The Queensland Government and South East Queensland councils are pushing for an expansion of the Brisbane Metro in the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.
State Premier Steven Miles and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner have written to the Federal Government urging a fast-tracked business plan for the expansion, which was detailed today.
The new plans include expanding Brisbane Metro south to Springwood, east to Capalaba, north to Carseldine and connecting to DFO and the Brisbane airport.
Premier Miles said the expansion would deliver 22 new stations and provide rapid transit ahead of the Brisbane Games through fully-electric, high frequency, high-capacity buses.
He said additionally, subject to the findings of the business case, State and local governments would seek support to deliver priority infrastructure projects including transitway and bus priority infrastructure in the Northern Metro Corridor, as well as the new Northern Metro Depot to support the M2 extension to Chermside/Carseldine.
In a statement, the governments said Brisbane had grown faster than any other capital city over the past 10 years, with another 1.55 million people expected to move to Brisbane by 2041.
“Regions around the South East like Logan, Redland and Moreton Bay are also experiencing significant growth pressures with the south east to be home to six million people by 2046,” the statement said.
“Unlike other capitals like Sydney and Melbourne, bus services across Brisbane do much of the heavy-lifting when it comes to public transport travel in and around the city.”
The statement said along with the Cross River Rail project, which would unlock capacity on the SEQ train network, a network of bus rapid transitways serviced by fully-electric Metro vehicles was key to Brisbane’s public transport future.
“It’s also vital as Brisbane prepares to host Brisbane 2032. During the Sydney 2000 and London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, overall public transport patronage increased by almost one million trips per day.”
Councillor Schrinner said Brisbane needed a transport plan to cater for growth backed by all three levels of government.
“This expansion to Brisbane Metro will improve public transport to more destinations across Brisbane and neighbouring communities,” he said.
“It’s going to require a team effort by all three levels of government to ensure our transport network is fit for purpose to both cater for the Games, but more importantly, cater for growth.”
Redland City Council Mayor Jos Mitchell said public transport investment was vital to the economic development of the Redlands Coast.
“Our workforce and students need access to efficient and affordable transport options such as this. This project would provide an important transport hub for connectivity across our local government area,” Councillor Mitchell said.
Logan City Council Mayor Jon Raven said rapid public transport from Springwood to Brisbane would be “an absolute gamechanger for both our residents and our roads”.
