EGB123: Comparative Assessment of Major Civil Engineering Projects

This report provides a comprehensive comparative assessment of the Brisbane Metro project, a significant infrastructure initiative aimed at transforming public transportation in South East Queensland (SEQ). The assessment, conducted for SEQTrans, a government consortium, examines various aspects of the project including its needs, lifecycle stages (planning, procurement, design, development, delivery, operation, and retirement), civil engineering systems, project stewardship, and project values (economic, social, sustainability, and political impacts). The report compares the Brisbane Metro with the Cross River Rail project, highlighting their complementary nature. The analysis includes detailed discussions on project elements such as initial planning, procurement processes, design considerations, development milestones, delivery strategies, and operational and maintenance plans, as well as a discussion of the project's lifecycle and its implications for the region's growth and infrastructure needs. The report concludes with recommendations to ensure the successful implementation of both projects, contributing to informed decision-making by SEQTrans.

Running head: COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS
MAJOR CIVIL ENGINEERING PROJECTS COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT
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COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 2
ABSTRACT
The main purpose of this report is to explore the Brisbane Metro project, which is a mega
infrastructure project that is anticipated to transform public transportation in South East
Queensland (SEQ). The project is estimated to cost $944 million and is being undertaken by the
Brisbane City Council (BCC). The report also compares this project with a similar one – the
Cross River Rail project. The assessment has been done by evaluating a wide range of aspects
about the project including: project needs, project lifecycle, civil engineering system, project
stewardship and project values. Brisbane Metro project will have numerous economic, social,
environmental and political impacts in SEQ region. The region is growing rapidly in terms of
demographics and economy and therefore information in this report will help SEQTrans, a
government consortium, to make informed decisions about how to implement the projects
successfully. The two projects have been planned and designed to complement each other and
therefore should be supported by all levels of governments to ensure successful delivery.
Table of Contents

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 3
ABSTRACT...............................................................................................................................................2
1. INTRODUCTION.............................................................................................................................4
2. PROJECT NEEDS............................................................................................................................4
3. PROJECT LIFECYCLE..................................................................................................................6
3.1. Initial Planning..........................................................................................................................6
3.2. Procurement...............................................................................................................................6
3.3. Design.........................................................................................................................................7
3.4. Development...............................................................................................................................8
3.5. Delivery.......................................................................................................................................9
3.6. Operation and Maintenance...................................................................................................10
3.7. Retirement................................................................................................................................10
3.8. Research Needs........................................................................................................................11
4. CIVIL ENGINEERING NEEDS....................................................................................................11
5. PROJECT STEWARDSHIP..........................................................................................................12
6. PROJECT VALUES.......................................................................................................................13
6.1. Economic..................................................................................................................................13
6.2. Social.........................................................................................................................................14
6.3. Sustainability............................................................................................................................14
6.4. Political.....................................................................................................................................15
7. COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT..................................................................................................15
8. CONCLUSIONS AND INFORMED RECOMMENDATIONS..................................................21
8.1. Conclusions..............................................................................................................................21
8.2. Informed Recommendations...................................................................................................22
Works Cited.............................................................................................................................................23

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 4
1. INTRODUCTION
The main aim of this paper is to explore various elements of the proposed Brisbane Metro
project. These elements discussed are related to the planning, design, procurement, construction,
operation and maintenance of the project. The objectives of the paper are to explore the
background of the project, analyze various aspects of its lifecycle, understand civil engineering
systems applied in the project and compare the project with a similar project in the region –
Cross River Rail. This will help SEQTrans make informed decisions about the two projects and
to ensure that information provided in this report helps in successful delivery of the two projects.
The paper consists of the following sections: project needs, project lifecycle, civil engineering
system, project stewardship, project values, comparative assessment and conclusions and
informed recommendation.
2. PROJECT NEEDS
Brisbane Metro is a bus rapid transit system that will improve public transport in SEQ region
by providing residents and visitors with more travel options, get them to their destinations
quicker and safer, and minimize congestion. The current population of SEQ region is about 3
million and Brisbane is one of the major cities in the region. Brisbane is the capital and biggest
city of Queensland with a population of about 2.4 million. It is one of Australia’s fastest-growing
cities (Office of the Auditor General, 2015). Rapid population growth and changing urban land
use have put immense pressure on public transport infrastructure in Australia (Ritchie, 2017).
This has made traffic congestion one of the major problems in the region. It is estimated that
road travel time in major Australian cities, including Brisbane, will increase by at least 20% and
cost Australian economy $53 billion by 2031 unless actions are taken to improve transport
infrastructure (Dunckley & Saulwick, 2015). Brisbane Metro is a valuable project that is

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 5
expected to offer a long-tern solution to traffic congestion problem in SEQ region. The project
will improve accessibility and connectivity, improve amenity and efficiency, increase transport
mode share, improve capacity, increase reliability, improve travel time, create regional jobs, and
support economic growth. The Brisbane Metro network is as shown in Figure 1 below.
Figure 1: Brisbane Metro network

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 6
3. PROJECT LIFECYCLE
3.1. Initial Planning
Brisbane Metro was announced by the Brisbane City Council (BCC) in January 2016 as a
project aimed at addressing challenges and constraints facing the current busway network of the
city. Originally, it was planned that driverless trams would operate on the network but this was
revised in March 2017 and changed to high capacity bi-articulated buses, which saw the cost of
the project reduced by one third. The project is also in line with other key government policies
and plans including Australian Infrastructure Plan, Smart Cities Plan, State Infrastructure Plan,
Shaping SEQ Regional Plan 2017, Draft Transport Plan for Brisbane and Brisbane City Centre
Master Plan 2014 (Brisbane City Council, 2018). The key stakeholders involved in the planning
of Brisbane Metro include: BCC, Australian Government, and Queensland Government (and
their relevant agencies including departments of infrastructure, transport and regional
development; regional services; finance and public service; trade tourism and investment,
environment, etc.), Cross River Rail Delivery Authority, industry associations, private property
owners, Cultural Centre area stakeholders, environmentalists, lobby groups, and community
representatives, among others. The key elements in the initial planning of the project include:
cost-benefits analysis of the project, environmental and social impacts, possible constraints,
design elements of the project, regulatory approvals, stakeholder engagement activities, sources
of funding, and project milestones.
3.2. Procurement
Procurement of Brisbane Metro started in July 2018 and is expected to be completed by end
of 2019. BCC is responsible for the procurement activities. The project is planned to be delivered
in the following packages: early works, suburban infrastructure, inner city infrastructure,

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 7
systems, metro vehicles and metro depot. BCC is seeking to form a collaborative partnership that
will deliver suburban infrastructure, inner city infrastructure and systems packages. Qualified
organizations have also been invited to submit their expression of interest (EOI) for the Metro
vehicle fleet’s design, delivery and commissioning, and the Platform Management Information
System (PMIS). The key procurement stages for the project are: tendering/bidding, awarding the
tender/contract, handover and payments. The main resources needed for the procurement of the
project are funding and human resources.
3.3. Design
The main design elements of Brisbane metro include: conversion of Victoria Bridge to green
bridge, new underground tunnel at Adelaide Street, new underground Cultural Centre station,
depot facility for vehicle fleet of the Metro, upgrades and modifications of existing stations, and
remove busway portal along Melbourne Street. Some of those who will be responsible for the
design of these key elements are: geotechnical engineers, road design engineers, urban and
regional planners, water engineers, structural engineers, transport engineers, landscape architects,
environmentalists, electrical engineers, mechanical engineers. Some of the key design tools
needed for the design of Brisbane Metro include: transport modelling software, road alignment
design software, intersection design/analysis software, geotechnical modelling software,
structural modelling software, and computer aided design (CAD) software, simulation and
visualization tools (such as SmartBRT), etc. The design of the Metro also requires several design
instruments, including bus rapid transit (BRT) standards, design and building codes, design and
building guidelines, etc. Some of the design instruments include: Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Planning Guide, Australian Rapid Transit Assessment Guidelines (ARTAG), Guide to Road
Designs (Austroads, 2016), and Guide to Traffic Engineering Practice. The design instruments

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 8
are helpful in determining the appropriate geometry, cross-section, design speeds, number of
lanes, etc. of the BRT system (American Public Transportation Assosciation, 2010). Detailed
design and construction of the project is expected to start in early 2019 and be completed in
2022. Metro services are expected to commence in 2023.
3.4. Development
The key development stages and milestones of Brisbane Metro include the following:
announcement of Brisbane Metro concept that was done in early 2016; consultation with various
stakeholders and residents most likely to be affected by the project, which was undertaken
between mid and late 2016; detailed analysis and assessment of options and market research that
was done in early 2017; announcement of Brisbane Metro expansion in March 2017; completion
and release of Brisbane Metro Business Case in May 2017 (the business case confirmed that the
project is worthwhile infrastructure project that will provide a wide range of benefits);
development of design and impact assessment of the project that was done from mid to late
2017; confirmation of Brisbane Metro as a High Priority Project on the Infrastructure Priority
List of the nation that took place in March 2018; release of draft design report for consultation
that was done in April 2018; confirmation of a $300 million funding commitment to the project
by the Federal/Australian Government in May 2018 (this came after BCC committed to fund
$644 million of the capital cost of the project meaning that the total cost of the project of $944
million is not fully funded); and commencement of procurement that started in July 2018
(Brisbane City Council, 2018).
BCC and federal and state agencies will be the main stakeholders responsible for the
development of Brisbane Metro. Other responsible parties include stakeholders that will be in the
collaborative partnership with BCC together with civil engineers, structural engineers, electrical

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 9
engineers, mechanical engineers, architects, urban planners, traffic engineers, contractors,
subcontractors, suppliers, etc. Development of this project will also require different processes,
systems and resources, including labour, plant/equipment, conventional and engineered
materials, advanced construction techniques, etc.
3.5. Delivery
Brisbane Metro will be delivered through five main packages: early works, suburban
infrastructure, inner city infrastructure, systems, metro vehicles and metro depot. Different
approaches will be used to deliver these packages. Delivery of early works will be by construct
only approach, metro depot by design and construct approach, suburban infrastructure by
construct only, inner city infrastructure by design and construct approach, PMIS by design and
delivery approach and metro vehicles by design and build approach. Therefore the project will be
delivered through collaborative partnership between BCC and other interested and qualified
parties, including contractors, designers, suppliers and other organizations (Brisbane City
Council, 2015). The design instruments are helpful in determining the appropriate geometry,
cross-section, design speeds, number of lanes, etc. of the BRT system (American Public
Transportation Assosciation, 2010). Detailed design and construction of the project is expected
to start in early 2019 and be completed in 2022. Metro services are expected to commence in
2023.
Once the construction of the project is completed, commissioning and demobilization will
follow prior to handover and operation. During commissioning, engineers will be involved in
inspecting and testing various elements and systems of the Brisbane Metro to ensure that they
meet the required design standards and specifications. Some of the elements and systems to be
tested for function, safety and reliability are: ventilation, fire and safety, control and information,

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 10
and security and safety systems. After commissioning and demobilization, the project will be
handed over to BCC to commence operations.
3.6. Operation and Maintenance
The daily bus and passenger operations (.e. operation and maintenance) of Brisbane Metro
will be monitored by BCC and Brisbane Metropolitan Traffic Management Centre. The two
parties will be responsible for controlling the automated system of the Metro, periodic
maintenance and repair and revenue collection. Regular repair, maintenance and cleaning of
various systems may be contracted to building services contractors, maintenance of lighting and
electronic signage may be contracted to electrical engineering contractors, and maintenance of
information and control systems may be contracted to information technology contractors. The
key resources needed for the operation and maintenance of Brisbane Metro include funding,
appropriate automated or computerized systems and software, and qualified personnel.
3.7. Retirement
Brisbane Metro has been planned for a fifty-year horizon. However, various components of
the Metro have varied design life. For instance, the design life for pavements is 20 years, the
design life for stations is 50 years, design life for control systems is 50 years, and design life for
vehicles is 50 years. Based on the increasing population and changing land uses in Brisbane, it is
important to consider various factors when planning the horizon of the project. In this case,
Brisbane Metro can be replaced or integrated with a state-of-the-art light rail transit (LRT)
system if the project retires. In case of replacement, the same alignment can be used for the LRT
systems. But if it is integration, then the Metro will have to be revamped so as to make it more
suitable for the transportation needs by that time and also enhance seamless compatibility and
interoperability with the LRT system.

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 11
3.8. Research Needs
Efficiency has become one of the major factors in the construction industry. This is mainly
because of the sustainability aspect of construction projects. It is therefore important to conduct
civil engineering research so as to ensure that the Brisbane Metro is designed to achieve the
highest efficiency possible throughout its lifecycle. The research should focus on improving
resource efficiency of the project and making the project sustainable. Some of the resource areas
include: pre-fabricated or volumetric construction approach to improve quality and reduce
delivery time (Lopez & Froese, 2016), use of nanotechnology or engineered nanomaterials to
improve performance; (Silvestre, Silvestre, & de Brito, 2016) and reduce cost and environmental
impacts (Hanus & Harrs, 2013); (Lee, Mahendra, & Alvarez, 2010), use of modern technological
tools or processes such as building information modelling (BIM) to enhance information flow
(Li, et al., 2014); (Masood, Kharal, & Nasir, 2014), implementation of lean construction
principles to minimize waste (Erol, Dikmen, & Birgonul, 2017), and use of recycled and
recyclable materials to enhance sustainability (Bolden, Abu-Lebdeh, & Fini, 2013); (Prezzi,
Bandini, Carraro, & Monteiro, 2011).
4. CIVIL ENGINEERING NEEDS
There are several civil engineering sub-disciplines that are associated with this project. They
include: geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, environmental engineering,
transportation engineering, material engineering, water resources engineering, urban or
municipal engineering, surveying engineering, construction engineering, traffic management
engineering, structures and control engineering (Islamic University, 2018). The relevance of
these sub-disciples is spread throughout the lifecycle of the project.

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 12
5. PROJECT STEWARDSHIP
The main steward during the planning, design, construction, operation and maintenance of
Brisbane Metro is BCC. The Council will oversee the project through various departments
including Brisbane Infrastructure, Transport for Brisbane, and City Planning and Sustainability.
A major steward agency during operation phase of Brisbane Metro will be Brisbane
Metropolitan Traffic Management Centre (BMTMC). BCC will also form a government
consortium for the project stewardships. The consortium will comprise of federal, state and local
government agencies, including Department of Transport and Main Roads; Department of State
Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning, Federal Department of Infrastructure
and Regional Development, Australian Institute of Traffic Planning and Management, Planning
Institute of Australia, and Bicycling Queensland. The Council may also consider appointing an
experienced private operator to be in charge of operations and maintenance of Brisbane Metro.
The stewardship of the project is not likely to change with each stage of the project’s
lifecycle because BCC will always remain the main steward responsible for all aspects of the
project. Nevertheless, depending on the performance of the Metro, the Council may decide to
change the stewardship during operation and designate its responsibility to a private operator or
federal/state agency. The roles of BCC is to provide financing and monitor and control all
activities during planning, design, construction and operation (monitoring and managing
operation of buses, route scheduling, congestion control, management of passengers, ticketing,
revenue collection, infrastructure repairs and maintenance, workplace healthy and safety, etc.) of
the project. The main roles of the federal and state government is to provide financial support
and monitor the project to ensure that it meets the required design and engineering standards, it
attains anticipated benefits and its negative impacts are managed. The main responsibilities of

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 13
engineers in the stewardship is to advice the Council on the best design, construction, operation,
maintenance and improvement options for the Metro.
6. PROJECT VALUES
6.1. Economic
The estimated capital cost of Brisbane Metro is $944 million, which has already been
committed by the BCC ($644 million) and the federal government ($300 million). This project
will improve accessibility and connectivity of Brisbane, which means quicker and safer
movement of people and goods in the region. According to cost benefit analysis conducted, the
benefit cost ratio of the project is 1.91 meaning that every $1 of capital cost spent on the project
will generate investment return of $1.91 to the local economy. Brisbane Metro is going to help
position Brisbane as a world-class destination for investment, business, talent attraction and
tourism through provision of improved capacity and access to public transport to key
employment hubs of the city (Brisbane City Council, 2017). Therefore this project will drive
business interaction and economic growth, create employment opportunities for residents, and
support growth in the city and region. The project complements other significant projects such as
Queen’s Wharf Brisbane development, Herston Quarter development, and redevelopment of
Bowen Hills Priority and Woolloongabba Development Areas. Therefore Brisbane Metro will
unlock numerous economic opportunities within the city, connect the city to the world and
facilitate business activities in the region hence the project will have huge economic impacts on
the city and region as a whole. The project has significant economic worthiness to the
community.

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 14
6.2. Social
Brisbane Metro will provide a quick, safe and reliable public transport option for residents
and visitors in Brisbane. The project will open up spaces where people can meet to shop, eat,
relax and have fun. It will reduce the menace of traffic congestion and road accidents. It will
make it easier for people to move from their homes to workplaces easily, quickly and safely. It
will create income generating opportunities and improve the living standards of residents. It will
improve the health of people by reducing air pollution and giving them safe options to walk or
cycle to and from the city. It will also attract foreigners to do business and tourists thus helping
local residents to learn new cultures. In general, Brisbane Metro has huge positive social impacts
to the community.
6.3. Sustainability
Brisbane Metro is a public transport system that will use a fleet of 60 high-frequency, high-
capacity metro vehicles, which will be able to carry up to 22,000 passengers per hour. This will
remove numerous buses and private cars from Brisbane roads thus reducing traffic congestion,
air pollution and carbon footprint resulting from the manufacturing and operation of these
vehicles. The project will see conversion of Victoria Bridge to a green bridge thus creating safe
space for bus services, cyclists and pedestrians. This will encourage more people to walk and
cycle thus reducing air pollution. The plan of the project has a 50-year horizon meaning the
system has been designed to meet travel demand in the region for the next half a century. The
Metro is also flexible for future expansion. Therefore Brisbane Metro has several sustainable
features. However, there are numerous opportunities of improving the sustainability of the
project. This includes use of recycled and recyclable materials, use of energy efficient systems,

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 15
use of energy efficient construction methods, use of renewable energy to power its systems and
stations, use of energy efficient vehicles, and use of alternative energy vehicles.
6.4. Political
Short-term politics is a major obstacle to delivery of major construction projects in Brisbane.
There are incidences where each of the individual levels of government propose different
projects to solve traffic congestion problem in the region (Moore T. , 2018). In some cases,
leaders from opposition oppose projects proposed by the government thus delaying delivery of
these projects. Such leaders oppose projects to gain political mileage. Brisbane Metro has
received support from all the three levels of government, including financial support from the
federal government. BCC has also engaged the community throughout the planning and made
changes based on feedback they received. Therefore this project is less likely to be affected by
politics. However, it is worth noting that during the last election, lord mayor had promised that
Brisbane Metro would have a Paris-style subway, which according to Jared Cassidy, opposition
councilor, is not the case (McCosker, 2018). Having said that, Brisbane Metro has not received
any significant political opposition. The project enjoys support from all levels of governments,
the public, local community and even the opposition leaders. Thus no threats of the project being
dropped by subsequent governments.
7. COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT
Brisbane Metro is a dedicated route of length 21 km that will service 18 stations (McCosker,
2018) whereas Cross River Rail is a 10.2 km rail line with 6 stations. There will be two
connections between Brisbane Metro and Cross River Rail as shown in Figure 2 below. This
means that Cross River Rail and Brisbane Metro projects have been planned and designed to
work together (Smee, 2018).

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 16
Figure 2: Connection points between Brisbane Metro and Cross River Rail (Branco, 2017)
The summary of various elements of Brisbane Metro and Cross River Rail projects is provided in
Table 1 below
Table 1: Comparative Assessment of SEQ Transit Project Options
Consideration Brisbane Metro Cross River Rail
Need for Initiative The project is needed to provide residents
and visitors with a more reliable, quick,
The project is needed to improve
accessibility and connectivity of

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 17
safe and affordable travel option, and
reduce traffic congestion thus opening SEQ
region for economic growth.
SEQ region, relieve congestion and
solve capacity constraints on
Brisbane’s city rail network
Initial Planning The project was announced in January 2016
and revised in March 2017 from driverless
trams to high capacity bi-articulated buses.
Main planning work done by Brisbane City
Council in collaboration with other federal
and state agencies.
Original proposal of the project was
in November 2010. The proposal
was changed in 2012 by Newman
Government. This second proposal
was revised in 2013 by Queensland
Government giving rise to Bus and
Train (BaT) Tunnel proposal. The
BaT Tunnel proposal was replaced
with the current Cross River Rail
project. The planning of the project
is led by Cross River Rail Delivery
Authority, a Queensland state
agency.
Design The main design elements include: green
bridge to replace Victoria Bridge,
underground tunnel at Adelaide Street, new
underground Cultural Centre station, other
stations, depot facility for vehicle fleet of
the Metro, upgrades and modifications of
existing stations, and remove busway portal
along Melbourne Street. The design has
involved professionals from different
engineering fields, design tools and
instruments.
The key design elements include: rail
track design, tunnel design, surface
and underground station building
architecture and design, landscape
architecture, intersection and
connection design, intelligent
transport systems design, and
automated traffic control systems
design. Different engineering
professionals, design tools and
instruments have been used in the
design process.
Procurement Procurement started in July 2018 by BCC
and is expected to be completed by end of
2019. The project works packages are: early
works, suburban infrastructure, inner city
infrastructure, systems, metro vehicles and
metro depot. Collaborative partnership will
be used to deliver suburban infrastructure,
inner city infrastructure and systems
packages. Qualified organizations will be
selected to deliver the Metro vehicle fleet’s
design, delivery and commissioning, and
the Platform Management Information
System (PMIS). The key procurement
stages for the project are:
tendering/bidding, awarding the
tender/contract, handover and payments.
The main resources needed for the
procurement of the project are funding and
Cross River Rail Delivery Authority
is responsible for procurement of the
project. Procurement started in Q3 of
2017 and end in Q1 of 2019. The key
procurement stages include:
appointment of specialists advisers,
invite EOI and evaluate them,
prepare request for proposal, conduct
interactive bidder workshops,
develop bid strategy, select best
bidders, conduct negotiations,
facilitate necessary government
approvals, conclude on contractual
close and develop a suitable contract
management strategy. Professional
disciplines involved in the
procurement process include:
advisers (commercial and financial,

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 18
qualified personnel. legal), environmental impact
assessment professionals, engineers
(geotechnical, civil, structural,
electrical, and mechanical engineers,
and traffic engineers) and urban
planners. The required resources for
procurement is funding.
Development Key development stages of the project are:
announcement of Brisbane Metro concept,
consultation with various stakeholders and
residents, detailed analysis and assessment
of options and market research,
announcement of Brisbane Metro
expansion, completion and release of
Brisbane Metro Business Case,
development of design and impact
assessment of the project, confirmation of
Brisbane Metro as a High Priority Project
on the Infrastructure Priority List of the
nation, release of draft design report for
consultation, confirmation of a $300
million funding commitment to the project
by the Federal/Australian Government,
BCC committed to fund $644 million of the
capital cost of the project, and
commencement of procurement that started
in July 2018.
The key development stages of Cross
River Rail are: demolition works,
excavation, materials preparation,
surveying, laying the bottom ballast
of the rail track, construction of
drainage system of subgrade,
installation of anchorage, laying the
rail, laying ballast on top of the rail,
installation of rail brace and rail
anchor, construction of underground
and surface stations, installation of
related mechanical and electrical
systems, installation of traffic control
and signalling systems, installation
of ticketing systems, and installation
of other automated systems to
facilitate operation of the rail
network.
The development is led by Cross
River Rail Delivery Authority.
Delivery The project will be delivered through the
following packages: early works, suburban
infrastructure, inner city infrastructure,
systems, metro vehicles and metro depot.
Delivery methods include: construct only,
design and construct, design and build.
BCC will form collaborative partnership
with other interested qualified firms. After
construction, commissioning and
demobilization will follow before official
handover and operation. BCC will monitor
the progress of all works during delivery.
The project will be delivered through
the following two main packages:
TSD package (mainly underground
work) to be delivered through PPP
and RIS package (civil and electrical
works of the rail, operation and
control systems of the rail, and
signalling and communication
systems) to be delivered through
alliance. All delivery works will be
monitored by the Cross River Rail
Delivery Authority.
Operation Operations of Brisbane Metro will be under
the control of BCC and Brisbane
Metropolitan Traffic Management Centre.
BCC may also appoint a private operator or
state agency to be responsible for
operations of the Metro.
The main operation activities
include: ticketing, departure and
arrival scheduling of the trains,
traffic control, control of signalling
systems, service provision at the
stations and customer care services.

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 19
Queensland Government will appoint
a private operator or state agency to
be responsible for operations of the
rail network.
Maintenance BCC will be responsible for maintenance of
the Metro. BCC may contract repair,
maintenance and cleaning of various
systems of the Metro to building services
contractors, maintenance of lighting and
electronic signage may be contracted to
electrical engineering contractors, and
maintenance of information and control
systems may be contracted to information
technology contractors.
Maintenance work of the rail
network will be done by Queensland
Government through the appointed
private operator or state agency. The
maintenance works shall be
contracted to specialists including:
electrical engineers, electrical
engineering contractors, mechanical
engineers, mechanical engineering
contractors, information and
communication technology (ICT)
engineers, ICT engineering
contractors and building services
contractors.
Retirement The project has a 50-year horizon but
individual components and systems have
varied design life. The retirement of the
project must have been considered in the
planning and design phase to ensure that
informed decisions are made in relation to
the design, development, delivery and
operation of the project. When the project
retires, it can be replaced with a LRT or
improved and integrated with other existing
and new transit systems in the region.
The project has a 100-year horizon
even though the design life of
individual components is different.
The retirement must have been
factored in the planning and design
of the project because it influences
the design, construction, operation
and maintenance of the project. At
retirement, the rail network can be
revamped or replaced with other new
transit systems.
Civil Engineering
System
The project lifecycle is related to the
following civil engineering sub-disciplines:
geotechnical engineering, structural
engineering, environmental engineering,
transportation engineering, material
engineering, water resources engineering,
urban or municipal engineering, surveying
engineering, construction engineering,
traffic management engineering, structures
and control engineering.
Civil engineering sub-disciplines
involved in the planning, design,
procurement, construction, operation
and maintenance of the project
include: environmental engineering,
geotechnical engineering,
urban/municipal engineering,
structural engineering, transportation
engineering, surveying engineering,
material engineering, water resources
engineering, construction
engineering, system control
engineering and traffic management
engineering.
Initiative
Stewardship
BCC is the main steward for the project.
The Council will work in collaboration with
Brisbane Infrastructure, Transport for
The main steward of the project is
Cross River Rail Delivery Authority.
The Authority will work together

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 20
Brisbane, City Planning and Sustainability,
Brisbane Metropolitan Traffic Management
Centre, Department of Transport and Main
Roads; Department of State Development,
Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning,
Federal Department of Infrastructure and
Regional Development, Australian Institute
of Traffic Planning and Management,
Planning Institute of Australia, and
Bicycling Queensland. The stewardship of
the project is not likely to change but once
the project is delivered, BCC may appoint a
private operator or state agency to be in
charge of operations and maintenance.
Engineers will be part of the stewardship to
ensure safe, efficient and sustainable
operations.
with other relevant federal and state
agencies. The Council will also form
a PPP and alliance with qualified
organizations. After construction is
completed, the stewardship is likely
to change as Queensland
Government may appoint a state
agency or private operator to take
charge of the rail network’s
operations and maintenance
activities, including: scheduling of
routes along the network, passenger
management, ticketing, management
of train operations, monitoring of
train operations, revenue collection,
repair and maintenance of the rail
network infrastructure, ensuring
safety and health of workers and
passengers. Engineers will play a key
role in stewardship of the project by
advising on the best methods,
materials and systems to use at
different phases of the project.
Economic Values
(including Project
Cost Assessment)
The capital cost of the project is $944
million. BCC has already committed $644
million and the federal government has
committed $300 million hence the project is
fully funded. The benefits cost ration of the
project is 1.91. The project will also create
numerous direct and indirect employment
opportunities, generate revenue for the
government, attract local and foreign
investment and spur economic growth in
the region.
The capital cost of the project is $5.4
billion. It is also estimated that over
a 30-year period, there will be
additional cost of $4.9 billion for
complementary growth projects and
additional services and another $4.4
billion for maintenance and
operation of the project. $2.8 billion
was allocated to the project by the
Queensland Government in 2017-18
budget. The Queensland Government
has also committed to allocate the
remaining $2.4 billion in future
budgets.
Social Values The project will reduce road accidents,
improve air quality, improve health of
residents, open more spaces for residents to
shop, eat, meet and have fun, encourage
walking and cycling, promote social
interactions, attract foreign investors, ease
movement of people and goods within the
region, and improve living standards of
people. Nevertheless, people’s life will be
The project will minimize traffic
congestion menace, reduce road
accidents, improve living standards
of local residents, make it easier for
people to travel from one place to
another, attract foreign investors and
enhance social interactions.
However, construction activities may
cause interruptions and other

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 21
significantly affected during construction
phase.
negative impacts such as noise and
air pollution and vibrations.
Sustainability
Values
This project will replace thousands of
personal cars currently on roads within the
region thus reducing greenhouse gas
emissions. It has been planned and
designed with future traffic demand in mind
hence it is a long term solution to traffic
congestion problem in the region. It is also
flexible for future expansion.
The project will help reduce the
number of personal cars and transit
vehicles from roads in the region
thus lowering carbon emissions. It
will also reduce the demand and
burning of fossil fuels thus reducing
air pollution.
Political Values This project seems not to be affected by
local politics even though it was one of the
promises by the current lord mayor during
the last election.
The project has been significantly
affected by both local and national
politics. This has caused reluctance
by the federal government to provide
the needed financial support. Some
contractors are even afraid that
subsequent governments may turn
down the project.
8. CONCLUSIONS AND INFORMED RECOMMENDATIONS
8.1. Conclusions
Brisbane Metro is expected to significantly improve economic growth, competitiveness,
sustainability and liveability of SEQ region. The project is under the management of BCC, which
is committed to ensure that the project is implemented successfully and all its anticipated
benefits realized. A broad range of professional fields are involved in the planning, design,
delivery and operation of Brisbane Metro. These include civil engineering, environmental
engineering, urban planning, traffic engineering, geotechnical engineering, materials
engineering, architecture and landscaping. Delivery of Brisbane Metro is estimated to cost $944
million and BCC has committed $644 million whereas the federal government has provided
$300 million. Construction of Brisbane Metro is expected to be completed in late 2022 and start
operations in early 2023.Th benefit cost ratio of Brisbane Metro is 1.91. The project has also
been planned and designed to work together with Cross River Rail project so as to improve

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 22
accessibility and connectivity of SEQ region. Once complete, Brisbane Metro will have
numerous positive economic and social impacts. It will also play a key role in reducing
greenhouse gas emissions in the region by removing thousands of personal cars from roads,
reduce road accidents, improve safety of passengers, reduce travel times in the region, attract
tourists and make Brisbane more livable. This project is worthwhile and should be implemented
for the present and future betterment of SEQ region.
8.2. Informed Recommendations
Brisbane city and SEQ region as a whole are growing gradually and so is traffic congestion.
The increased number of people and vehicles in the region has put a lot of pressure on available
transportation infrastructure. Brisbane Metro is expected to relieve this pressure and solve some
of the public transport constraints in the region. The following are some of the recommendations
for the Brisbane Metro project:
 BCC should monitor construction of the project closely to ensure that the final product
delivered meets the contract specifications.
 BCC should involve specialized professionals to conduct research so as to identify the
most environmentally friendly and sustainable materials and construction methods for the
project.
 BCC and Queensland Government should provide the necessary support for the project
throughout its lifecycle, and also involve the federal government.
 BCC should select fuel efficient vehicles to operate on the new road being constructed.
 BCC should select vehicles that use alternative (renewable or environmentally friendly)
fuels to minimize greenhouse gas emissions even further.

COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF PROJECTS 23
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