The Brisbane Metro is a step closer with Council selecting a preferred site to construct a depot for the new metro vehicles at Rochedale.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said Council had contacted several landowners at Rochedale about acquiring their land for the metro depot which was ideally located adjacent to the Eight Mile Plains busway station.

Cr Quirk said the 4.5 hectare (45,000 sq m) site for the proposed depot would accommodate 60 metro vehicles upon commencement in 2022-23.

“Council is committed to providing residents with a world-class public transport service, which means more buses for the suburbs, fewer cars on the roads and more travel options for residents,” he said.

“Brisbane Metro is the right transport solution for Brisbane, it is affordable with a very high benefit cost ratio and now is the time to deliver it.

“Importantly the Brisbane Metro will improve our lifestyle and leisure opportunities by providing an average of a one-hour weekly travel time saving for metro commuters.

“Council is getting on with the job and has identified land required for the project’s depot at Rochedale that provides direct access to the Eight Mile Plains busway station where the Metro line begins.”

The $944 million Brisbane Metro will run over 21 kilometres with two new high-frequency, high-capacity lines, linking Eight Mile Plains to Roma Street and Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital to University of Queensland Lakes and all busway stations in between.

Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Council was also seeking to acquire a 1,600 sqm site at Grey Street from Queensland Rail.

This land on School Rd, Rochdale is set to become the new depot for Brisbane Metro – delivering regular, fast & reliable public transport. pic.twitter.com/UfGlrWHYH6 — Adrian Schrinner (@Schrinner) October 4, 2017

Cr Schrinner said the site was required to construct the new underground Cultural Centre station and new busway tunnel linking the existing South East busway tunnel to Victoria Bridge which will be converted to a ‘green bridge’ for metro and bus services.

“This will provide a dedicated connection for metro vehicles and buses and allow the closure of the existing Melbourne Street portal, significantly reducing bus numbers at street level,” he said.

“Improving the pedestrian environment and public realm at Melbourne Street and Grey Street will help establish a gateway to the world-class cultural precinct.”

Preliminary works already underway on the project included on-site monitoring and testing at various locations adjacent to the Metro routes including the Mater Hospital, QPAC, City Hall and the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital to provide a benchmark as part of the Concept Design and Impact Management Plan that will be released for consultation in November.