10 Connecting SEQ 2031 Part A – Settingtting the scenesce Department of Transport and Main Roads, Connecting SEQ 2031 – An Integrated Regional Transport Plan for South East Queensland, 2011 Part A – Setting the scene 11 1. About Connecting SEQ 2031 What is a sustainable transport system? Connecting SEQ 2031 establishes a The Queensland Infrastructure Plan will long-term plan to develop a sustainable give momentum to transport infrastructure Many cities across the world are transport system in south-east Queensland 1. delivery across Queensland, including facing challenges from unsustainable The plan adopts an integrated approach south-east Queensland, in the context of travel patterns. These include that considers land use planning and the state-wide funding contestability spanning growing traffic congestion, various modes of transport. geographical and sectoral boundaries. overcrowding on public transport, pollution, increasing dependence on Connecting SEQ 2031 has been developed Connecting SEQ 2031 will inform other oil based fuels and ageing transport as the guiding transport planning and state and local government planning infrastructure. This has impacts on policy document to support the desired schemes and transport plans. quality of life, community health and regional outcomes of the South East It will also support state-wide outcomes economic vitality. Queensland Regional Plan 2009–2031. and policies established in the Queensland A sustainable transport system is Connecting SEQ 2031 reinforces the SEQ Government's Toward Q2: Tomorrow's resilient and capable of continuing Regional Plan's planning framework Queensland and ClimateQ: toward a to operate over the longer term with 2 by seeking to optimise the location of greener Queensland . minimal effect on the environment. activities in relation to the transport Specifically, it will support the achievement To be sustainable, a transport network, in particular identifying: of key targets in Toward Q2 that focus on: system must: • optimal areas to locate employment in • providing essential transport • meet the access and equity needs terms of transport accessibility infrastructure to make Queensland the of individuals, businesses and the • centres and corridors where a good strongest economy in Australia community standard of public transport service • making Queensland greener by cutting • be cost effective to construct, will maximise the opportunities car use to reduce greenhouse emissions operate and maintain for higher density residential and • offer choice, convenience and office development. • making Queenslanders healthier by reducing obesity 3. support economic activity Connecting SEQ 2031 includes a multi- • reduce pollution and waste modal plan and policy response for Connecting SEQ 2031 supports the • limit consumption of resources to public transport, active transport, principles and opportunities identified in sustainable levels4. private vehicles and freight. This the Queensland Regionalisation Strategy. plan will guide the prioritisation of The proposed 2031 transport system will Evidence of a sustainable transport available funds to deliver maximum support economic activity and growth in system would be seen through: benefits across the transport system. the region, including in areas of state and national significance. In the longer term, • managed levels of congestion and Connecting SEQ 2031 will inform the growth in other regions of Queensland will system crowding annual revisions of the Queensland help to reduce pressure on the south-east • reducing levels of pollution, Infrastructure Plan, which was Queensland transport system. released in 2011 to replace the South carbon emissions and other East Queensland Infrastructure The integrated approach of Connecting environmental impacts Plan and Program 2010–2031. SEQ 2031 is also intended to ensure • resilience in the face of climate the region's capital city, Brisbane, is change impacts aligned with the Council of Australian • cost effective infrastructure and Governments' national criteria for capital operating costs. city strategic planning. 1 For the purposes of Connecting SEQ 2031, south-east Queensland covers the local government areas of Brisbane City Council, Moreton Bay Regional Council, Ipswich City Council, Logan City Council, Redland City Council, Gold Coast City Council, Sunshine Coast Regional Council, Scenic Rim Regional Council, Somerset Regional Council, and Lockyer Valley Regional Council, but excludes Toowoomba Regional Council, which will be included in transport planning for the Eastern Darling Downs region. While Toowoomba is not directly included, Connecting SEQ 2031 does consider strategic transport links to Toowoomba city. 2 Queensland Government 2009 ClimateQ: toward a greener Queensland 3 Queensland Government 2008 Toward Q2: Tomorrow's Queensland 4 MVA 2005 World Cities Research: Summary Report. Department of Transport and Main Roads, Connecting SEQ 2031 – An Integrated Regional Transport Plan for South East Queensland, 2011 12 Connecting SEQ 2031 Major transport network enhancements since 1997 The previous Integrated Regional Transport Plan for south-east Queensland was released in 1997. This plan established a strong platform for a shift to more sustainable transport options and a move away from the car-dominated transport planning culture that had prevailed since the 1960s. Many improvements have been made to the transport system since 1997 – some of these major highlights are provided below. Public transport TransLink Transit Authority Improvements to public • introducing NightLink services between transport services 1 am and 5 am from Brisbane CBD TransLink was established in 2004 and has and Fortitude Valley on Friday and provided a platform for the integration of There have been significant changes to Saturday nights the public transport system. the public transport system since 1997, • introducing NightLink services on the including the following operational and Since TransLink was formed in 2004, Gold Coast service improvements: patronage on public transport has • upgrading the standard of the bus increased by 45% – from 120 million • extension and upgrade of the fleet, with nearly 50% of the fleet now annual boardings in 2003–04 to about rail network wheelchair accessible and significant 175 million annual boardings in 2009–10. • purchase of additional rollingstock for improvements in disability access Some of TransLink's key initiatives include: the rail network, from 113 (three car compliance for new and existing trains equivalent) in 1997 to a committed 211 • introducing a transport levy as part • establishing integrated fares and (three car equivalent) by 2012 of local government rates (Gold Coast ticketing for the whole region, including City Council, Sunshine Coast Regional introduction of the go card • delivery of the South East Busway and expansion of the busway network to Council) to fund improvements to the • enhancing passenger information with include the Inner Northern, Northern transport network, particularly public 'stop-specific' timetables posted at and Boggo Road Busways transport, cycling and walking more than 70% of bus stops • roll-out of Bus Upgrade Zone (BUZ) • commencement of construction for • continuing support of combined entry services, providing frequent, all day stage 1 of the Gold Coast light rail and public transport tickets to events services on key routes (in partnership system (from Gold Coast Health and at The Gabba (Woolloongabba), with Brisbane City Council) Knowledge Precinct to Broadbeach), Suncorp Stadium (Milton) and Skilled with the preferred proponent to Park Stadium (Robina). TransLink • upgrading bus and rail stations, operate the light rail system announced carried almost 2.5 million people to including widespread roll-out of new in May 2011. events in 2008–09. bus shelters and expansion of park 'n' ride facilities Figure 1.1 – annual public transport passengers 2003–04 to 2009–10 175.3 175.5 163.2 146.1 156.3 130.9 119.6 Passenger boardings (millions) boardings Passenger Source: TransLink Transit Authority public transport patronage data Note: Excludes passenger boardings on ferry services Department of Transport and Main Roads, Connecting SEQ 2031 – An Integrated Regional Transport Plan for South East Queensland, 2011 Part A – Setting the scene 13 Figure 1.2 – public transport enhancements since 1997 Sunshine Coast Brisbane busway network 1 Nambour Maroochydore South East Busway to Sippy Eight Mile Plains Mooloolaba Downs 2 Northern Busway to Kedron Kawana 3 Boggo Road Busway from Buranda Caloundra to Dutton Park and the Eleanor Beerburrum Schonell Bridge from Dutton Park to University of Queensland 9 (Brisbane City Council project) Caboolture 4 Eastern Busway from Buranda to 9 Stones Corner Bus priority initiatives 5 Gold Coast Highway bus lanes Strathpine 6 Waterworks Road transit lanes (Brisbane City Council project) Aspley Carseldine 7 Smith Street transit lanes, Shorncliffe Chermside West Ferny Grove Chermside Southport Mitchelton Keperra Alderley 8 Sippy Downs Green Link Northgate Kedron Toombul Domestic Airport Rail network RBH Eagle Junction 9 Caboolture to Beerburrum rail The Gap Ashgrove Kelvin duplication including two Grove new stations Bowen Hills Newstead 10 new rail line to the Brisbane Teneriffe Ferry domestic and international Fortitude Brisbane airports (delivered by a private CBD Valley Morningside Greater Brisbane sector operator) Indooroopilly Toowong Cultural Woolloongabba 11 Moggill Kenmore Centre extension