As public consultation draws to a close, find out how the proposed changes to the existing bus services will affect Dutton Park State School and some other schools, once the new Brisbane Metro becomes operational in late 2024.
Council recently released Brisbane’s New Bus Network which will introduce two new fully electric, high-capacity Brisbane Metro lines into the network. The two new lines will connect 18 stations along dedicated busways from Eight Mile Plains to Roma Street, and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital to The University of Queensland.
Several routes are proposed to be realigned to connect to a metro or other high-frequency busway service including Routes 105,110,112,113,115, 135,155,161,170,172, 202 and 203.
Route 202 will be redesigned to operate between Carindale Shopping Centre station and PA Hospital (Cornwall Street) with the new route path connecting the service to M1 at Buranda busway station. Customers may transfer from Route 202 to Route 116 – Salisbury to City nearby on Annerley Road to access Dutton Park and South Brisbane.
Route 112, meanwhile, will be redesigned to operate between Griffith University station, Griffith University Mt Gravatt campus and Greenslopes station. It’s proposed for Route 112 to incorporate trips previously serviced by Route 114 – Holland Park West to City.
This merging would mean that the inbound route to the city will have Route 112 connecting to M1 at Greenslopes station whilst outbound from the city will have customers transferring from M1 to Route 112 at Greenslopes station.
Concerns were raised about the proposed redesigning of several routes and how it would impact the travel time and safety of students from Somerville House, St Laurence’s College, Dutton Park State School and Brisbane South State Secondary College.
Web-based community support group for rail and public transport, RAIL – Back On Track, however, welcome the opening of the Brisbane City Council Bus Network review, noting that “changes to a bus network need careful informed management.”
On the concerns raised by the impacted schools about the proposed changes and realignments, RAIL – Back On Track said that Brisbane Metro Line 2 (RBWH-UQ Lakes) will serve all of the schools mentioned.
“The new Brisbane Metro bus service will be far more frequent and direct than the low-frequency coverage routes proposed for change,” the Group said.
“For example:
- Somerville House is within walking distance of South Bank train and busway stations (400 m). As such, it will have access to Brisbane Metro Lines 1 & 2 when it opens.
- St Laurence’s College is within walking distance of Mater Hill busway station (~ 400 m). As such, it will have access to Brisbane Metro Lines 1 & 2 when it opens.
- Dutton Park State Primary School is adjacent to Park Road Railway station and Boggo Road busway station (~ 300 m). It has access to a safe pedestrian walkway that connects both these stations. It will also have access to Cross River Rail and Brisbane Metro Line 2 when they open.
- Brisbane South State Secondary College has direct access to BUZ 196 and 192 (~ 180 m), and will have access to Brisbane Metro Line 2 from the busway stop inside Dutton Park Parklands (~ 260 m). The crossings are traffic-light controlled.
“Generally, schools generate public transport demand that is limited to a narrow window before school starts and after school finishes. As such, school demand alone cannot support a bus route that operates well outside of bell times, or when schools are closed (e.g. evening and weekends). All of the schools mentioned will be within walking distance of Brisbane Metro Line 2 when it opens.”
Cr Ryan Murphy, on the other hand, said that Council will continue consultations with the impacted schools noting the importance of the proposed changes in easing current congestion in the network during peak times and preventing potential problems in the future as the population is expected to grow by 25 per cent by 2041.
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