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Media Releases My electorate office distributes information which is important to the Southport electorate in particular, and the Gold Coast in general. This information goes to the print and electronic media, however due to space or time constraints it doesn’t always get printed or broadcast. Through my website however, you can access all news stories which emanate from my office and thus keep up-to-date with State Government issues relating to Southport.
Gold Coast Public Transport made fairer |
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| Posted by Administrator (admin) on May 21 2004 |
| Media Releases >> |
Transport and Main Roads Minister Paul Lucas has unveiled the new public transport fares under TransLink, which will lead to big ticket price decreases for Gold Coast residents who integrate their travel.
Mr Lucas said Gold Coast passengers who travel over two sectors on local buses will experience decreases in their fares including:
• Adult travelling from Nerang to Southport: $2.00 (Saving of $0.35)
• Adult travelling from Robina Town Centre to Burleigh Heads: $2.40 (Saving of $1.00)
Mr Lucas said when TransLink takes effect on July 1, it will provide a single ticket for all travel on a 23-zone network of participating buses, QR Citytrain and Brisbane City Council ferries - from Coolangatta to Noosa and west to Helidon.
"Overall, commuters will experience a decrease in their fares across South East Queensland on all modes of transport," Mr Lucas said.
"Some of the biggest savings will be made on integrated public transport.
"For example, an adult travelling on TrainLink services from Surfers Paradise to Brisbane City under TransLink will pay $9.20 instead of the current fare of $12.30, saving $3.10.
"Students, including full-time university students, will only pay 50% for bus and train journeys instead of paying 75% of full bus fares as they do now.
Mr Lucas said rail passengers travelling from Nerang to Brisbane would enjoy cheaper fares with Robina the only inter-urban fare to increase - from $9.40 to $10.
• Adult travelling to Nerang to Brisbane City: $8.40 (Saving of $0.40)
• Adult travelling to Coomera to Brisbane City: $6.00 (Saving of $1.20)
"Some increases to single adult bus fares have been unavoidable including a rise in sector 1 (40 cents) and a slight rise in sector 2 (5 cents) due to an increase in flag fall," Mr Lucas said.
"I think commuters are well aware the current system has major inequities of up to $2 within zones and between bus operators, rail and ferry services.
"While 78% of QR passengers will experience varying increases in their fares, the rise will mostly be 20 cents per trip.
"TransLink has done as much as possible to minimise the impact of rail increases, so some stations have been kept in lower zones.
"TransLink will standardise fares and concessions across all zones, providing a more equitable solution to the current situation of inconsistent fares between different types of transport.
"We want to encourage public transport travel, and TransLink is about making public transport more flexible, more convenient and, across the board, cheaper."
Mr Lucas said the Beattie Government had committed $500,000 a year to providing new services on the Gold Coast which also included the expansion of the new 18B bus service servicing Griffith University.
"Daily, weekly and monthly tickets will offer passengers the flexibility to explore new travel options for their journeys and from July 1, these tickets will offer unlimited travel on participating buses, QR Citytrain and Brisbane City Council ferries within the zones purchased," Mr Lucas said.
"If you buy a weekly ticket for travel to or from work, you have the option of making additional trips during that week in the same zones on any mode of transport, for example, catching a bus to meet friends for lunch or riding the CityCat in Brisbane City on weekends.
"The same applies to the new daily ticket that will replace the old return ticket. It will still cost twice the single but allow unlimited travel within those zones on the day of issue."
Mr Lucas said the Beattie Government would be spending around $450 million over the next three years on bus infrastructure, park and ride facilities and upgrading the Citytrain network.
"TransLink is not a revenue raiser for the Beattie Government," Mr Lucas said.
"In fact, in the first year of TransLink we will receive $5 million less in revenue, and will spend $3 million to extend a 50% discount on public transport fares to fulltime students state-wide.
"In addition, new bus priority measures costing $9.5 million will be implemented next year to make bus journeys faster in some areas where bottlenecks occur.
"For example, buses will have priority on Smith Street between Olsen Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway, and on the Gold Coast Highway from Miami to Broadbeach," Mr Lucas said.
Mr Lucas said the introduction of TransLink had also triggered the development of a Network Plan for South East Queensland which primarily focused on improving public transport services and infrastructure.
"I'm pleased the outcome of the Plan, will see a three-year rolling program to improve public transport between 2004 and 2007," Mr Lucas said.
Mr Lucas said from this Plan, residents across South East Queensland will see:
• Improved bus services
• Increased capacity on existing bus services
• Connecting services at key interchanges - including rail and ferry services
• More bus infrastructure - including bus stop upgrades and greater facilities at bus interchanges
• New bus priority measures - including on-board bus technology, 'queue jumping' for buses at traffic lights and additional bus lanes and transit lanes where appropriate.
Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 12:00 AM
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