Neglected westside suburbs get hail-n-ride service
If you live in these two westside suburbs and don’t have a car, you don’t get far. But that’s all about to change with an innovative new service.
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Bellbowrie and Moggill residents will get a taste of how a hail-n-ride Personalised Public Transport Service for their area could work under a trial starting in October.
Pullenvale Ward Councillor, Greg Adermann, this morning announced that he had secured funds in this year’s Budget to undertake the trial.
It comes after Council conducted research on the idea in the western part of Pullenvale ward last year.
Cr Adermann said the findings confirmed there were huge public transport challenges in the area, which ranges from rural residential to suburban.
Some areas had access to a high frequency bus corridor but others, particularly in the western part of the ward, had little or no public transport options.
“One such area, Karana Downs, received a Personalised Public Transport Service eight years ago,’’ he said.
“It has since proven to be the most popular in Brisbane, so I was determined to see another one introduced in the western part of the ward.
“More than 40 per cent of respondents to the survey (last year) indicated a preference for a PPT service at Moggill and Bellbowrie.
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“It was the major feedback received at the face-to-face information kiosks, so it was
the obvious choice.’’
The hail-n-ride trial, which will be run by Black and White Cabs, would start on October 6 and run until June 30.
It will travel from Moggill to Bellbowrie Shopping Plaza, connecting CBD commuters with the 444 and P443 bus services, and to the shopping centre.
There will be 14 morning and nine afternoon services operating Monday to Friday (except public holidays).
The cost of a journey will be $1.
The journey time for morning and afternoon services will be 20 minutes.
It will run a loop from Birkin Rd, Moggill Rd, Weekes Rd, Bloomsbury Cres, Joseph Ave, Livesay Rd, Beaufort Cres, Springbrook Pl, Harvard St, Glenwood Pl, Beaufort Cres, Livesay Rd, Moggill Rd and then back to Birkin Rd (Bellbowrie Shopping Plaza), operating clockwise in the morning and anticlockwise in the afternoon.
Cr Adermann said while commuters and students connecting to CBD services would benefit,
he was particularly pleased the 120 residents at Sugarwood Grove Garden Villas would have a quick and affordable public transport service to Bellbowrie Shopping Centre.
“Following strong representations from Shirley McLeod on behalf of the Sugarwood body corporate and unit owners Peter and Julie Murray, I was determined that any such service needed to include Weekes Rd for the benefit of all residents there,” he said.
Cr Adermann said he would push for funds in next year’s Budget to continue the service if the trial — and demand — warranted it.
“Another finding from the research indicated a strong desire for a PPT to connect to bus services at the Grandview Rd Park and Ride,’’ he said.
“I would support this, but any decisions about the long-term future of this PPT and other
opportunities such as connections to Grandview Rd will depend on how well it is utilised during the trial.
“So my advice to local residents is use it, because I for one don’t want to lose it.’’
For more details call the Pullenvale Ward office on 3407 0220 or email:
Pullenvale.ward.@bcc.qld.gov.au