RACQ is calling for a long-term South East Queensland transport plan to improve public and active transport networks and upgrade and complete Brisbane’s outer ring of motorways ahead of the 2032 Olympics.
Recently releasing its 2024 Travel Speeds Report, RACQ found concerning trends that raised the need for urgent planning and solutions.
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On weekdays last year, average morning rush hour speeds were slower on 65 out of 98 road sections (66 per cent) across Brisbane compared to 2019, while 67 (68 per cent) saw slower afternoon peak speeds.
Motorists heading outbound on Gympie Road (Kedron Park to Albany Creek Roads) crawled at an average of 24.8km/h during weekday afternoon peaks in 2024, more than 18km/h slower than free-flowing conditions.
Morning peak hour congestion added almost seven minutes (6:46) to the drive from Ipswich Motorway to Fig Tree Pocket Road on the Centenary Motorway in 2024, averaging just 35.9km/h. That equates to motorists spending more than 28 hours extra in traffic over a working year.
“Our research shows that many Queenslanders are looking forward to the 2032 Games, but many more will follow if they can see tangible legacy benefits, particularly improved transport infrastructure to cater for a growing population,” RACQ head of public policy Dr Michael Kane says.
“Gympie Road congestion data raises the need for urgent planning and solutions that could include the expansion of Brisbane Metro services north to Carseldine.”
Kane also suggested expanding Metro services south to Loganholme and east to Capalaba, and considered using smaller electric ‘Metro Glider’ bus services on other key transport spines running into central Brisbane.
“There must be certainty over the future of public transport connections to the Brisbane Airport precinct as well,” Kane says.
“These public transport investments should be complemented by cycling path expansions to give commuters more options to leave their car at home.”
Kane says there were pending upgrades and missing links in our outer ring of motorways which currently consisted of the Gateway, Logan and Centenary Motorways.
“We have the semblance of a giant ring road around Brisbane but there are critical gaps which will continue to unnecessarily funnel too much traffic into and near the CBD. This is putting great stress on congestion, hampering productivity and SEQ’s enviable lifestyle,” he says.
“Governments must seriously consider delivering a Centenary Motorway upgrade from the Ipswich Motorway to Legacy Way (Toowong) and planning a new north-west corridor linking the Centenary Motorway with the Bruce Highway to keep through-traffic off our local roads.”