Roma Street Station's busway interchange will undergo a $250 million underground transformation to create a seamless connection to the Palaszczuk Government's Cross River Rail Project.
Deputy Premier Jackie Trad said the undergrounding of Roma Street's busway interchange would be delivered by the Cross River Rail team as an additional public transport infrastructure project.
"We know the Palaszczuk Government's $5.4 billion Cross River Rail will unlock much-needed extra capacity for the entire South East Queensland rail network and generate 7,700 jobs," Ms Trad said.
"Value-adding a new, $250 million high-capacity underground interchange for the Inner Northern Busway to the Cross River Rail Project will support 480 jobs and a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape the Roma Street Station precinct.
"The integrated Roma Street underground busway interchange will be part of a new turn-up-and-go transport network for the South East, made possible by the Palaszczuk Government's investment in Cross River Rail."
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the high-capacity, 650-metre long busway would be located directly under the Roma Street station plaza, making it easier for commuters to change bus or trains at Queensland's busiest public transport hub.
"Queenslanders are backing public transport, with a record 182 million trips taken across the south east last financial year, including an average of 19,000 people using the current Roma Street bus station each day," Mr Bailey said.
"Once Cross River Rail is operational, 36,000 passengers are expected to use Roma Street every day to transfer between buses and trains, which is why we're upgrading this important hub, taking hundreds of cars off the road and easing congestion.
"Having the Roma Street section of the Northern Busway underground will mean better integration of bus services with the new underground train station, which will make it more convenient for commuters.
"Through the Cross River Rail project, the Palaszczuk Government is not only investing in public transport and jobs, but also revitalizing the Roma Street precinct by replacing the tired transit centre and creating opportunities for an attractive entertainment and cultural hub."
Member for McConnel Grace Grace said the new street frontage station plaza would be built on top of the busway interchange with underground train and bus and plaza levels linked by lifts and escalators for easy passenger access.
"The existing above-ground Inner Northern Busway interchange at Roma Street will be demolished to make way for the new underground terminal," Ms Grace said.
"Removing the current above-ground interchange has the potential to create exciting opportunities for the Roma Street precinct including new community space.
"Cross River Rail and the plans for the Roma Street Station precinct will deliver unprecedented convenience for our community."
The $250 million underground busway interchange at Roma Street will be funded separately by Transport and Main Roads.
Cross River Rail early works are already underway in Woolloongabba with contractors expected to start on Roma Street Station's underground busway interchange by late-2019.
