Greens MP for Maiwar Michael Berkman held a meeting on Friday 1 November with stakeholders to develop a transport strategy for QASMT after the school raised concerns about safety and accessibility for their students.
Berkman organised the meeting after the QASMT school community raised concerns about traffic and transport issues during a previous P&C meeting. The meeting was designed to bring stakeholders together to discuss potential solutions ahead of a public community meeting in February 2020.
This year QASMT conducted a survey of students' travel habits. They found that many students have long commutes to and from the school, and would benefit from more public and active transport options. This would also help reduce traffic and parking congestion on local streets.
Earlier this year, a student was hit by a car at the Morrow & Moggill Rd intersection. Luckily, they weren't seriously injured , but it highlighted the need to give students safe, efficient and accessible public and active transport options to and from school.
Michael Berkman MP:
“It’s great to see the local school community proactively working to improve public and active transport options for its students.
“Getting kids out of cars and into buses, trains, walking and cycling will bust congestion, keep kids healthier and make our cities cleaner and quieter.
“It’s essential we provide the right infrastructure to make public and active transport safe and attractive for families.
“After holding a meeting with key stakeholders last week, I’m now asking the Transport Minister to consider a shuttle service to QASMT from Roma Street Station, where a lot of the students’ trips converge, plus additional solutions like bike lockers at train stations and steps to reducing rat running in surrounding streets.
“I’m also asking Brisbane City Council to improve pedestrian crossings near the school and investigate a reduced speed limit on Stanley Terrace, as well as putting interim safety measures in place like signage and yellow lines.
“I’ll also be hosting a public meeting to get feedback from the community in early 2020, so I can take this to Translink in time for their February 2020 review of school transport routes.”