BRISBANE» MASS TRANSIT - Thread

[Tyeby]

Which is the better option to you. Busses or light trains or both?

[exocet]

It depends on the application - certain means serve certain purposes.

[sonic123488]

I always thought busways were a means of making up for the fact the council didn't extend the rail lines when it could without resuming lots of properties. I'm in support of light rail, rail is faster and more reliable than buses. However Busways are easier to put in the hillier suburbs because the can go up steep hills, like the Gap which is in desperate need of a public transport upgrade. But then again it would be hard to put busways in a hilly suburb like paddington due to the high density of houses, a large amount of homes would have to go. The fact is neither of the options can fully fulfil Brisbane's public transport needs, what really needs to be done is an upgrade to the current network of bus routes.

[Brissy4]

I would have thought patronage would increase beyond the projected figures as a result of the economic crisis. People will be using PT to save money on using cars.

[SoulVision]

Brisbane, Gold Coast tipped for budget bonanza
Tony Moore | May 12, 2009 - 10:01AM | Brisbane Times

Brisbane will win funding for its planned underground rail line in tonight's Federal Budget while the Gold Coast will gain financial support for a "rapid transit" light rail project, a Queensland's engineering lobby groups has predicted.

In addition, health spending will allow nine GP super clinics to be built and Queensland will receive a significant contribution towards the required $100 million to install boom gates at dangerous rail crossings.

The Queensland branch of the engineering lobby group CEDA - the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia - said it expected federal money to push Brisbane's underground rail project to the next level.

A fortnight ago, CEDA hosted a Brisbane function where the guest speaker was Infrastructure Australia chairman Sir Rod Eddington.

As the Federal Government's advisory, Infrastructure Australia has prioritised major projects from each state, which will be competing for funds in the Federal Budget, including these two projects.

The Government will inject $25 billion in infrastructure spending in tonight's budget to fight unemployment as the national economy stalls, while the federal deficit could grow to around $60 billion.

Queensland and the ACT were the only two regions where unemployment grew in the April jobs figures released last week.

Queensland' job-loss rate rose from 4.8 per cent to 4.9 per cent in April, but remained below the national average of 5.4 per cent.

CEDA state director David Edwards said the lobby group strongly backed the Gold Coast's rapid transit light rail project, and was seeking $850 million from tonight's budget.

"Based on our research and analysis we think it make a lot of sense to put some significant funding into some large public transport infrastructure projects," Mr Edwards said.

"Queensland is well placed because we have several projects where there is significant planning work already undertaken.

"We also think that other public transport infrastructure projects, such as the Brisbane underground rail, would be worthy of further investigation."

Premier Anna Bligh released a preliminary report in October 2008 for a project estimated to cost $14.2 billion, identifying future underground stations at Spring Hill, Brisbane's CBD, West End, Woolloongabba and the RNA Showgrounds.

Mr Edwards said while the project was not ready for construction, federal grants could push it ahead. The underground rail project is planned to be started by 2012.

He also earmarked bottlenecks at Queensland ports as a potential problem area requiring funds.

The coal port of Abbot Point near Bowen is also seeking $1.75 billion from Infrastructure Australia for expansion.

Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche said the resources sector could create jobs.

"Relatively modest and well-targeted investments in key areas such as industry infrastructure, R&D and carbon capture and storage projects would create jobs and support the sectors export potential, especially as India's and China's economies are defying the world trend and still growing," he said.

Queensland will also receive a large share of the $100 million expected for rail crossing boom gates and of the $275 million Australia-wide set aside to build nine GP Super Clinics in Queensland.