A multibillion-dollar plan to expand Brisbane Metro to more suburbs will consider reviving Brisbane’s unfinished busway network to keep Brisbane moving.
Almost 30 years ago, the State Government’s South East Queensland Integrated Regional Transport Plan proposed 75 kilometres of busways, but only around a third was ever built.
Now, the Schrinner Council is investigating the expansion of Brisbane Metro along the city’s key corridors, with a combination of new tunnels, dedicated busways and transitways being considered to complete the missing links.
It’s the first time three levels of government are partnering on Brisbane Metro, with the expansion business case expected to be completed in the second half of 2027.
The proposed expansion follows Brisbane’s Metro’s success, with more than 15 million trips and bus patronage increase almost 30 per cent over two years.
Residents are today being invited to have their say on multibillion-dollar expansion plan, including:
• Northern Metro: CBD to Carseldine via Gympie Road
• Eastern Metro: CBD to Capalaba via Old Cleveland Road
• Southern Metro: CBD to Springwood via the existing busway
• Airport Metro: CBD to Brisbane Airport
Brisbane is one of Australia’s fastest-growing cities, with significant population forecast along the proposed Brisbane Metro corridors over the next 20 years:
• CBD to Carseldine along Gympie Road: population forecast to grow by 60%
• CBD to Capalaba along Old Cleveland Road: population forecast to grow by 29%
• CBD to Springwood along the existing busway: population forecast to grow by 96%
With an additional 88,000 residents expected to move into the areas surrounding the three residential corridors, the need for more bus rapid transit is growing.
The Brisbane Metro Expansion business case is supported by all three levels of government and will investigate the routes, vehicles, infrastructure, costs and staging needed to bring Metro to more suburbs.
Future expansions will be delivered in stages as planning is completed and funding is secured.
Community consultation closes on Sunday 13 December 2026.
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner
“Brisbane Metro has been a huge success and residents want it expanded to more suburbs.
“We’ve already invested more than a billion dollars to get stage one of this project going, but future stages will only become a reality with support from all three levels of government.
“Brisbane Metro, together with 50 cent fares, has helped drive a massive 30 per cent increase in passengers over two years.
“Now that we know it works, we need to replicate this project in other parts of Brisbane and beyond.
“We want residents to help shape the expansion plans to ensure we can keep Brisbane moving as our city grows.”
Quotes attributable to Civic Cabinet Chair for Transport Councillor Andrew Wines
“The success of Brisbane Metro shows what happens when we make public transport faster, more frequent and easier to use.
“We saw how valuable community feedback was in shaping Brisbane’s New Bus Network and we want to take the same approach as we plan Brisbane Metro’s future.
“Whether you catch the bus every day or wish public transport was a better option for you, we want to hear from you.”
Quotes attributable to Ross Elliot, Suburban Futures
“This is exciting news and will result in meaningful change to the way we get around the city in the future.
“It’s not just about where people live, but also where they will be working in the future – and how they’ll get there.
“The connection to the Brisbane Airport, for example, is needed because the workforce there is predicted to grow from 25,000 now to around 50,000 by 2046.
“Chermside’s workforce will grow from 16,000 to potentially 50,000 by 2046 based on the expansion of the Prince Charles and related health and professional industries.
“And in the case of the extension to Capalaba, this will open up new local employment opportunities so that people can work closer to their homes in the future – so the benefits are many.
“The metro doesn’t need tracks in the ground or wires overhead, and it can turn corners where trains cannot – so it’s both a much cheaper and more efficient option for a Future Brisbane.”
