ADVOCATING for state road and public transport improvements are among the top priorities in Redland City Council's transport strategy, adopted this week.
But Transport Minister Mark Bailey has slammed the strategy, saying it avoided new council commitments to road upgrades while shifting blame to the state government.
The Redlands Coast Transport Strategy, described by Cr Murray Elliott as an advocacy document, has been 18 months in the works and outlines priorities and plans for improving public transport, roads and other infrastructure.
Cr Paul Bishop said he was surprised the City Plan had been created without the transport strategy having been updated since 2003.
Mayor Karen Williams said the strategy highlighted the state's influence over transport in the Redlands and a significant step-up in state investment was needed.
"Not surprisingly, the strategy review and engagement identified the priority for investments in the Eastern Busway and Cleveland rail duplication, as well as essential upgrades to the state road network," she said.
Mr Bailey said council was blaming others for its own lack of vision or commitments on transport and passing it off as advocacy.
"The final result is broad well-meaning statements but no concrete targets or actions for managing its own council-controlled roads and infrastructure," he said.
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Council transport projects listed in the strategy include upgrading Wellington Street and Panorama Drive, Kinross Road, School of Arts Road and Valley Way and German Church Road.
The SMBI green seal program was also on the list.
Priorities for council advocacy included Cleveland rail duplication, the Eastern Busway, high frequency public transport and public transport on the islands and state-controlled road upgrades, including Cleveland Redland Bay Road and intersections through Capalaba.
Council was also set to lobby the state government for a Public Transit Authority.
"Recently, I have spoken with several public transport operators who all believe a Public Transit Authority would help co-ordinate services and investment across the region, delivering better results for passengers," Cr Williams said.
She said more than 60 per cent of working residents commuted out of the Redlands but only 14 per cent did so by public transport.
"Council is actively working on initiatives including local area transport planning, rideshare, autonomous vehicle trials and modelling changes to parking and our urban landscape connectivity to encourage higher public transport, walkability and cycling use."
Mr Bailey said the state was the only level of government investing significantly in Redlands transport and roads.
He said the Giles Road intersection upgrade, Victoria Point bus station and upgrades to Cleveland-Redland Bay Road and the Gateway Motorway Old Cleveland Road on-ramp were significant state projects recently completed or in the works.
