50¢ fares to extend to Brisbane Metro mega-buses

Fifty-cent fares will now apply to the $1.4 billion Brisbane Metro network when it begins services later this year, Transport Minister Bart Mellish finally confirmed on Sunday.

The 60 mega-buses are expected to be popular with university students, suburban commuters and people travelling to Brisbane’s main hospitals.

Brisbane’s Metro buses – each carrying 170 passengers – will begin operating with 50-cent fares.Credit: Brisbane City Council

“There is a signed agreement already in place with the Miles government for Brisbane City Council to commence Brisbane Metro in November [if the system is ready],” Mellish said.

“I look forward to the commencement of Metro services, which will include the Miles government’s 50¢ fares.”

Mellish confirmed a new public transport funding model between the council and state government would be signed before the Miles administration goes into caretaker mode in September ahead of the October 26 election.

“Key to those talks will be increased transparency around costs. Any changes to the approach agreed for introducing Metro will also need to take into account the impact on state assets, such as the road network, given the increased weight of vehicles and changes to the existing network,” he said.

Premier Steven Miles and Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner have been leading the top-level negotiations for the past fortnight, and had planned to meet again on Monday.

Brisbane City Council last week raised serious concerns that the new agreement would not be signed before September. Schrinner said a deal was required by the state government before the Brisbane Metro could launch.

He and transport committee chairman Cr Ryan Murphy said failing to sign a deal would stall the 30 million bus trips Brisbane Metro would add annually by 2032 because a major education program could not be rolled out before the first two lines launch in December.

Those lines will connect Eight Mile Plains with Roma Street, and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital with The University of Queensland.

“If we can’t get the go-ahead now, there is no way we can do that between November [under a new government] and December,” Murphy said.

“It would be too short a time to explain the complex bus changes. Try explaining to someone, ‘you know that bus you have been catching for 30 years? It’s all changing.’ ”

On Sunday, Mellish said the new deal “would not involve the state funding any cost over-runs on Metro”, but he “welcomed Brisbane City Council’s acceptance of the Gympie Road Northern Transitway project” to provide dedicated bus lanes.

“The LNP and the lord mayor’s councillor in the area have consistently opposed the Northern Transitway for a number of years, so it is great news that they have apparently had a change of heart.”

Mellish declined to comment specifically on Brisbane City Council receiving a share of ticket revenue, which currently goes to the state government.

Treasurer Cameron Dick, Premier Steven Miles and Transport Minister Bart Mellish announce the six-month 50-cent public transport fares, beginning in August.Credit: Steven Miles / LinkedIn

“The Miles government already provides the majority of funding for public buses in Queensland. We will continue to fund public buses, including the new Metro services, via usual contract negotiations,” he said.

Brisbane City Council has proposed building a new electric bus depot on Brisbane’s northside for future Metro services there, and in a 2022 northside tunnel concept, proposed better use of bus lanes on Gympie Road.

It has also proposed extending Brisbane Metro to the airport and Capalaba, once enough electric buses can be obtained.

Schrinner said the moves marked the beginning of a mass transit system in Brisbane, rather than the status quo of bus services on already congested roads.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner says Brisbane is going for a mass transit solution, where buses have dedicated right of way.Credit: Tony Moore

“We’re going for a mass transit solution, where buses have dedicated right of way, either by a busway or a transit way,” he said.

“That is the future of mass transit and public transport in Brisbane, and particularly the future for the northside, which desperately needs a mass transit solution.”

The Queensland government will unveil the next steps in its proposed Gympie Road Bypass Tunnel in this week’s state budget.