Connecting SEQ 2031 An Integrated Regional Transport Plan for South East Queensland Tomorrow’s Queensland: strong, green, smart, healthy and fair Queensland AUSTRALIA south-east Queensland 1 Foreword Vision for a sustainable transport system As south-east Queensland's population continues to grow, we need a transport system that will foster our economic prosperity, sustainability and quality of life into the future. It is clear that road traffic cannot continue to grow at current rates without significant environmental and economic impacts on our communities. Connecting SEQ 2031 – An Integrated Regional Transport Plan for South East Queensland is the Queensland Government's vision for meeting the transport challenge over the next 20 years. Its purpose is to provide a coherent guide to all levels of government in making transport policy and investment decisions. Land use planning and transport planning go hand in hand, so Connecting SEQ 2031 is designed to work in partnership with the South East Queensland Regional Plan 2009–2031 and the Queensland Government's new Queensland Infrastructure Plan. By planning for and managing growth within the existing urban footprint, we can create higher density communities and move people around more easily – whether by car, bus, train, ferry or by walking and cycling. To achieve this, our travel patterns need to fundamentally change by: • doubling the share of active transport (such as walking and cycling) from 10% to 20% of all trips • doubling the share of public transport from 7% to 14% of all trips • reducing the share of trips taken in private motor vehicles from 83% to 66%. These targets are ambitious, but will be met if the average south-east Queenslander changes just three of their 17 weekday trips each week from car to public or active transport. The community has already shown support for the goals in Connecting SEQ 2031, with the feedback received during three months of public consultation on the draft plan in late 2010, endorsing its direction. Rail remains the backbone of the future transport network, with its ability to efficiently move large numbers of people. The rail network will be expanded with new rail lines, including Cross River Rail and extensions to north-west Brisbane, Kippa-Ring, Maroochydore, Redbank Plains, Ripley, Flagstone and Gold Coast Airport. In the interim, other initiatives have been proposed to improve the rail network's capacity, such as high frequency services over extended peak periods, and improved signalling and timetabling. The bus network will continue to provide crucial urban links and complement the rail network, with more bus priority on major roads. Walking and cycling will also be critical in reducing the number of car trips, and Connecting SEQ 2031 identifies the improvements needed to make active transport an appealing and safe alternative. Roads will continue to play a major role in moving traffic, freight, buses and cyclists. A key element of Connecting SEQ 2031 is to create a better functioning hierarchy of roads. New and upgraded intermodal freight terminals are proposed to accommodate future growth in freight in the region, as well as encourage more freight to be transported by rail. Connecting SEQ 2031 is the most comprehensive and far-reaching transport document produced by the Queensland Government in more than a decade. It has been developed with input from local councils, key stakeholders and the broader community, and draws on the best available Australian and international research. It is planned to be updated every five years, in conjunction with reviews to the SEQ Regional Plan. Connecting SEQ 2031 is not intended to be backed by full government funding. It is a vision to inspire action, prioritise investment and guard against complacency. The projects and actions contained in the plan will be used to assess funding needs, develop proposals for private sector interest and underpin bids for funding from all levels of government. We look forward to governments, stakeholders and the community working together to implement this plan and transform the way we move around our region over the next 20 years. The Honourable Anna Bligh, MP The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk, MP Premier and Minister for Minister for Transport and Multicultural Affairs Reconstruction Department of Transport and Main Roads, Connecting SEQ 2031 – An Integrated Regional Transport Plan for South East Queensland, 2011 2 Connecting SEQ 2031 Table of contents Executive summary 3 7. Active transport network 72 Overarching principles 73 Part A – Setting the scene 10 Supporting principles 76 1. About Connecting SEQ 2031 11 8. Freight network 80 2. Transport challenges facing the region 16 Overarching principles 84 3. An overview of our plan for the future 21 Supporting principles 86 Our key transport policy goals 21 2031 strategic freight network 87 Our strategy for the future 22 Targeting success 24 Part D – What it means for your community 89 9. 2031 transport networks for the region's cities 90 Part B – Priorities for taking action 26 Brisbane City Council 91 4. Six priorities for action 27 Ipswich City Council 100 Creating compact and connected communities 28 Moreton Bay Regional Council 105 Changing travel behaviour 33 Logan City Council 110 Improving transport system efficiency and safety 37 Redland City Council 115 Supporting economic vitality 40 Gold Coast City Council 120 Protecting environmental quality and health 43 Sunshine Coast Regional Council 126 Delivering an integrated transport network 46 10. Rural communities 132 Somerset Regional Council 133 Part C – Detailed network strategies for 2031 48 5. Public transport network 49 Lockyer Valley Regional Council 134 Overarching principles 51 Scenic Rim Regional Council 135 Supporting principles 52 Part E – Putting the plan into action 137 Rail revolution 54 11. Implementing Connecting SEQ 2031 138 2031 bus networks and services 59 Cost estimates for Connecting SEQ 2031 138 Flexible public transport 63 Deciding investment priorities 139 6. Strategic road network 64 Reviewing and monitoring the plan 139 Overarching principles 65 Supporting principles 66 Glossary 141 Initiatives to support strategic road network development 69 2031 strategic motorway network 70 Department of Transport and Main Roads, Connecting SEQ 2031 – An Integrated Regional Transport Plan for South East Queensland, 2011 3 Executive summary South-east Queensland is one of Compact and connected Queensland Growth Management Australia's most desirable places to live Summit outcomes and establish a business, and as such will communities The Queensland Government held the continue to grow rapidly. Queensland Growth Management Summit The South East Queensland Regional Plan in March 2010 and published its response Our region's population is expected to 2009–2031 sets the region on a course in May 2010. The growth summit outcomes grow from 2.7 million in 2006 to more towards more compact, better mixed included policies to encourage growth in than 4.2 million in 2031. urban development that supports public regional Queensland, which will reduce transport, walking and cycling. Providing for this growth while protecting pressure on the south-east Queensland our environment, lifestyle and safeguarding Connecting SEQ 2031 has been developed transport system. our future will mean a major change to as the guiding transport planning and Other growth management outcomes the way we plan our cities, and to the way policy document to support the desired reflected in Connecting SEQ 2031 include: people and goods are moved. regional outcomes of the SEQ Regional Plan. In doing so, the plan adopts an • setting ambitious targets for a swing to integrated approach that considers land public and active transport The challenges use planning and the various modes of the • supporting 'decentralisation' of jobs to We can no longer plan our cities around land transport system that move people centres outside the Brisbane CBD cars and traffic growth. We need new and goods. policies to help develop cities so public • timely provision of infrastructure for Connecting SEQ 2031 identifies public transport, walking and cycling are more new growth areas transport hubs in selected centres viable and attractive options. • supporting considerable infill throughout the region. These hubs development oriented around public Forecast population growth means the support the regional land use pattern and transport corridors. transport task will increase from just over planning framework established by the 9 million trips a day in 2006 to about SEQ Regional Plan. They will best benefit 15 million trips a day by 2031. Most from transport investment and land use What is a sustainable transport trips are also getting longer due to the change to support the achievement of the system? increasing size of our cities. policy intent of the SEQ Regional Plan and A sustainable transport system Connecting SEQ 2031. Tomorrow's transport system will need to is resilient and capable of being support this growth to: Instead of sprawling communities with continued over the longer term with dispersed services, the region's cities minimal effect on the environment. • enable the movement of goods and can develop around these hubs, as a It will: materials community of multiple centres connected • get people to and from work by corridors served by high frequency • meet the access and equity public transport services. needs of individuals, businesses • provide access to services and recreation.