Full safety barriers will be installed on more Queensland buses, to better protect drivers.
The State Government has announced it’s investing $64.7 million over the next five years, to help keep public transport users and drivers safe.
The barriers will be going in along high risk routes in Townsville, the Gold Coast and Brisbane, at a cost of $4 million.
The remaining money will go towards an an additional 29 Network Officers to be deployed across the Gold Coast, Logan and the Sunshine Coast, as well as further police assistance on public transport in Brisbane.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey says the significant investment in frontline public transport services comes as patronage is expected to boom over the next decade.
“As we build a bigger and better public transport network, it is critical that the right safety measures are in place for all Queenslanders who work or travel on public transport.
“Our new Network Officer strategy will provide an overwhelming increase to our frontline transport force that will create about 100 new ongoing, fulltime jobs.”
An additional 50 Network Officers will be rolled out across the network in the second year of the program.
As well as having a focus on safety, the Network Officers will be charged with preventing fare evasion on the public transport network. They will have extended powers to enforce conditions of travel and may issue infringement notices, including fines, for public transport offences.
Recruitment for the first wave of new Network Officers will begin in February.
