CBD BUS OF THE FUTURE
COUNCIL EXPLORES IDEA:
FULLY automated driverless buses have been touted as a potential solution to end the city’s CBD parking woes.
The council hopes a city loop bus service – driverless or otherwise – will help close gaps in the public transport network while also decreasing CBD carpark congestion by encouraging commuters to drive to bus stations on the edge of the city centre.
Cairns Mayor Bob Manning downplayed the severity of the parking situation, and said the city loop idea was first raised several years ago, but had never been implemented.
“We’re not saying we have a parking problem or something’s wrong, we’re just trying to do something smarter,” he said.
“I’ve got those reports sitting around and I thought, this has legs.
“I thought maybe we should look at it again.”
Councillors yesterday voted unanimously to request a report from officers into the feasibility for the service, which would mirror those already in place in Townsville and Brisbane.
Division 6 councillor Linda Cooper said driverless buses had been trialled in Perth with success, and Cairns could be a perfect opportunity for an expansion of the technology.
“A while ago the National Transport Commission was looking for how they could safely test autonomous buses, which they have been using in Perth on the foreshore there for about six months,” she said.
“Now they’ve ironed out the kinks in those trials they are looking for cities that have really great traffic grids so they can start trialling them on a more commercial basis.
“They certainly did indicate they were interested in Cairns as an option.”
Cr Manning said council officers would be tasked with exploring the available options and reporting back to council.
He said the loop service was part of the council’s long term public transport strategy, which included a light rail system that could some day link Cairns’ southern suburbs with the northern beaches.
“We don’t yet know what model is feasible for our city or what it will cost,” Cr Manning said.
“This really is just the first step in determining an appropriate and successful transport system for our city centre.”