AI Traffic Lights, Rail Safety Tech and Toowong Tower Rethink

Greater Brisbane is embracing a wave of technology and planning changes that will quietly reshape how residents move around and where they live — from a single intersection in Petrie to a towering apartment proposal in Toowong.

Moreton Bay Regional Council is preparing to test AI-powered traffic signal controllers at the corner of Moreton Parade and Paper Avenue in Petrie later this year. The new system is designed to respond in real time to shifting traffic conditions rather than running on pre-set cycles, with the goal of reducing wait times and improving overall network efficiency. Supporting the technology, Council will install advanced detection sensors capable of distinguishing between cars, trucks, cyclists and pedestrians — giving the system a richer picture of exactly what is happening at the intersection at any given moment.

When asked how Council would measure whether the trial had actually worked, a spokesperson outlined a multi-layered assessment: traffic signal wait times, accuracy and reliability of the AI detection system, any recorded downtime, simulation modelling, and before-and-after safety evaluations. If the results are positive, Council says it would consider deploying the technology more broadly across Moreton Bay, starting with ageing signal controllers identified through a structured assessment of where the upgrade would deliver the greatest benefit.

Brisbane City Council is independently exploring similar AI-driven traffic management tools, meaning both local governments are moving in the same direction — using smarter software to squeeze more capacity from existing roads rather than building new ones.

On the rail network, a different kind of technology is tackling a problem that rarely makes headlines but causes far more disruption than many commuters realise. Queensland Rail recorded 157 bridge and protection beam strikes across the South East Queensland network in just the first five months of this year — incidents that occur when an over-height vehicle clips a railway overpass. The Dixon Street bridge in Wulkuraka, Ipswich, alone recorded 47 strikes in 2025.

To address the issue, Queensland Rail has begun trialling height detection systems at Dixon Street and at Layard Street in Goodna. Height sensors identify an over-height vehicle before it reaches the bridge and trigger an electronic warning sign, giving the driver a chance to stop or divert before a collision occurs. Queensland Rail confirmed to the Brisbane Channel that following this Ipswich trial, the technology will be rolled out to other bridge-strike hotspots across the region, with priority given to frequently struck bridges and sites that suit the trailer-mounted detection equipment.

Meanwhile, one of Brisbane's most significant proposed apartment developments is being substantially reworked. The Toowong Central redevelopment attracted more than 500 public submissions during community consultation — an unusually high volume of feedback that prompted the proponent to revisit the design. The revised proposal reflects a broader trend emerging across the inner Brisbane development pipeline, where community engagement is leading to tangible changes rather than token acknowledgement, and where the integration of existing heritage structures is increasingly being favoured over demolition.

Across Greater Brisbane, a number of smaller but meaningful shifts are also under way: renters face another record high in asking rents even as new dwellings continue to be delivered, a local bread rescue initiative is diverting hundreds of loaves each week from waste while helping households cut grocery costs, and Brisbane Airport has taken a significant step toward producing cleaner aviation fuel locally. Taken together, these changes point to a region actively managing the pressures of growth — through smarter infrastructure, more responsive planning processes and grassroots community initiatives.