Consultation open on Baker Street Cycleway, bus stop designs

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is seeking feedback for upgrades to cycling and walking facilities along Baker Street at Darling Heights in Toowoomba.

The planned upgrades will include both on-road cycle facilities and an off-road shared path for the section of Baker Street, between Platz Street and the University of Southern Queensland Ring Road.

A separate design package for a new bus stop on the southern side of Baker Street, including a priority crossing between the two bus stops, is also being coordinated with the Baker Street design.

TRC Transport and Drainage Planning portfolio spokesperson, Cr Trevor Manteufel, said this Principal Cycle Network connection will improve access for cyclists and pedestrians to the University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) and other destinations in the area, as well as parks, businesses and the Darling Heights State School.

“This is another example of how Council is prioritising active and public transport in the Region and helping more people make the decision to leave the car at home more regularly,” Cr Manteufel said.

Council provided the community a chance to comment as part of the first stage of the concept designs at the start of this year. As part of this second stage of consultation, we are inviting the community to provide feedback on the updated cycleway and bus stop designs, which include:

Stage 1 • Continuation of the on-road bicycle lanes from UniSQ Ring Road through to Platz Street (both sides of the road), • a shared path for cyclists and pedestrians on the northern side of the road, from UniSQ Ring Road to Luck Street, • priority crossings with speed control devices for Baker Street near the Luck Street intersection, between the bus stops, as well as crossings for Platz Street, Sanderson Street and major driveways for UniSQ, • Pedestrian refuge crossing for Baker Street at the Theiss Park crossing location, and • extending the 40km/h speed zone to Platz Street and changing it from a timed to full-time 40km/h speed zone.

Stage 2 • Adding missing footpath connections on the southern side of the road, between Platz Street and Luck Street.

These plans also identify a proposed new bus stop on the southern side of Baker Street, which is being undertaken as a separate design project, but needs to integrate with this cycleway project.

“We encourage the community to take the few minutes to look over these plans and provide their comments on this project,” Cr Manteufel said.

“Residents and road users can view the project on Council’s YourSay page up to 1 November 2024.

“The community should note that there is currently no funding for the construction phases of both projects, which may occur in multiple stages over a number of years.”

The design phase is jointly funded by Council and the Department of Transport and Main Roads through the Cycle Network Local Government Grants Project and is an important deliverable of the Downs South West Principal Cycle Network Plan, as well as the Toowoomba Region Sustainable Transport Strategy and Active Transport Policy, which aim to improve active transport infrastructure and safety for all road users.

More information on the Baker Street Cycleway design and Baker Street bus stop design can be found at: https://yoursay.tr.qld.gov.au/baker-street-cyleway