Eight million tram riders
NEARLY one million more people will ride the trams from next year, but one of its most regular passengers says she is disappointed by a lack of funding for its expansion.
Patronage of the city’s tram network exceeded expectations this year, according to Budget documents which show more than 8.03 million people rode the G in 2016-17, up from the expected 7.8 million.
Next year that figure is set to jump to 8.72 million people on the back of the opening of stage two in February.
Regular users say they are looking forward to the expansion of the network.
Southport student Jacqui Holland uses the trams twice daily to travel to Griffith University and said she was disappointed no funding was committed to the proposed third stage to Burleigh.
The medical student, 20, said the city’s tram network was already busy and needed to be further expanded to link different forms of public transport.
“I use it most days of the week and I find it really convenient and with the next stage coming, it will be great for those who need to get to and from Brisbane much faster,” she said.
“For me personally it will mean I won’t have to drive my housemate to the train station all the time.
“The public transport here on the Gold Coast is much better than it used to be with the dodgy buses, but with the tram getting busier from next year, I think we do need greater connection between the services, especially towards the airport and south of Broadbeach.”
The final $233.5 million of the state’s $420 million spend on the light rail’s second stage was committed in yesterday’s Budget, which contained funding for a raft of upgrades to major arterial roads due for completion ahead of the 2018 Games. These include:
• $10.2 million for the widening of Labrador-Carrara Road between Crestwood Drive and Southport Nerang Road from four to six lanes, due for completion in November
• $6.6 million from a total of $11.7 million for the upgrade of Gooding Drive intersection due for completion in December.
• $14.9 million from a total of $49 million for the widening from four to six lanes of Bundall Road from Vespa Crescent to Nerang River Bridge, due to finish in November.