Article: Free ride ferries to cost $6 million

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Free ride ferries to cost $6 million

Free ride ferries to cost $6 million
June 21, 2012 - 3:00AM

Some of Brisbane's single hull inner-city ferries will be renamed 'City Hoppers' and run free of charge from July 1, yesterday's Brisbane City Council budget revealed.

Lord mayor Graham Quirk, who flagged the program during the April election campaign, said the City Hoppers were geared towards tourist visiting Brisbane.

"That's the three mono-hull ferries that will run up and down the river and I think it will be a welcome addition to the city," he said.

"Again it will show we are a friendly city to tourists."

The 2012-13 budget allocated $200,000, which would largely let the three ferries be painted red and re-branded as City Hopper services.

Overall the move will cost the council $6 million over four years from its $34.7 million budget for ferry operating costs.

Other public transport announcements in the budget included a new CityCat terminal at Milton ($5 million over four years) and a new "Maroon" CityGlider ($9 million over four years), linking Paddington and Stones Corner.

The council has also set aside $1.4 million for its proposed cross-river bus link to tackle congestion on the Victoria Bridge.

In December 2011, Cr Quirk put forward an option for a "Suburbs 2 City" bus link after brisbanetimes.com.au highlighted major problems with buses banking up over the Victoria Bridge.

Cr Quirk in December proposed a 3.6 kilometre bus-only link between South Bank and Fortitude Valley, comprising two sections; a new bus-only link from Melbourne Street across the river to Adelaide Street.

It would run over the Riverside Expressway, under Adelaide Street, link to the existing busway network and come back to the on-street level at the intersection of Wickham and Ann Streets.

The feasibility study will take about 18 months to complete. Funding will be requested from state and federal governments once a proposal concept firms.


Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/free-ride-ferries-to-cost-6-million-20120620-20o4n.html