CoastConnect Caloundra to Maroochydore Quality Bus Corridor

The CoastConnect project will improve public transport and sustainable travel on the Sunshine Coast through bus priority and active transport improvements between Caloundra to Maroochydore.

In 2010, the Queensland Government released the final CoastConnect Concept Design. The identified corridor is protected under the provisions of the Transport Planning and Coordination Act 1994.

The project proposes a mixture of infrastructure improvements:

  • bus lanes — dedicated lanes for buses and emergency vehicles
  • bus queue bypasses —additional lengths of lane to enable buses to bypass the traffic waiting at traffic lights
  • dedicated on-road cycle lanes
  • bus stations in key activity areas
  • bus stop upgrades
  • improved public transport connections between the existing and emerging activity nodes
  • better connections to community services, facilities and local activity centres with subsequent economic benefits
  • minimising environmental impact by using existing transport corridors.

These improvements will  make bus travel between Caloundra and Maroochydore faster, and more reliable.

The department is taking a staged approach towards the delivery of improvements that support CoastConnect based on funding availability. To date, this has included the delivery of:

  • a southbound bus lane on Nicklin Way near Jessica Boulevard
  • a dedicated bus lane on Birtinya Boulevard
  • upgrades to Maroochydore and Kawana bus stations
  • active transport improvements at several locations throughout the corridor.

Benefits

  • Better active transport
  • Improves safety
  • Increases capacity
  • Improves network efficiency
  • Increases traffic flow
  • Reduces peak hour congestion

Current status

We will continue to protect the corridor and deliver improvements to support the CoastConnect project as funding becomes available. 
Planning for CoastConnect will be reviewed once outcomes of the Sunshine Coast Public Transport project are known and the scope of the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line is defined.

CoastConnect preferred strategy map

Coastconnect preferred strategy map