By Member for Springwood Mick de Brenni
Many more of us who call Logan home are choosing public transport more than ever before, and that’s something worth celebrating.
Since Labor introduced 50c fares in 2024, public transport use has surged, with patronage increasing by 21% in Logan.
It’s been a significant cost-of-living measure that is saving commuters, students and workers hundreds – and sometimes thousands – of dollars each year.
But with so many more people getting on board, we’re now seeing some of the challenges that come with that success.
Across Logan people are increasingly reporting overcrowded buses, busy trains and the difficulty of finding a carpark at their local station when they need it.
For commuters travelling into Brisbane each day, finding an appropriately timed service, much less a seat, can be difficult enough.
But for others, the problem starts well before they reach the bus or train.
If you live in a suburb without a convenient local bus connection, you might have to drive to a station, find somewhere to park and then hope there’s room on the next service.
And if the carpark is already full, that can mean a frustrating start to a working day.
The challenges are particularly significant for people who work outside traditional business hours.
Construction workers, hospital staff, cleaners and other shift workers often need to start early or finish late, when services can be less frequent or simply aren’t available.
Our public transport network needs to work for these people too, not just those travelling during the morning and afternoon peaks.
Meanwhile, major projects intended to increase capacity, including the South East Busway extension south of Springwood and the proposed Brisbane Metro extension to Springwood, have been stalled or delayed by the State Government.
That’s why I’m pleased to be sponsoring a petition launched by a Cornubia resident, calling on the LNP to undertake a comprehensive review of public transport services.
The petition calls for a closer examination of overcrowding, service frequency, early and late timetables, station carparking and the local bus and train connections that help residents reach major transport hubs.
Queenslanders have shown they’re willing to embrace public transport when it’s affordable.
Now we need to make sure the services are there when we need them.
Subscribe to stay up-to-date with news from across Logan. You’ll receive a link to our digital newspaper direct to your inbox each week. It’s free.
