Joint Statement:

Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel

Minister for Main Roads and Local Government
The Honourable Warren Pitt

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

State Government serious about tackling congestion

The Queensland Government has reaffirmed its commitment to tackling road congestion, saying a report from the RACQ on travel times highlighted the serious challenge presented by the State’s phenomenal growth.

Responding to the report, Main Roads Minister Warren Pitt said the government had embarked on the biggest road building and traffic management program in the State’s history.

“In 2003-04, the capital works budget for Main Roads was about $610 million,” Mr Pitt said.

“For 2007-08, the figure is $2.24 billion – a four-fold increase in just five years – and I am expecting even more funding for roads and congestion-busting initiatives in next month’s State Budget.”

Transport Minister John Mickel said the government was expanding public transport services to cater for significantly increased demand.

“The government is acutely aware of the pressures on our roads and public transport system, and that is why it is serious about taking concerted action to address the issue,” Mr Mickel said.

Mr Pitt said yesterday’s announcement of the $4.8 billion Airport Link and Northern Busway contract illustrated that the government was acting to reduce travel times and ease congestion.

“When it opens in 2012, Airport Link will bypass up to 16 traffic lights and reduce trips between Bowen Hills and airport roundabout to as little as six minutes,” he said.

“The new flyover for the airport roundabout will also eliminate one of Brisbane’s most troublesome congestion hotspots and take away the hassles of travelling to the airport.

“These announcements were made on the same day that the new Inner Northern Busway came into operation, offering more services and time savings for commuters.

“And both of these come less than a week after the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan announced details to accelerate planning on the key northern and southern extensions to the Gateway Motorway Upgrade.

“That project – costing $1.88 billion – includes duplication of the Gateway Bridge, and is now well underway.

“These are just some of the major road and transport projects that are underway – projects that involve spending of $100 million a week.

“In less than two weeks, the $543 million Tugun Bypass will open to traffic, cutting trips between Currumbin and Tweed Heads to five minutes and saving up to 20 minutes in peak hour.

“At the same time, there are major upgrades worth in excess of $2 billion are either planned or underway for the Ipswich Motorway, the Pacific Motorway and the Bruce Highway, while work has also started on the $315 Houghton Highway bridge duplication.

“As well as increasing road capacity, the government is also investing in traffic technology and ‘intelligent’ transport systems to better manage the vehicles already on our roads.”

Mr Mickel said since the public transport operator TransLink came into existence in July 2004, patronage across the network had grown by more than 30 per cent.

“That level of growth is unprecedented for a major Australian public transport network,” he said.

“More than 160 million passenger trips are now taken every year on the TransLink network.

"Growth in public transport usage is good news for traffic congestion, but it's even better news for the environment.

“Dedicated busways take buses off roads and commuters out of cars, giving faster travel times to the heart of Brisbane.

Mr Mickel said the new $333 million Inner Northern Busway would save commuters up to 20 minutes travel time in peak hours, while reducing traffic in the city centre.

“The Inner Northern Busway exemplifies the Bligh Government’s commitment to build tomorrow’s Queensland today,’’ he said.

“Also, the $226 million Boggo Road Busway is progressing well and due for completion in mid-2009.

“Up to 600 buses a day will use this busway, allowing 20,000 passengers to change easily between bus and rail services at Park Road rail station and gain access to the Gold Coast and Cleveland rail lines.

“As well as this, the government launched an international search for high capacity ‘superbuses’ in March.

“Preliminary advice indicates that some of the superbuses can carry up to 200 passengers – almost three times the number of a normal bus.

“Queensland Rail, the largest public transport operator in south-east Queensland, reported a nine per cent increase on the Citytrain network with passenger journeys up to 58.8 million in the 2006-07 financial year.”

Through the Queensland Government’s $82 billion, 20-year South-East Queensland Infrastructure Plan (SEQIPP), $7 billion has been allocated to improve the urban rail network and deliver 144km of new track and 44 new trains.

Media contacts: Minister Pitt’s Office 3227 8819; Minister Mickel’s Office 3237 1125

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