TRAFFIC congestion across South East Queensland is reaching crisis point and Redland City is right in the middle of the rush to get its growing road issues recognised.
Infrastructure Australia has returned a damning report that says rail lines will reach "crush capacity" in 15 years and roads will be clogged with the expected population growth of 500,000 people moving into the South East during that time.
Alarm bells are ringing for the Redlands where ongoing development has brought thousands of people to the city with road and rail infrastructure not keeping pace.
The arterial road network in this city is totally inadequate. With only four major roads offering entry and exit access to this city, they have no hope of coping with the population growth that will come our way over the next two decades.
Upgrading Cleveland-Redland Bay and Rickertt roads to four lanes will do little to relieve congestion that already has become a peak-hour nightmare for commuters endeavouring to get in and out of the Redlands.
Radical thinking is needed for lobbying to begin for finding workable solutions. At this point, however, the magnitude of the infrastructure needed has not struck home to governments.
Redlands needs these two roads upgraded to four lanes now. The duplication of the rail link from Thorneside to Cleveland must be a priority; as should a second rail crossing over the Brisbane River to cope with the additional train services that are needed to transport people in the southern and western suburbs.
A light rail service, once a pet project of past Redlands councils, is needed from the southern parts of the city, particularly when the 4000-home Shoreline project is under way, to link with Victoria Point and the rail network at Cleveland and to the long talked about Eastern Busway proposal at Capalaba.
This project is one that will bring immediate relief to the worsening daily congestion along Old Cleveland Road and here recognition must be given to Cleveland MP Mark Robinson who is endeavouring to breathe new life into the busway that appears to have been ditched through lack of funding from the state and federal governments.
Mr Robinson recently joined forces with Brisbane's deputy Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner by petitioning state parliament for a commitment to deliver the busway. He said that with the main arterials out of Redland City already under significant strain, the busway would provide an efficient and sensible alternative for commuters.
These are the projects that should be under way now. Successive governments have been devoid of enthusiasm and foresight to address our traffic concerns in the South East to the point where both tourism and business will be impacted.
