A $250 million underground busway interchange will be built for Queensland’s Roma Street Station to connect it to the Cross River Rail Project.
The busway will be 650-metres long and located directly underneath the Roma Street station plaza, to make it easier for commuters to change bus or trains at the state’s biggest public transport hub.
It will be delivered by the contractors working on the Cross River Rail as an additional public transport infrastructure project.
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said the interchange for the Inner Northern Busway to the Cross River Rail Project would support 480 jobs and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the Roma Street Station.
“We know the Queensland Government’s $5.4 billion Cross River Rail will unlock much-needed extra capacity for the entire South East Queensland rail network and generate 7,700 jobs,” Trad said.
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“The integrated Roma Street underground busway interchange will be part of a new turn-up-and-go transport network for the South East, made possible by the Queensland Government’s investment in Cross River Rail.”
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said a record 182 million public transport trips were taken across the south east in the last financial year, with an average of 19,000 people using the current Roma Street bus station each day.
“Once Cross River Rail is operational, 36,000 passengers are expected to use Roma Street every day to transfer between buses and trains, which is why we’re upgrading this important hub, taking hundreds of cars off the road and easing congestion,” Bailey said.
“Having the Roma Street section of the Northern Busway underground will mean better integration of bus services with the new underground train station, which will make it more convenient for commuters.
“Through the Cross River Rail project, the Queensland Government is not only investing in public transport and jobs, but also revitalising the Roma Street precinct by replacing the tired transit centre and creating opportunities for an attractive entertainment and cultural hub.”
Member for McConnel Grace Grace said the new street frontage station plaza would be built on top of the busway interchange with underground train and bus and plaza levels linked by lifts and escalators for easy passenger access.
“The existing above-ground Inner Northern Busway interchange at Roma Street will be demolished to make way for the new underground terminal,” Grace said.
“Removing the current above-ground interchange has the potential to create exciting opportunities for the Roma Street precinct including new community space.
“Cross River Rail and the plans for the Roma Street Station precinct will deliver unprecedented convenience for our community.”
The $250 million project will be funded separately by Transport and Main Roads.
Cross River Rail early works are already underway in Woolloongabba with contractors expected to start on the busway interchange in late 2019.