Logan City’s bus operator says over 100,000 commuters will save money each week with the release of 50c fares.
A spokesperson from Clarks Logan City Bus Service said the company was supportive of the six-month state government trial – which will see fares reduced to 50c for buses, trains, ferries and trams, no matter the distance.
“We see this as an opportunity not only to assist with the cost-of-living crisis but as a step towards addressing the traffic congestion experienced daily throughout Logan City,” finance and performance manager Kaylee Clark said.
“The key benefits are the savings that can be achieved for the 106,000 weekly commuters that already travel across the Logan bus network.”
The trial is set to begin on Monday 5 August.
Ms Clark said the company had already begun planning for the anticipated influx of commuters.
“Any trial that allows the Logan community to access public transport is a clear win,” she said.
“We anticipate that Logan commuters will be attracted to not only the Logan bus network but to the broader multi-modal transport network due to the cheaper fares.”
RACQ managing director and CEO David Carter said the trial was a short-term step in the right direction but stressed the importance of governments delivering a long-term solution that encouraged people to leave their cars at home.
“We need to do whatever we can to bring south-east Queensland public transport use to the same levels as other capital cities and we need the government to plan and build a system that more Queenslanders are able and want to use for the long–term future,” Mr Carter said.
“This includes better infrastructure, higher–frequency and faster rail services and overhauling bus services with more direct, high–frequency services.
“Current governments have inherited long term under–investment in roads which has exacerbated the impact of a fast–growing population on congestion.”
While Logan residents living along the rail corridor in the east of the city will be the major beneficiaries of the trial, those out west remain unheard.
“We have three of the fastest growing suburbs in the country and they’re all crying out for public transport,” mayor Jon Raven told MyCity Logan in April.
RACQ said it would monitor the effectiveness of the six-month trial in both relieving congestion and changing public transport patronage.
