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Press
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Alternative travel project cuts greenhouse gas
and congestion
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and
Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
12/02/2008
Alternative
travel project cuts greenhouse gas and congestion
Thousands
of Brisbane Northside residents slashed their
private vehicle use by an average 13 percent through
one of the world's biggest travel behaviour change
projects.
Transport Minister John Mickel today released
the results of the18-month Brisbane North TravelSmart
Communities Project.
Mr
Mickel said the reduction in private vehicle use
meant a cut of 31,900 tonnes in greenhouse gas
emissions each year.
"It
means a 114 million kilometre per year drop in
private car trips on Brisbane streets and roads,"
he said.
"These
are remarkable results. They make a very important
contribution to the battle against global warming
and traffic congestion.
"There
was also a 49% increase in walking, 58% increase
in cycling and 22% increase in public transport
usage among participants.
"TravelSmart
North has proven that Brisbane residents are ready
and willing to join the battle against global
warming and use more sustainable forms of transport
t han the private car," Mr Mickel said.
He
said TravelSmart was a project under which team
members worked with residents in selected areas
to identify sustainable travel options for them.
TravelSmart
encourages people to use environmentally-friendly
transport, such as public transport, cycling,
walking and carpooling.
TravelSmart
North was jointly funded by the State Government,
Brisbane City Council and the Australian Greenhouse
Office at a total cost of $4.2 million.
Project
team members contacted 75,000 households in Brisbane's
northern suburbs from May 2006 to offer advice
and information about sustainable transport. Of
these, 37,699 households were active participants.
The
project extended from Strathpine and Brighton,
east to Nudgee and Banyo and west to Bridgeman
Downs, Keperra and The Gap.
"TravelSmart's success proves many people
are keen to make the right choices, change their
lifestyles, and leave the car at home if offered
guidance and support," Mr Mickel said.
"I
want to thank everyone that took part. They are
helping the city become the greenest city in Australia
and getting fit and healthy.
"TravelSmart
North has been a resounding success and has made
a genuine, measurable impact on greenhouse gas
emissions and traffic congestion," he said.
"It
proves that people and companies are prepared
to do what they can to avoid global warming and
I congratulate and thank everyone who took part
in the project.
"A
wonderful side effect is participants enjoy better
health because of the exercise they get from choosing
sustainable transport," Mr Mickel said.
The
Minister said TravelSmart was part of a wide State
Government strategy to reduce reliance on private
cars.
Other
measures included:
.
The 2008 TransLink rail timetable is being finalised
and will include an additional four three-carriage
trains on the Gold Coast corridor offering more
than 8000 additional passenger seats from Monday
to Friday
.
Establishment of the new Urban Transit Authority
to oversee all public transport operations in
South East Queensland from July 2008
.
Commitment of $235 million by 2026 to build an
integrated South East Queensland cycling network
from Noosa to the Gold Coast and Ipswich
.
Expansion of the Brisbane busway network, with
the $333 million Inner Northern Busway on track
for completion by mid-2008
.
Duplication of railway lines to the Gold Coast,
Ferny Grove and Kuraby to enable more and faster
services
.
Purchase of 44 new 3-car trains for the suburban
network
.
More than 230 new buses to the Brisbane fleet
funded by Brisbane City Council - and more than
500 extra buses on the road across South East
Queensland since July 1, 2004.
Ministerial
contacts: Chris Brown 3237 1944 or Shannon Mackay
3237 1125
February
12, 2008
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