POPULAR WORDS

The Queensland government has announced initial funding for a $140 million tunnel and bus station linking Queen Street and Roma Street with the Inner Northern Busway. Transport and Main Roads Minister Paul Lucas says $12 million has been allocated in the 2004/05 state Budget to begin planning and construction of an extension to the Inner Northern Busway. This includes a 440-metre tunnel between Queen Street and Roma Street. Lucas says the project, which is due for completion in late 2007, will also involve the construction of a new bus station in the lower levels of the King George Square carpark. He says the underground section will have capacity to carry 250 buses an hour in each direction and is expected to carry 48,000 passengers daily. "This new initiative will have enormous benefits for commuters using the Inner Northern Busway," he says. "This section is expected to reduce travel times from the existing end of the Inner Northern Busway to the city centre of between seven and nine minutes, and up to 20 minutes on congested days. "Apart from the significant time savings and convenience, the section will also provide a more efficient link between southside, northside and westside bus services, and will reduce congestion at the Queen Street Bus Station under the Myer Centre." Lucas says initial discussions with the Brisbane City Council have been held and it has pledged to support the state in the construction of this stage of the Inner Northern Busway. "I welcome this support, which includes providing part of the King George Square car park for the tunnel and bus station," says Lucas.