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High Frequency Bus Routes - Extending Route 29 to Kangaroo Point and RBWH

High Frequency Bus Routes - Extending Route 29 to Kangaroo Point and RBWH

BCC Route 29 Bus driving over the Eleanor Schonell Bridge

BCC Route 29 Bus driving over the Eleanor Schonell Bridge

Better Transport Queensland (BTQ), Queensland’s leading advocacy group for public transport, has called on Translink and Brisbane City Council to extend UQ Lakes Route 29 to RBWH (via Kangaroo Point) as part of a wider program to improve Brisbane City Council’s bus network in the lead up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

Kangaroo Point is currently served by the infrequent hourly or half-hourly Route 234 bus which terminates at Woolloongabba. Currently, the Route 29 service from UQ Lakes also terminates at Woolloongabba. The BCC bus network could be made more frequent, simpler and more legible by merging Route 234 into Route 29 and extending Route 29 to RBWH.

The main benefit of the proposal is that Kangaroo Point residents, who live in Brisbane’s densest suburb, will now be able to access RBWH and UQ with a single-seat journey and enjoy increased service frequency.

An extended high-frequency Route 29 bus service is proposed to service the following destinations:

  • RBWH
  • Exhibition
  • Fortitude Valley Rail Station
  • Kangaroo Point (including local streets)
  • Woolloongabba Cross River Rail station
  • Buranda Busway station
  • PA Hospital
  • Boggo Road interchange
  • Dutton Park
  • UQ Lakes

The proposed frequency for the extended Route 29 service is every 10 minutes or better, all day (7 am - 9pm), 7 days.

A concept map of the extended route 29 is provided.

Compared against major transport infrastructure proposals, service-first improvements such as new high-frequency bus routes or improved frequency on existing bus routes are significantly faster, cheaper, and lower risk to deliver.

The extension of Route 29 is enabled by recent changes to Brisbane’s bus network, which has added passenger capacity between Boggo Road interchange and UQ Lakes. These changes include larger, higher capacity metro vehicles running between UQ Lakes and Boggo Road interchange, and the introduction of Route 179 Mt Gravatt.

Passengers who currently use Route 234 to access the CBD have several options. They can change to a high frequency train or CityGlider bus at Fortitude Valley, a high frequency bus at Woolloongabba, walk across the new Kangaroo Point Bridge or use the Holman St Ferry.

BTQ does not propose changes to the peak hour only Route 26 Mt Gravatt - RBWH through this area, other than for Translink to also consider adding daytime services to Route 26 as well.

Quotes attributable to Paul Guard, Better Transport Queensland Spokesperson:

“Now that Kangaroo Point residents can walk directly into the CBD in 15-20 minutes via the new Kangaroo Point Bridge, perhaps it’s time to consider sending the bus to another major trip generator such as RBWH instead.”

“An extended Route 29 bus service from UQ Lakes to RBWH will provide Kangaroo Point residents, who live in Brisbane’s densest suburb, direct access to some of Brisbane’s largest employment hubs - UQ and RBWH."

"An extended Route 29 will connect some of Brisbane’s largest trip generators, including a university (UQ), three hospitals (PA Hospital, St Vincent’s Hospital Kangaroo Point, RBWH), five rail station interchanges (Boggo Rd, Buranda, Woolloongabba CRR, Fortitude Valley and Exhibition), runs through Brisbane’s densest suburb (Kangaroo Point), and will provide a one stop connection to three busway stations (Buranda, Woolloongabba, RBWH).”

“Brisbane City Council’s own data shows that when a bus route is upgraded into a high-frequency BUZ service, typical patronage increases are 100% or more. As we approach the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, we should be finding more and better ways to provide a simpler and more frequent bus network.”

Supporting Material

Extended Route 29 Route Map.

Theoretical bus route 29 extension for Brisbane (Variant)

Theoretical bus route 29 extension for Brisbane (Variant)

Image Credit: Cartoonbirdhaus. CC BY-SA 4.0

Better Transport Queensland Inc. — Queensland’s leading advocacy group for public, active, and freight transport. Visit our website at www.bettertransportqueensland.org.

References

Paul Guard - BTQ Spokesperson
[email protected]

General Media Enquiries
[email protected]

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