CLEVELAND MP Mark Robinson has taken up the challenge to put the ditched Eastern Busway back on the state government agenda.
New life was breathed into busway plans in March when demolition started on the old Myer site at Coorparoo, paving the way for 360 apartments and a bus terminus.
The busway runs from the University of Queensland at St Lucia, across the Eleanor Schonell Bridge to connect with the South East Busway at Buranda.
It then extends to Coorparoo along Old Cleveland Road, where it was supposed to go past Carindale Shopping Centre before stopping at the Capalaba bus interchange.
But extending the busway from Coorparoo to Capalaba came unstuck when federal funding dried up in 2012 after completion of the first two phases in 2011.
Rudd, Gillard and Abbott governments all failed to allocate funding and the project remained on hold under the Newman government, despite resumption of properties at Coorparoo.
The latest extension of the Eastern Busway cost $465 million for 1km due to substantial home demolitions, compulsory land resumptions and expensive tunnelling works.
Rail Back on Track lobby group's Robert Dow estimated the per-kilometre cost to be about $300 million, which equates to $4.5 billion for a 15km extension to Capalaba.
The lobby group said before the busway could be extended the Brisbane City Council bus network would need an overhaul.
"An extended Eastern Busway will accelerate the dumping of massive volumes of buses into the South East Busway, pushing it to overcapacity and causing a catastrophic flood of congestion at the Cultural Centre, blocking the Victoria Bridge and gridlocking the Brisbane CBD during peak hour.
"We look forward to Deputy Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner confirming Brisbane City Council's anticipated contribution of $2.2 billion towards the Eastern Busway project."
Last week, Mr Robinson joined forces with Mr Schrinner to give the project a kick start by petitioning parliament for a commitment to deliver the busway.
Mr Robinson said the busway was urgently needed to cater for current and future population growth and to address worsening daily traffic congestion.
"It is essential, as a community, we don't let the Eastern Busway simply drift off into obscurity in the minds of the state government," Mr Robinson said.
"With the main arterials out of Redland City already under significant strain, the Eastern Busway would provide an efficient and sensible alternative for commuters looking to make the trip into Brisbane.
"Since my election in 2009 I have continually lobbied on behalf of the people of Cleveland and Redland City for the Busway," he said.
Capalaba MP Don Brown said he was surprised and pleased with the LNP's newfound interest in the Eastern Busway.
He said Mr Robinson and the LNP had been silent on the project for three years and opposed the first stage, built by Labor.
"The project needs funding from federal and local governments and Tony Abbott's budget did not have a single cent extra for public transport," he said.
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