3 months ago
22
Angela Rowe used to be able to catch a 66 bus every few minutes from Dutton Park.
But when Brisbane’s bus network was shaken up about a month ago, the 66 was replaced with the Metro route M2 – and now the new service drives straight past the busway platform, without stopping.
If Rowe wants to catch the high-frequency Metro, the Lord Mayor’s suggestion is to do that from across the river at The University of Queensland, with a walk across the Eleanor Schonell Bridge.
The 66 used to stop at Dutton Park Place, just across the bridge from UQ.Credit: Angela Rowe
Fairfield resident Rowe remembered the 66 as a “really convenient” route.
She began catching it when Fairfield train station closed for Cross River Rail works, and quickly learned to love the “beautiful” walk she took to get to the Dutton Park platform.
Fairfield resident Angela Rowe says it’s a shame the Metro does not stop at Dutton Park Place.
“Walking through the cemetery, it was very beautiful surrounds, being in nature,” she said.
“There are other transport options, but I found that really nice to get that walk in [from Fairfield] … and it was a really short trip then into King George Square.”
Now, if she wants to use the same platform to catch a citybound bus, she is restricted to catching the 192, which winds its way through West End first.
A fan of the Metro, she would love it to stop at Dutton Park.
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“When it first launched, I would walk up to Boggo Road station a couple of times to get it from there,” she said.
“But I’ve got to allow a bit more time and it’s a lot more of a walk up a big hill. It was a real shame that it drives straight past.”
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the Metro did not stop at the Dutton Park Place busway because of the length of the platforms, and insisted that was always the plan.
“We didn’t ever commit that the Metro would be stopping at Dutton Park,” he said.
“The reality is Dutton Park station is a very short walk away from UQ, so just a short walk across the bridge.
“If you do want to jump on a Metro that’s the opportunity – you can catch the Metro from the UQ Lakes station. Dutton Park is just on the other side of that bridge.
“From day one, because of the length of platforms that are available there, there’s potential technical implications … That was never a commitment that we made.”
Google Maps says it is about a nine-minute walk between the university’s bus stop, across the Eleanor Schonell Bridge, and Dutton Park Place.
Council’s 60 electric Metro vehicles are 24.4 metres long, double the length of a standard bus, and can carry 150 passengers – with 63 seats and up to 87 standing – or up to 170 in “event mode”.
That compares to standard buses, which at 12.5 metres long have a capacity of 79 people, or bendy buses, which at 18 metres long can hold more than 110 people.
Several busway stations were upgraded to cater for Metro vehicles, including platform extensions and sign upgrades.
Greens councillor Trina Massey and independent councillor Nicole Johnston have launched a petition calling for an upgrade to allow the Metro to stop at Dutton Park Place.
Johnston said the current arrangement disconnected the inner-south and northside knowledge, employment and hospital corridor.
“It’s a shortsighted decision, especially for Annerley, Dutton Park and Fairfield residents, many of whom work at the hospital and universities along the Metro route,” she said.
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