Transport on the Gold Coast, Queensland
[3] The car is the dominant mode of transport in the city with an extensive arterial road network that connects the standard residential streets with major suburbs and motorways.
The development of the national park tracks and accommodation at Binna Burra Lodge owe a great deal to the work of Romeo Lahey and Arthur Groom in the 1920s and 1930s.
In the future it will be extended southwards along the M1 corridor through Nerang, Robina, Varsity Lakes, West Burleigh, Palm Beach and behind the Gold Coast Airport to the New South Wales state border.
These areas are conveniently located beside key transport interchanges and existing city infrastructure, and they are easily identified by Mobike signs and ground markings.
The Australian Federal Government is responsible for the maintaining the Pacific Motorway (M1), the city's main thoroughfare and a recognised nation freight route.
The Gold Coast state routes typically commence from the Pacific Motorway and connect with major commercial and residential hubs.
Passengers pay common fares, based on the number of zones travelled through, on all the public transport modes covered including trains, buses and light rail, irrespective of who operates the service.
After some years of decline, the Gold Coast public transport system is being revitalised and finding greater patronage, with significant investment in light rail construction and extensions, a completely reorganised and simplified bus network.
Hopo ferry service stops at 5 iconic destinations including Surfers Paradise, Home of the Arts (HOTA), Marina Mirage, Broadwater Parklands & Sea World.
[26] The G:link provides the suburbs of Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, Main Beach, Southport, Parkwood and Helensvale with a modern and high frequency transport system.
[27] The system is expected to encourage visitors and residents to use public transport to reduce major traffic congestion and pollution problems.
The entrance to the airport is situated in the suburb of Bilinga of the Gold Coast Highway while the runway itself straddles the state border of Queensland and New South Wales.
The Airtrain Citylink travels via the Queensland Rail City network to Brisbane CBD, trains continuing to the Gold Coast, terminating at Varsity Lakes.
[47] The initial stretch from Beenleigh included stations at Yatala, Ormeau, Pimpama, Coomera, Oxenford, Helensvale, Coombabah, Ernest Junction and Southport.
[49] Gold Coast is one of the fastest-growing cities in Australia[50] and this has caused a growing problem with congestion, with much of the existing road network approaching capacity.
[52] The widening and upgrade of the Pacific Motorway between Varsity Lakes and Tugun is currently in the planning stages with the project estimated to cost around 1.036 billion to complete.
[55] A 6.6 kilometer extension with 8 new light rail[56] stations are proposed with the line running down the middle of the Gold Coast Highway, reducing minimal disruptions to the existing road corridor.
Queensland State Government and City of Gold Coast have committed $5 million each in developing a Detailed Business Case that will analyse the costs and options for stage 3A.
The Gold Coast City Council released a list of potential routes for stage three in November 2015 and invited public comment.
[58] The 14 kilometer extension of the light rail line from the proposed Burleigh Heads station would continue south along the Gold Coast Highway, passing through the southern suburbs of Palm Beach and Tugun before terminating at the Airport.
The Queensland Government still plans to extend the line with stations proposed at Tallebudgera, Elanora, Tugun and the Gold Coast Airport[60] however the state government is not likely to start construction till after the Brisbane's Cross River Rail project is completed in 2024 to increase South East Queensland rail network capacity.
