All Public Transport and Tolls Across Brisbane Are Currently Free Until March 6
Getting around town hasn't been easy for the past few days, but it'll be free until the end of the weekend.
After a week that's seen torrential rain, flooding across the city, all public transport suspended for a few days and the main roads that have been open packed with traffic, getting around Brisbane — if you've needed to get around — hasn't been easy. But if you do have to head out until Sunday, March 6, it'll be cheaper, at least. Actually, whether you're catching a bus or train or driving on a toll road, it'll be free.
The Queensland Government has announced that it has ditched fares on all public transport across southeast Queensland until the last service on Sunday, and also scrapped tolls until midnight that same night. Accordingly, if you're hopping on a bus or train from now until the end of the weekend, you won't need to touch your Go Card on or off — and if you're driving through toll points, you won't be charged a fee.
Part of the motivation is to help Mud Army volunteers make their way around town to aid in the cleanup efforts. "We know the mud army will be moving around over the coming days, so the Palaszczuk Government wants to make that as easy and accessible as possible," said Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey in a statement. "This covers services from Coolangatta all the way up to the Fraser Coast and across to Toowoomba, because just about every community in between has been impacted in some way.
Regarding suspending tolls, it's also about ensuring people can get around without paying a fee while other roads are flooded. "The toll road system provides drivers with connection to areas, which are currently cut off from other access due to flood damage," Bailey advised in another statement.
That said, after a couple of days' reprieve, Brisbane awoke to rain and storms again today, Thursday, March 3 — and to severe thunderstorm and moderate flood warnings. So, heading far mightn't be on your agenda anyway. Also, the Queensland Government still advises reconsidering any non-essential travel.
The free public transport fares only apply on government-run services — not through private operators — and, while both buses and trains have started services again, with the rail network resuming today, timetables aren't back to normal.
As for the tolls, the suspension covers the Gateway and Logan motorways, AirportLink tunnel and Toowoomba Bypass, as well as the Legacy way, Clem 7 and the Go Between Bridge.
If you're going out Brisbanites, stay safe and dry.
Public transport and tolls across southeast Queensland will be free until the end of Sunday, March 6. Find more information about public transport services, head to the TransLink website.
