commuters to these alternatives.

The Northern Busway (Herston-Kedron) and the Eastern Busway (Buranda-City) will reduce travel times for thousands of commuters.

Along with the Eastern Busway upgrade, approximately 2500 new jobs will have been created during the lifespan of the project which is also set to be completed in 2012.

New rail links – like the Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor and the Gold Coast Rapid Transit System – will see the growing western region of Brisbane and the busy northern Gold Coast attended too.

The Gold Coast Rapid System will provide light rail services for passengers along a busy new coastal line between Griffith University at Parkwood and Broadbeach, to the south.

The most expensive project of all is the Cross River Rail system, equating to approximately $8.2 billion to implement.

This project will allow the movement of 120,000 commuters from north to south through a variety of underground tunnels and city train stations in the Brisbane River.

The movement of such a large mass of people is the equivalent to a 30-lane motorway and will see travel times drastically reduced. The project is set to be completed in 2016, with stage one due for completion in 2012.

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[WTN]

We're still upgrading motorways while nearby train lines sit in their current state. No wonder why some rail projects are pushed so far back.

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[Jonno]

No wonder congestion is getting worse and people are driving more often and further!!!!

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[Golliwog]

But lets look on the positive side. A courier mail article pointed out that CRR is, capacity wise, the equivalent of 30 lanes of motorway.

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[#Metro]

But lets look on the positive side. A courier mail article pointed out that CRR is, capacity wise, the equivalent of 30 lanes of motorway.

Look on the bright side.
I'm sure a story on public transport policies are likely to come around at the CM.
How long until state government transport policies actions get Ursula'd?

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[colinw]

How long until state government transport policies actions get Ursula'd?

I'm with you on this.  Part of the malaise in SEQ is the newspaper monopoly and resulting lazy "no effort" approach to journalism.  The Courier-Mail repeatedly manages to variously sensationalise, gloss over or trivialise the issues affecting our public transport system, and it is rare indeed for them to publish anything even vaguely resembling an accurate analysis.

Given this state of play, is it any wonder that we continue to drift rudderless with RailBOT a lone voice in the wilderness?  Neither the Government nor the transport bureaucracy are held to account for most of these failings, and the CM appear to be quite content to let them get away with it while publishing "fluff" pieces.

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