Better public transport with more funding for buses and CityCats
Written on the 09 June, 2010
Two new CityCats and another 125 new buses highlight Lord Mayor Campbell Newman’s commitment to providing a modern fleet of transport infrastructure to help tackle traffic congestion.
We are:
Delivering 125 equivalent new buses (500 new buses this term)
Continuing the expansion of the CityCat fleet to a total of 18 this financial year
Delivering the Sherwood Road bus depot to enable a larger bus fleet and more frequent services
Commencing the roll-out of the two new ferry terminals at Teneriffe and Hamilton
Northshore and the upgrade of existing terminals
Funding the CityGlider bus rapid transit route from West End to Newstead with the State Government.
Cr Newman said record investment over recent years in public transport had resulted in a massive growth in bus patronage up from 48 million passengers to an estimated 76 million passengers per year.
“In 2010-11 we will continue delivering on our promise to deal with traffic congestion and make public transport more accessible,” he said.
“That’s why we will spend $56.26 million on new buses and $4.4 million on another two CityCats.
“We have achieved strong growth in patronage by working to purchase environmentally friendly air-conditioned buses, acquiring additional CityCats and rolling out high frequency bus routes (BUZ).
“These initiatives are an important tool in my Can Do team’s integrated approach to tackling traffic congestion, which also includes record road spend and putting 500 new buses on the road over four years.”
By 2012 the Lord Mayor will have put more new buses on the road than existed in the entire fleet when he became mayor. 96 per cent of buses will be air conditioned, which is a massive improvement on the 26 per cent that were air conditioned in 2003-04.
Council will spend more than $1.2 billion to improve public transport; fixing congested roads; and making it easier for people to walk and ride around our city.
Council will subsidise public transport in Brisbane by $173.71 million over the next 12 months. Cr Newman said $2 million would be provided to improve disabled access at bus stops.
He said $750,000 was in the Budget to help protect bus passengers from rock attacks, through the application of a special anti-shatter film on bus windows.
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