Improved walking access at bus stops

Image credit: State of Queensland 

Action 2.5, Action Plan for Walking 2019–2021

Status: Ongoing 

By the end of 2022 all bus stops must be accessible for everyone. The Passenger Transport Accessible Infrastructure Program (PTAIP) provides funding to support local governments to achieve this requirement. The scope also includes upgrading footpath connections to bus stop locations, which enables a safer and more accessible walking connection for customers between the bus stop and their onward journey.

Achievements

The Department of Transport and Main Roads' (TMR) PTAIP provides funding to local councils to upgrade their existing passenger transport facilities to enable compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992. This is important to ensure that bus stops are accessible to everyone. 

Approximately $5 million is provided each year to councils on a 50:50 funding basis to:

• upgrade bus boarding platforms at bus stops
• provide space for a ramp to be used if required to get on and off a bus
• provide clear signage to show where the bus stop is
• install tactile ground surface indicators to assist blind people or people with low vision.

The program scope also includes providing suitable footpath connections to enable a safer and more accessible walking connection for customers between the bus stop and their onward journey.

Across the 2019–20 and 2020–21 financial years TMR provided $10 million to support local councils across Queensland to upgrade passenger transport infrastructure to improve customer safety, accessibility and comfort for public transport customers. 

Next steps

TMR will continue to contribute financially toward assisting local government meet the requirement under Federal accessibility legislation that 100% of all bus stops will be fully compliant by 31 December 2022.

More information

For more information on this TMR program please refer to the public transport infrastructure grants.