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World-class bus interchange opens at USC
Public transport access to the University of the Sunshine Coast has been boosted this week following the opening of a world-class bus interchange on campus.
Queensland Transport Minister Rachel Nolan visited USC on Thursday 25 June to inspect the interchange, which opened yesterday (Sunday 28 June) after five months of construction work.
The bus station has three platforms, making it the second-biggest facility of its kind on the Sunshine Coast behind the interchange at Sunshine Plaza.
Ms Nolan said Translink’s $5.5 million project at USC also included construction of a “green link” between USC and Scholars Drive to provide access that will be restricted to buses, cyclists and pedestrians.
She said this link enabled bus services to travel through the University, rather than enter and exit solely at Sippy Downs Drive.
“It will improve local road safety and save passengers up to 10 minutes on every trip, with buses no longer having to conduct reverse turns on Scholars Drive,” she said.
Ms Nolan said the new interchange would allow for additional bus services to be introduced on the Sunshine Coast to cater for 8,400 extra passengers per week across the region.
USC Vice-Chancellor Professor Paul Thomas AM welcomed the opening of the interchange, saying it would make public transport a more attractive option for University students, staff and visitors.
“The planned enhancement of frequencies and destinations will serve a wider population on the Coast than the University alone, and be a valuable dimension of services to the eventual township centre on Stringybark Road.”
Professor Thomas said the use of public transport by USC students and staff had doubled in recent years.
“We would like to increase user numbers significantly and will continue to investigate concessional passes to make the public transport option even more appealing,” he said.
— Terry Walsh