A TRANSPORT lobby group has slammed the state government for ignoring community feedback during planning for the $9.77 million Victoria Point Central bus station.
Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said the design had put people with mobility issues in danger by forcing them to walk across six lanes of traffic on Cleveland-Redland Bay Road and had turned some commuters away from the area all together.
The station has come under fire since it opened last December, with residents raising concerns for the distance that older people had to walk to access the main shopping centre and rubbish that had left the station in a mess.
Mr Dow said the government should consider taking drastic measures to improve commuter safety, like building a bridge across the road with accompanying lifts.
"The thing that we find a bit disappointing is that the local community did give a bit of feedback when they first came out with the design saying this is not really good but that seems to have been largely ignored," Mr Dow said.
"It could be made a lot better if they put some lifts on there and a pedestrian bridge. That would allow people who are mobility impaired to get across safely without having to worry about crossing the very busy road."
A Main Roads spokesman said people with mobility issues could still access the remaining bus stop on Bunker Road near High Street if they wanted to visit the shopping and restaurant precinct.
Those travelling on the 277 service would need to board the bus at Victoria Point Central but people travelling to and from Redland Bay could hop on and off at Bunker Road, near the back entrance to Victoria Point Shopping Centre.
The spokesman refuted claims that TMR ignored concerns during the consultation process, saying the department had listened to more than 1000 community members and reached 23,500 other people on social media.
"TMR has also actively engaged with local aged care residential facilities and residents, Redland City Council, and local bus operator Transdev throughout the feasibility and site selection process," he said
"This engagement, along with community feedback, was considered to help determine the final design of the station."
Mr Dow said among the major design flaws were the pedestrian crossings, which ran across slip lanes and created safety issues for pedestrians.
"The timing on the lights is also not long enough for people that are mobility impaired to get across safely," he said.
"What they could look at is the timing cycle on the lights and perhaps have a button that people could press, giving them a longer period of time to get across."
A TMR spokesman said they had listened to the public's concerns and adjusted the traffic signals on the north and south side of the station to give people extra walking time.
"This will allow additional green 'walk' time and red flashing 'clearance' time," he said.
"These changes cater for slower crossing speeds and allow more pedestrians to cross in a cycle. We will continue to monitor the operation of the signals as part of our normal business."
Redlands MP Kim Richards said she had spoken to several customers since the station opened and had built a footpath to connect platform one with Victoria Point Shopping Centre.
She said new seating had also been installed on the opposite platform to provide better shade for travellers.
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