Go East! Taking the Brisbane Metro from Coorparoo to Capalaba

Council has announced that it has partnered with the Redlands City Council and the State Government to fund the Eastern Metro Study which will investigate providing a Brisbane Metro route from Coorparoo to Capalaba.

This is great news for residents of the eastern suburbs as this would enable tens of thousands to gain access to fast, efficient, zero-emission public transport.

The study will use the proposed route from the original Eastern Busway plans and will look to tie it in with private sector investment in order to minimise cost.

While the original 2026 Eastern Busway was defunded, with the Olympics coming in 2032 we have an opportunity to deliver a Metro line to service the seven Olympic venues in the eastern suburbs, whilst providing public transport access where residents need it the most.

What was the Eastern Busway and what does the Eastern Metro mean for me?

The Eastern Busway would have enabled tens of thousands of residents living along Old Cleveland Road and surrounds to gain access to fast, reliable and affordable public transport.

The busway stretched 17.7km from Buranda to Capalaba and was due to be completed by now.

Over the last fifteen years, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner and I have been fighting an uphill battle for the Eastern Busway’s return, citing it as the only viable long term solution to traffic congestion along the Old Cleveland Road corridor.

With the 2032 Olympics around the corner, we were able to bring the project back into the spotlight of the State Government’s policy makers, and I’m happy to say that they are now back at the table in the form of the Eastern Metro.

If the Eastern Metro is implemented, it means that residents in the eastern suburbs will benefit from significantly lower commute times and easier access to public transport.

It also means that spectators and athletes for the 2032 Olympics will have a fast and reliable option to travel to events held at one of the seven Olympic venues along Old Cleveland Road, significantly reducing congestion.

What “proposed route” is the study investigating?

When the State Government announced the Eastern Transitway project (that was to replace the busway), my staff and I decided to develop a map of where the original busway would have gone.

You can find the original route below, along with the proposed stations and exact routes according to the original concept plans.

What private investment are you talking about when supporting the Eastern Metro?

Many people don’t know this, but the recently completed Coorparoo Square development was constructed to incorporate an underground bus station in the future.

As part of the development conditions, Council required the shopping and residential complex to have a provision for an underground station.

Part of the study will consider opportunities where bus stations can be built as part of similar developments, like the original plans for a new busway station at Westfield Carindale.

This reduces the cost of the project and allows for bus stations in areas where commuters most want them because of their ease.

2009 Concept design of the Carindale bus station at Westfield Carindale as part of the Eastern Busway project.

What happens in the meantime?

Whilst I’m very excited to see the results, there is currently no timeframe set as to when the study will be completed.

In the meantime, Council is currently undertaking one of the largest city-wide bus network reviews in recent history.

This review looks at reducing bottlenecks, increasing integration with other public transport options and delivering greater service reliability.

You can have your say on the new network here.

The State Government has also nearly finished Stage 1 of the Eastern Transitway, with the bus lane expected to extend further down Old Cleveland Rd forming the basis of the new Eastern Metro.

You can read more about the Eastern Transitway on the Department of Transport and Main Road’s website here.

Part of the concept plan for the original Eastern Busway that ran from Coorparoo to Capalaba (circa 2009).