More buses for stranded commuters
13 September, 2007
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LORD Mayor Campbell Newman has ordered 36 more buses to address Brisbane’s bus shortage crisis.
The Lord Mayor said he was concerned that the number of overcrowded buses in Brisbane reached 870 last month – about 140 more than when the Labor majority sacked Liberal councillor Graham Quirk as public transport chair.
He said he was committed to putting 120 buses on the road this financial year and called on Labor’s public transport chair Victoria Newton to get rubber on the road quickly.
“I am determined to create a world class public transport system in Brisbane and these buses will go some way to improving the plight of passengers,” he said.
“In addition to this latest plan I am funding a record $173 million worth of public transport initiatives. I am also working to improve traffic congestion and plan for the future and will shortly release a mass transit options paper for the CBD.”
Cr Newman said the bus deal would probably cost the Brisbane City Council about $13 million to provide 36 buses across the busiest routes.
“The State Government’s TransLink has come to the party with some money so hopefully we can reduce the impact on ratepayers from about $20 million to $13 million,” he said.
He said he was “very much” relying on the Labor public transport chair to get the buses built.
Cr Newton will oversee the provision of the buses, the development of temporary depot operations and refuelling strategies as well as driver recruitment and training.
The plan was approved at a special Civic Cabinet meeting today, which was also the first anniversary of the North-South Bypass Tunnel project.
The plan was expected to be passed by full council tomorrow at another special meeting.