The plan to expand the Brisbane Metro bus rapid transit service project to the city’s north has landed a funding boost.
The Federal Government has kicked in $50 million to support the delivery of a business case, in partnership with the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council, for the expansion.
Permanent Metro services began on the M2 route (UQ Lakes to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital, Herston) on January 28.
That same day new school services and eight route changes, also part of Brisbane’s New Bus Network, were rolled out.
This latest announcement adds to its $51.5 million of additional funding recently committed to Brisbane Metro, taking the Commonwealth’s contribution to the project to more than $400 million.
The $50 million was part of a $200-million funding announcement from Canberra that also included $2.25 million to investigate the cost and scope of works required for the restoration and future maintenance of the Story Bridge, and $1 million to deliver an updated business case for the construction of a new active travel bridge from Toowong to West End.
As well, the Brisbane City Council will receive $5 million towards a $12-million project to construct the Sylvan Road Bikeway under the Federal $100-million Active Transport Fund.
This will complete the link between the Western Freeway Bikeway and the Bicentennial Bikeway, providing 20km of continuous dedicated cycling path between Brisbane’s west and the CBD.
The Albanese Government also added $20 million to the Brisbane Valley Highway Safety Upgrades project.
This project will improve road safety in a bid to reduce road injuries and fatalities along the route.
In total, the Government said it was investing $28.9 billion in transport infrastructure projects in Queensland over the next 10 years.
Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said better roads and better transport were critical to “keeping Brisbane moving and we need all three levels of government working together to achieve this”.
