Locals to pay nearly $15 for a bus ticket
Thursday, 22 October 2009 08:40
We get nothing for roads, now they want to “tax” what little public transport we have.
The Bligh Government‘s shock increase to public transport fares will hit Brisbane’s west very severely.
Fares are rising 20% to 40% immediately and 100% by 2014.
We already have the worst roads in the city (Western Freeway and Moggill Road). We have almost no dedicated public transport infrastructure (bus priority or busways). Now those who do the right thing and catch public transport are about to be further slugged.
Local fares with rises:-| Zone | Paper tickets (end 2010) | |
| Single Now | Single fromJan 2010 | |
| Moggill – City (5 zones) | 4.30 | 6.00 |
| Moggill – Kenmore (3 zones) | 3.40 | 4.70 |
| Zone | Go Cards | |||||
| SingleNow | Single fromJan 2010 | Return Now | Return fromJan 2010 | Single from 2014 | Return from 2014 | |
| Moggill – City (5 zones) | 3.44 | 4.10 | 6.88 | >8.00 | 7.19 | >14.00 |
| Moggill – Kenmore (3 zones) | 2.72 | 3.20 | 5.44 | >6.00 | 5.62 | >11.00 |
Given that public transport is already overcrowded and frequently delayed by local road congestion this is an unjustifiable new “tax” on public transport.
Passengers are not getting more services or better infrastructure for their money.
This is one of a raft of tax and charge increases that have resulted from very poor budget management and $85 billion in State Government debt.Let’s not be fooled that this is to invest in public transport – it’s a budget measure!
It amazes me that we are about to embark on national emissions trading but the State Government is doubling the cost of one of the main ways of reducing greenhouse gas emissions i.e. moving people onto public transport.
At around $15 for a return bus ticket to the city many are likely to reconsider taking the car.
Mt Crosby residents are given no Translink service and will have to drive to Moggill for the privilege of paying $15 for a bus ticket.