Lord Mayor's Record Investment in Transport
05 July, 2008
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Brisbane is on track to get an additional 500 buses over the next four years, complete with three new depots to house them.
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman has set aside over $200 million in the next 12 months on public and active transport.
“Under my leadership, Council will spend $216 million on public transport this coming financial year – which is more than a 25 per cent increase on last year’s Budget,” Cr Newman said.
The Lord Mayor’s unwavering commitment will see an additional 500 new buses in Council’s fleet by 2012, on top of the 337 Cr Newman delivered during his first term, despite promising just 240.
A total of $60.4 million a year will be spent on new buses over the next four years, a total of $241.6 million.
“This funding commitment will bring our fleet up to 837 buses by the end of this Council term,” Cr Newman said.
“That means more new buses in just eight years than the total number of buses in the Brisbane City Council fleet at the time of my election.”
Cr Newman said Council would also spend $39 million to complete the Willawong bus depot and continue work on two additional bus depots – one in the north and one in the south – to accommodate 400 new buses.
“We will have bus depots across the city to help the system deal with the massive growth seen over the past few years,” he said.
“Just this April we saw bus patronage exceed 7 million for the very first time and it’s little wonder given the improvements I have made to the services over the past four years.
“Four years ago, our buses were like saunas on wheels that people avoided like the plague. Fast forward to today, where buses have been retro-fitted, giving the commuters of Brisbane 80 per cent of the fleet air-conditioned, up from 36 per cent.”
Council will also enter into a $2 million partnership with the State Government to conduct a feasibility study into a mass transit service from West End to Newstead.
“This feasibility study will build on Cr David McLachlan’s successful examination last year of mass transit options for the inner-city,” he said.
The Lord Mayor’s delivery on public transport also extends to the water, with Brisbane’s 13th and 14th CityCats to be delivered in 08/09.
A further $15.5 million has been included for the remainder of the term for the delivery of another five CityCats.
“Already this year I have delivered two brand new CityCats – the Meeandah in February and Wilwinpa just last week – and there will be another two before the financial year is out,” Cr Newman said.
“By the time this Council term is up, Brisbane’s CityCat fleet will have grown to 19.”
In addition, $5.4 million will be spent on upgrades at the Bulimba, Hawthorne and St Lucia ferry terminals.
“My Council team is committed to public transport. This massive injection of funds into the public transport system, coupled with our record, congestion-busting funding of roads, will ensure Brisbane keeps moving into the future.”