AUSTRALIA
Brisbane City Council will spend millions of dollars on new upgraded buses under the AUD $2.9bn (£1.6bn) budget for 2014/15 released two weeks ago.
According to Australasia Bus & Coach magazine, the budget includes $33.9m for 60 new air-conditioned and wheelchair accessible buses and $4.6m for improvements to the flow of buses at the Melbourne Street busway portal.
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says the budget focuses on tackling the impact of traffic congestion and managing the city’s finances responsibly.
“This budget focuses on the priorities that ratepayers expect like modern and reliable public transport, congestion busting road infrastructure and the maintenance and enhancements of assets and services that the hallmarks of a new world city,” he said.
The coming financial year will see the completion of major infrastructure projects including Legacy Way and the replacement of open level crossings with overpasses at Telegraph Road, Bracken Ridge and Robinson Road, Geebung, and Graham says more than $200m (£11m) will be spent on projects such as Kingsford Smith Drive, Wynnum Road Corridor Stage One project and an upgrade to Paradise Road, Larapinta.
He added: “We are making a significant investment in the future of Brisbane, to ensure we’re not just delivering what we need now but what is necessary for future generations. These projects have been identified for future funding and delivery due to their capacity to make both immediate and long term positive impacts in the lives of residents.”
There is also $2.1m (£1.1m) included towards the delivery of two new CityCats and $4.7m (£2.5m) for a new ferry terminal at Milton.
