Cairns Plans Transit for 59,000 New Residents by 2046

Cairns is undertaking its most significant transport policy review in years, with the $920,000 Cairns Transport Study jointly funded by the Queensland Government and Cairns Regional Council. The review is designed to plan for a projected 59,000-resident increase by 2046, reshaping how people move through the region.

What the study covers

While the state government regularly assesses services, it currently has no immediate plans to change the Cairns bus network. Commuters have raised concerns about unsafe and late buses that struggle to match population growth. A long-term vision called the Cairns Transit Network aims to introduce dedicated busways and priority lanes to connect Palm Cove to Gordonvale, but detailed design and construction of these upgrades remain currently unfunded. The study, expected to inform future spending decisions, is run jointly by state transport planners and council officers.

Walking, cycling and e-mobility rules

In a separate but related move, the Cairns Regional Council has superseded its 2010 plan with a new Active Transport Strategy covering 664 kilometres of walking and cycling infrastructure. That document will guide how the city expands its network of paths and shared routes. Meanwhile, the FNQ Regional Roads and Transport Group recommended in March 2026 that policy amendments regulate e-mobility devices, including reducing pathway speed limits to 10km/h and improving incident data collection. The recommendations, if adopted, could affect e-scooter and e-bike users on footpaths and shared trails.

For Cairns residents, the combined effect of these reviews means potential changes to daily commutes: bus services may be redesigned over time, walkways could be extended, and e-mobility riders may face new speed limits. The state government says it will continue to assess services, but has not committed to when a new bus network might be introduced. The Active Transport Strategy provides a framework for future investment, but funding for major projects like the Palm Cove-to-Gordonvale busways has not yet been allocated.