Ipswich locals will benefit from more shelter at bus stops thanks to the Palaszczuk Government’s $20 million Bus Stop Shelter Program (BSSP).
New shelters will be installed at 18 bus stops across the Ipswich after the council received a share of the $5.4 million program funding for 2021-22.
Almost 300 new shelters will be installed at bus stops across Queensland this financial year.
Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard said the Palaszczuk Government is committed to delivering safer bus stops with more shade.
“Over 650 new shelters have already been installed through BSSP since the program commenced,” Ms Howard said.
“We are always looking at ways to improve the public transport experience for our customers and the Bus Stop Shelter Program is a prime example of that.
“The new shelters delivered through the BSSP will provide a more comfortable waiting environment commuters across the state, who can be bathed in our famous Queensland sunshine one minute and seeking cover from a storm the next.”
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the Palaszczuk Government is in the midst of transforming the way we travel across Queensland with a record investment in public transport.
“We’re moving onto the next stage of our $371 million smart ticketing roll-out, which will mean for the first time, regional Queensland commuters will use the same ticketing system as those in the south-east,” Mr Bailey said.
“All up, 550 smart ticketing readers will be installed at 154 train stations, along with bus services, allowing commuters to pay using a credit card, smart phone or watch.
“Importantly, smart ticketing will allow regional commuters to access real time travel information about bus and train services.
“Over the next four years the Palaszczuk Government is delivering a record $27.5 billion roads and transport plan which is creating 24,000 jobs and driving Queensland economic recovery from COVID-19.”
The new shelters will complement more than $3.2 million in Palaszczuk Government funding to assist local councils in 2021-22 to upgrade existing bus stops across the state through the Passenger Transport Accessible Infrastructure Program (PTAIP).
Targets set out in the Commonwealth Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002 are for all bus stops to be accessible by the end of 2022.
Ms Howard said 23 bus stops would be upgraded in Ipswich this financial year thanks to PTAIP funding assistance from the State Government.
“The Queensland Government is committed to creating a single, integrated transport network that is accessible to everyone and PTAIP plays an important role to that end,” she said.
“We are working hard to eliminate barriers for people to access the public transport network, delivering on one of the five priorities in our 10-year blueprint Creating Better Connections.”
Funding assistance provided to 16 local governments through PTAIP helped to upgrade more than 475 bus stops across Queensland in the last financial year.
