Having spoken to many in our area about public transport I know my job is to be on their side and fight for more public transport.
I knew after the last government’s cut back of services it wouldn’t be easy.
Planners from Translink pushed back saying it is difficult to service people living on acreage as buses run with few and sometime no passengers. I said there has to be a way.
There is.
Last week we launched a new “Demand Responsive Transport” trial in the suburbs of Chambers Flat, Park Ridge, Park Ridge South, Logan Reserve and Munruben.
These are areas that have had no public transport other than the 540 bus on the highway.
The service is a bit different from an ordinary bus.
You ring 131190 and a small bus comes to pick you up directly from your home.
The cost is $3 or $1.50 for students and seniors and it can take you to destinations such as the Park Ridge bus and shops, Grand Plaza and even Loganlea Station.
While it is good to get this trial service working in this area I’ll be fighting to expand it to other areas - that’s why I’m urging residents to get behind the service and use it.
We have also reduced fares for the first time from Jimboomba to Browns Plains on the 540 bus that has more services.
As more people use the 540 I can fight for even more frequency of the service.
I also fought for more services for Yarrabilba – now there are seven services a day. When I was elected there were only two services.
I’ll continue to fight for more public transport up to and including a fairer train service for our area, to keep fares low, connect residents and to reduce traffic on our roads.
There is a lot more to be done for public transport but instead of the public transport cuts of the last government I’ll keep public transport moving in the right direction.
For info on the demand responsive transport - https://translink.com.au/travel-with-us/drt/trial-sites
For info on the Jimboomba to Browns Plains 540 bus https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/timetables/bus/T/540
Yarrabilba Logan Village bus timetable http://www.logancoaches.com.au/images/pdf/canungratimetable.pdf
Member for Logan Linus Power MP
