Green light for university bus interchange
Tue 22 May 2007
Michelle McLochlan, Journalism
Queensland Transport has approved a multi-million dollar bus interchange link to be built at the University of the Sunshine Coast Sippy Downs campus by February 2008.
The four-million dollar project, titled the Sunshine Coast Bus Interchange and Green Link, is set to start construction in September this year and aims to transform the existing University bus stop.
The University and Queensland Transport will jointly fund the operation.
University of the Sunshine Coast director of capital programs and operations Mark Bradley said the need for the University to review its transport options came from research and a public survey conducted last year.
“We think we should be exploring new avenues with public transport,” Mr Bradley said.
The University currently has 1200 designated car parking spaces.
With student numbers increasing each year and no major direct train link to the university, car travel is often the only option for some.
Brisbane based University of the Sunshine Coast student Jaye Grifften said a major bus link might change his normal travel route.
“As long as it was efficient, on time and easy to access I would certainly try it,” Mr Grifften said.
Mr Bradley said the University will be trying to encourage students in the future to contemplate taking the bus instead of driving their cars to the campus.
He said a local publicity campaign between the University and local bus company Sunbus will be conducted over the next couple of months.
Sunbus was not available for comment.
Over the next five years campus car parks may have future structures added.
Mr Bradley said if this was the case then the students would have to start paying to park at the university.
“We understand students are strapped for cash ... but if our hand’s forced then we’ll have to resort to it,” Mr Bradley said.
Currently the university does not charge students any fees to park on campus.
At larger Brisbane-based universities students can look at paying parking fees starting from 60 cents an hour.
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