Artists' impression of the Cultural Centre precinct following Brisbane Metro alterations. Credit:BCC The revised Brisbane Metro came with a price tag of $944.2 million, of which Cr Quirk said a third would be sought from the federal and state governments. The remaining $629.47 million would come from Brisbane ratepayers. "We can do this and keep rates at a very affordable level and that's the important thing," Cr Quirk said. "In a couple of weeks' time, we'll be bringing a budget down and we'll be able to demonstrate through that budget how this project is affordable and doable."

The Cultural Centre precinct could become much more pedestrian friendly once the Brisbane Metro underground station was built. Credit:BCC The project was expected to increase the South East Busway's morning peak capacity by 22,000 passengers an hour and remove 125 buses from the Brisbane CBD. The initial two Brisbane Metro lines, Metro 1 (Eight Mile Plains to Roma Street) and Metro 2 (Herston to the University of Queensland), would be serviced by 60 bi-articulated buses, which would be 24 metres long and carry 150 passengers. The Brisbane Metro vehicles were expected to be 24 metres long and carry 150 passengers. Credit:BCC While Fairfax Media had previously revealed possible future expansions to Carindale, Springwood and Chermside, the business case showed the Brisbane Metro could eventually be extended as far north as Bracken Ridge.

They would provide peak-hour frequency of a service every three minutes. Between Mater Hill and Roma Street, which would be on both Brisbane Metro lines, frequency would increase to every 90 seconds. The metro services would interchange with the Cross River Rail at Boggo Road and Roma Street. The biggest single cost of the project would be relocating the Cultural Centre station underground, which would account for about $315 million. Deputy mayor Adrian Schrinner said that would help fix one of Brisbane's most notorious traffic and pedestrian black spots, where buses exit the South East Busway and turn into Melbourne Street towards the Cultural Centre bus station and Victoria Bridge. Artists' impressions within the council's business case showed a pedestrian shared zone, but aides were quick to point out nothing would be decided until more consultation was done.

That did not stop Cr Schrinner's enthusiasm for the South Brisbane possibilities. "Putting the metro station underground can really change the way that precinct works," Cr Schrinner said. "There can be some really positive pedestrian and place-making benefits ... and that's some of the work we'll be doing going forward as part of the project." About $142 million would be spent on the conversion of the Victoria Bridge into a "green" bridge (removing general traffic lanes), work on North Quay and a 230-metre Adelaide Street tunnel that would feed into the King George Square bus station.

About $189 million would be spent on the vehicles and depot, while about $113 million would be spent upgrading existing stations. Construction on the Brisbane Metro was due to begin in 2019 and be completed by 2022. At its start of operation, the Brisbane Metro would replace the existing 111, 66 and 160 bus routes. Last year, the state government ruled out allowing the council to use its Go Print site at Woolloongabba as a stabling yard, which it said was needed for a Cross River Rail station. That impasse with the state threatened to sink the Brisbane Metro project altogether, but Cr Quirk said the expanded project meant the council could explore more appropriate locations near the Metro 1's southern terminus. "We had issues around the Go Print site and I could have kept fighting that battle, but I think it would have been a losing battle, quite frankly," he said.

Cr Quirk said the council would explore both state- and privately-owned land around Eight Mile Plains for the Brisbane Metro maintenance depot and stabling yard. Brisbane Metro route map. Credit:BCC RACQ advocacy general manager Paul Turner said the motoring club was supportive of the project, despite the loss of two general traffic river crossing lanes at Victoria Bridge. "We'd love to see the tolls from the Go Between Bridge disappear as part of the plan, (but) we're not expecting it," he said. "It's the shortest toll bridge in the country and we see some benefit down the line for removing that toll as part of an overall traffic outcome for South Brisbane.

"But let's not confuse it. Closing Vic Bridge to traffic and fixing that Cultural Centre precinct is a big win for motorists overall and we need to just make sure that the signage and the street network gives motorists the choice of either using the William Jolly or the Go Between Bridge in the future, so they always have an alternative to the toll." Public transport lobbyist Robert Dow, from Rail: Back on Track, said the Brisbane Metro's benefits could be felt right across suburban Brisbane through bus network reform. "It will be very hard for Infrastructure Australia, the federal government, to not fund it," he said. "In fact, we think the state government should come to the party as well, at least for part of the funding. "This project is going to integrate properly with Cross River Rail and it's going to lead to a very sustained solution."

But Labor opposition transport spokesman Jared Cassidy said the business case figures were "ambitious", with travel time savings contained to existing busway corridors. "So if you travel from the outer northern or eastern suburbs the travel time savings will be very limited indeed," he said. "For example, if you catch the 330 service from Bracken Ridge to the city, you will save around two minutes on a 58-minute journey. "What's not clear is whether that passenger will have to change to the metro service at RBWH or stay on their service all the way through. "... With a private operator for the metro on the table, we would want to see the busways preserved for all commuters on buses, not just those on the metro."

Prior to the release of the Brisbane Metro business case, Cr Quirk revealed it would run 24 hours a day on weekends and 20 hours a day for the rest of the week.