Western Brisbane Transport Network Strategy

The Western Brisbane Transport Network Strategy provided a transport vision for developing a fully integrated transport network for western and north-western Brisbane that caters for walking, cycling, rail, bus, roads and freight.

The Western Brisbane Transport Network Strategy was released in 2009 following a major transport planning study to investigate the transport needs of western and northern Brisbane. It provided a transport vision to guide all levels of government in developing a fully integrated multi-modal approach to transforming the transport network of western Brisbane.

The strategy recommended significant rail operational changes and 18 integrated bus, active transport and road corridor improvements that when combined would deliver network-wide benefits.

The 4 key components of the strategy were:

  • Rail – supporting 'turn-up-and-go' services, new multi-purpose stations and new high-capacity trains
  • Bus priority – supporting priority for buses, frequent and reliable services, and integration with rail
  • Active transport – establishing new high standard cycleways, walkways and river crossings
  • Roads and freight – featuring a future north-south motorway, public transport priority and management of congestion.

The strategy built on contemporary infrastructure programs, with the then South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program providing for the first stages of the transformation of the network.

Key features

The Western Brisbane Transport Network Strategy aimed to:

  • identify opportunities to better use existing rail and road assets, and preserved transport corridors before investing in expensive new corridors
  • enable road corridor space to be used for efficient public transport priority and community outcomes
  • improve accessibility to and from western Brisbane by balancing public transport and road investment
  • support a denser and more sustainable city
  • create a flexible network that manages future uncertainties
  • support the Regional Plan in protecting non-urban areas of south-east Queensland from inappropriate development
  • manage congestion and reduce public transport travel times and overcrowding.

The strategy has been formative in outlining the planning direction for the area, and has informed a number of subsequent planning studies and transport plans including the South East Queensland Regional Transport Plans. Since the completion of the strategy, new and upgraded transport infrastructure and services have been delivered to support the strategy’s vision for the north-western Brisbane transport network.

Map of the projects outlined in the Western Brisbane Transport Network Strategy

Map of the projects outlined in the Western Brisbane Transport Natwork Strategy

Community input

Community experiences and feedback underpinned the Western Brisbane Transport Network Strategy. Understanding community issues, concerns, needs and desires guided the strategy’s development to help it to better reflect customer needs and expectations.

We engaged with more than 3,000 people at staffed displays, received more than 2,500 recorded public submissions and comments, and worked with 2 community liaison groups to understand the community’s priorities.

Progress since release of the strategy

The Western Brisbane Transport Network Strategy informed the development of Connecting SEQ 2031, the integrated regional transport plan released in 2011, as well as the current regional plan, ShapingSEQ and the South East Queensland Regional Transport Plans.

A number of projects identified in the strategy have since been delivered, while other projects are programmed to be delivered, or are undergoing further planning. Projects delivered since the release of the strategy include:

  • Northern Busway extension to Kedron
  • Airport Link
  • Legacy Way
  • Centenary Motorway (Toowong to Indooroopilly) upgrade to 6 lanes
  • North Brisbane Bikeway (Stages 1 to 4)
  • Moggill Road cycle bridge
  • Musgrave and Waterworks roads high-occupancy vehicle lanes
  • park 'n' ride upgrades
  • Sumners Road overpass

Rail components delivered include:

  • network improvements and release of new timetables including 'turn-up-and-go' services for inner urban stations
  • removal of open level crossings at Telegraph Road, Fitzgibbon and Robinson Road, Geebung
  • track duplication from Mitchelton to Ferny Grove
  • rollout of new generation rollingstock
  • upgrades to a number of rail stations.

Projects currently being delivered or subject to ongoing planning include:

Current planning context

The Western Brisbane Transport Network Strategy demonstrates the value of comprehensive transport planning through the benefits it has delivered to the northern and western communities of Brisbane.

A number of important transport infrastructure initiatives for north-western Brisbane have been identified in ShapingSEQ, the Queensland Government’s regional plan for South East Queensland.

The South East Queensland Regional Transport Plans provide a blueprint for Queensland’s future transport system at the local level, guiding state and local government planning priorities over the next 15 years. The South East Queensland Regional Transport Plans will guide planning priorities for the north-western Brisbane area, and the findings of the Western Brisbane Transport Network Study were an input into their development.

Publications

Western Brisbane Transport Network Strategy
Western Brisbane Transport Network Investigation—Basis of Strategy