Revealed: New mapping shows which east-west link to trams to be built first

Council is to green light planning for two east-west rapid bus services to link with Gold Coast light rail. SEE THE ROUTES

THE council is to green light planning for an east-west rapid bus service to link with Gold Coast light rail despite immediate funding not being available from Treasury.

The favoured connection is Broadbeach to Nerang but councillors want the buses to go further, west of the Pacific Motorway to link with hinterland shopping centres.

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High frequency transport map for the Gold Coast.

Councillors Glenn Tozer and Peter Young, along with Helensvale-based city councillor William Owen-Jones, at a transport committee meeting today successfully moved to have planning of the bus routes extend west beyond the M1.

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The two key east-west routes were Nerang to Broadbeach and Robina to Nobby Beach — and officers agreed it was a “reasonable assumption” both links would be the first to be built once light rail is extended to Coolangatta.

The councillors maintained the fast bus routes at Nerang needed to be more than a “dotted line” on the map to its town centre.

Cr Tozer told The Bulletin: “The route should not stop there. The route should consider going into Nerang and Mudgeeraba.”

Key destinations on a proposed east-west bus link for the Gold Coast.

Councillors backed spending $500,000 on separate studies to explore improving the services but the report revealed problems with the State spending money.

The report said council officers had met with TransLink at a key meeting in March where they were given verbal advice.

“They would welcome funding assistance to fast track some bus service initiatives they have already identified for the northern Gold Coast but have not been able to secure funding approval from Queensland Treasury,” the report said.

A council source said: “Councillors see the bus services as a critical element of City Transport plan. We can do the planning. It will create an appetite from Transport (for funding).”

Council officers were given the following advice:

• TransLink will need a minimum of nine months lead time to resource any changes to bus services including contractual arrangements with the bus provider.

• Making a service change was “expensive” requiring new buses and drivers.

• Creating and operating a new bus route would cost about $1.5 million each year.

• Uplifting existing bus routes through increased frequency and hours would cost $1 million a year.

New faster buses proposed as part of a rapid transit plan for east west bus links on the Gold Coast.

The report said a bus rapid transit system could provide up to 600 passengers each hour, which compares to 200 for regular buses and up to 2500 for light rail.

Council officers met with Transport and Main Roads bureaucrats in late July where there was agreement that a BRT “has merits for the Gold Coast”.

The Nerang-Broadbeach BRT corridor had a “high level of interest” because it was a State-controlled road.

“A series of informal discussions with a local bus manufacturer indicated they are in a position to progress a suitable vehicle with electric propulsion and other advanced technologies,” the report said.