The Premier said since coming to Government, she’s made it her mission to invest in the Gold Coast’s public transport and roads network. “About 6.5 million people come through Gold Coast Airport each year and the vast percentage are leisure travellers, so we need an efficient and easy public transport linkage that accommodates visitors to the city and local residents well into the future.” We are pleased to hear that is the direction that has been recommended by this study,” he said. “We have long advocated for the light rail to the airport and our preference has been for it to follow the Gold Coast Highway. Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills welcomed news of the likely light rail alignment along the Gold Coast Highway, which would benefit visitors to the city traveling through Gold Coast Airport and residents. “The ideas and opportunities this study has identified will be subject to thorough community consultation which starts this month.” “The Gold Coast Highway route would travel close to where people already live, work and go to the beach and service popular destinations including the Burleigh Heads village, Palm Beach village, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Southern Cross University, Tugun, Bilinga and importantly the Gold Coast Airport. “Directing light rail along the highway protects the M1 rail corridor for its principal use as a future heavy rail connection to the airport. “The current preserved width of the heavy rail corridor next to the M1 means we can’t accommodate future extensions of both light rail and heavy rail along that route,” Mr Bailey said. Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the highway route for the next stage of Gold Coast Light Rail would simplify planning for future heavy rail extensions on the Gold Coast between Varsity Lakes and the airport. “Connecting light rail to the airport is also really important for a 2032 Olympics bid.” “I want the Southern Gold Coast to benefit from light rail just as the Northern Gold Coast has. “We’re building better transport for residents now and planning so that the Gold Coast’s transport network evolves to meet the demands of future. “We’ve done so much but there is more work to come. We’re moving ahead with the second M1 and we’ve connected light rail to heavy rail at Helensvale,” the Premier said. “There is $2.3 billion worth of upgrades happening on the M1 right now supporting 2000 local tradie jobs. The Premier said the findings set the focus for the next phase of her Government’s record infrastructure investment on the Gold Coast, which has included major M1 upgrades and the transformational Gold Coast Light Rail project.
#M1 light rail route upgrade#
The study also suggests that, once completed, the M1 upgrade between Varsity Lakes and Tugun could reduce traffic on the Gold Coast Highway, presenting new opportunities for pedestrian and bike-friendly boulevards at Palm Beach, Currumbin and Burleigh.
Speaking at Gold Coast Airport this morning, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the comprehensive, two-year study identifies a range of potential transport options including the preferred extension route of the next stage of light rail from Burleigh to Tugun, travelling along the Gold Coast Highway to the Airport. A transport vision for the Southern Gold Coast has been released today revealing new opportunities to plan future stages for light rail, heavy rail and further reduce road congestion.