#EXCLUSIVE: New transport modelling shows our city could hit complete M1 gridlock by 2046, unless solutions are put in place now. #9News
Discussion points with Mayor Tate include:
Laughable
Just. One. More. Lane! 
Reading some of the comments there makes my head explode 
24 lane tunnels under the M1. 
What I think priorities for the GC should be:
GCLR Stage 4 (say “NO!” to Palmy NIMBYs).
East-west tram links: Coomera to Southport, Nerang to Broadbeach, Varsity Lakes to Burleigh Heads.
BRT Southport to Burleigh on State Route 3.
Heavy rail extension to OOL (and perhaps beyond; at the very least, the feasibility of doing so should be investigated).
BRT Robina to Miami via Town Centre and Bond Uni
I’m sure there’s others, but that’s the main big-ticket items.
I think the East West Routes don’t necessarily need to be light rail at this point in time. BRT would be a suitable alternative, especially for Nerang to Broadbeach.
Possibly correct, but I think 704 needs urgent attention either way. I’ve been on it several times this year with passengers packed in like sardines between Helensvale and Harbour Town. Maybe some artics?
First step is to run more buses. 10 minute headways for instance.
The Gold Coast’s rapid population growth is fuelling worsening congestion, with experts warning the road network cannot keep up.
Just 3 per cent of all Gold Coast trips are on public transport, well below the 2031 target of 12 per cent.
Harbour Town is one location that I would like to see connected to the light rail, if only to make use of the spur line at GCUH.
Perhaps. Now that I’ve thought about it a little more, I’m wondering if the lack of train frequency is part of the problem.
The first bus to depart after the train arrives at Helensvale will almost certainly carry more passengers than the next one.
This leads to overcrowding and consequent reliability problems for those catching the bus further along the route.
^ I mean, think of it in these terms.
In July 2013, a year before tram services started, the following buses serviced Surfers Paradise on a weekday in a normal hour:
Southport to Broadbeach (12)
Seaworld to Broadbeach (6)
There were also theme park expresses on top of that.
We now have only 4 buses an hour to Seaworld.
In short - there is a while to go before light rail is necessary north of GCUH or along the GC Hwy from Helensvale to Southport. You could triple the 704 headway and there would still be capacity.
South of Burleigh on the other hand is going to experience service degradation much sooner given it is already sitting at 14 buses an hour through Palm Beach and congestion is higher - it is already pretty degraded even now.