Exclusive: The 15 locations where the Gold Coast could have driverless bus services

The Gold Coast’s first driverless bus route will be in Main Beach, linking with the trams and providing a potential huge boost to the Tedder Avenue retail precinct.

WHY WE MUST EXTEND THE TWEED BORDER SOUTH

MASSIVE RESCUE PACKAGE FOR BUSINESSES

THE Gold Coast’s first driverless bus route will be in Main Beach, linking with the trams and providing a potential huge boost to the Tedder Avenue retail precinct.

The Bulletin can reveal city officers considered 15 locations including Calypso Bay at Jacobs Well, the Hope Island-Sanctuary Cove residential precinct, Pacific Pines shopping centre and Coomera and Nerang train stations.

Examples of self driving buses - from a council report on the autonomous bus service planned on the Gold Coast.

Other southern locations scrutinised included James Street at Burleigh Heads, the north Kirra to Coolangatta stretch along with Pizzey Park at Miami.

The only real rival to the Main Beach light rail station-Tedder Avenue restaurant and retail area was the Health and Knowledge precinct at Southport.

But the report says Main Beach was identified as the preferred location for a trial due to connection between the tram stop to key activity centres including Tedder Avenue, Main Beach Tourist Park, Southport Yacht Club and Southport Surf Life Saving Club.

Locations for potential self driving buses on the Gold Coast, as council undertakes a trial of autonomous bus services.

Other factors contributing included “a 40 to 50 kilometre per hour speed environment with low traffic volumes, straight roadway alignment with few complex movements”.

“Main Beach road network provides numerous options for route selection with the majority of roads having a straight alignment with good sight distances and options for locating stops,” the report said.

“Disruption to general traffic is considered to be minimal. The proposed selected route alignment will focus on Tedder Avenue, but the loop and circuit will only be finalised following a detailed route assessment and submission of the site assessment report as part of the application to TMR.”

Two of the new driverless buses being trialled at Sydney Olympic Park in Sydney, Monday, October 28, 2019. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)/

A similar trial by the RACQ and Redlands City Council saw “positive community reaction”.

“The majority of users surveyed agreed, or strongly agreed the shuttle was useful, easy to use, enjoyable, safe and trustworthy with 93 per cent of users saying they would recommend the shuttle to someone else,” the report said.

The initial cost estimate of the trial was $350,000. A partnership with RACQ will reduce costs to the city by $100,000 due to an in-kind contribution of a vehicle.

A city spokesperson said: “Main Beach has been identified as the preferred location for the trial as it presents a variety of route options and has the necessary physical and operational attributes, as well as a defined transport system function.

“A final route is yet to be determined and will be subject to a detailed route assessment, in collaboration with the city’s delivery partners.

“Any expansion to the initial trial location, such as along The Spit to the Seaway, would be assessed in the same detailed way. The trial is expected to begin December 2021. Engagement with local residents and businesses is due to begin in September.”

Driverless buses take off from Orion Lagoon.

The preliminary route assessment for driverless buses on the Gold Coast.

Jacobs Well - Calypso Bay residential catchment.

Hope Island - Hope Island/Sanctuary Cove residential catchment and Hope Island marina.

Coomera - Coomera train station and Westfield Coomera.

Paradise Point - Paradise Point beach and parklands, and the cafe/shopping precinct.

Pacific Pines - Pacific Pines shopping centre and the residential catchment.

Southport - Gold Coast University Health and Knowledge precinct.

Biggera Waters and Southport - GCUH light rail station and Harbour Town shopping centre.

Nerang and Carrara - Nerang train station and the Gold Coast Sports and Leisure Centre.

Varsity Lakes and Reedy Creek - Varsity Lakes train station and Reedy Creek Christian schools

Main Beach - Main Beach light rail station, Tedder Avenue restaurant and retail precinct and Main Beach.

Robina - Robina train station and Robina Town Centre bus stop.

Mermaid Waters and Miami - Pizzey Park, Miami State High bus stop 700, future Miami light rail.

Burleigh Heads - North Burleigh and James Street.

Kirra and Coolangatta - North Kirra to Coolangatta.

Surfers Paradise and Bundall - Surfers to the Gold Coast Turf Club.