9 Sep 2016: Brisbane: Convert Victoria Bridge to a ' green ' bridge

[ozbob]

Media release 9th September 2016

Brisbane:  Convert Victoria Bridge to a ' green ' bridge

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has called for the conversion of the Victoria Bridge to a green bridge.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back on Track supports conversion of the Victoria Bridge to a Green Bridge to allow buses, bicycles and pedestrians only.

"We already have major bus congestion associated with the Cultural Centre bus station and Victoria Bridge.  This is only going to worsen considerably with road closures associated with Queens Wharf Brisbane project.  This means in effect that even more buses will be added to the existing bus jam on Victoria Bridge.

"Network reform needs to proceed but we also need to bite the bullet and free up Victoria Bridge for buses, bicycles and pedestrians only.

"BCC has made a request to make Victoria Bridge a green bridge but the State Government has refused this request.

"We support BCC on this.  It is essential that the State Government re-think their decision.  We have looming transport chaos and clear thinking is required.

"To test the impacts on car traffic, we propose a controlled experiment. Brisbane City Council could block two car traffic lanes using barriers, leaving both lanes for exclusive bicycle use. Cycle parking could also be placed at the entrance of Stanley Street, near QPAC. An alternative entrance to the QPAC car park exists underneath the Queensland Museum, so we do not believe that will be a problem.

"These changes can be introduced over a single weekend, at minimal cost. The beauty of this approach is that these changes are also easily and cheaply reversed.

"During this trial, which we suggest should last about 4-6 months, Brisbane City Council should monitor car traffic, pedestrian and cyclist numbers. It should perform monitoring at two 'control' sites, for example, the Story Bridge, Bowen Bridge Road or Breakfast Creek Rd. This will allow council to rule out confounding influences.

"Closing the Victoria Bridge to car traffic is not unprecedented: The Victoria Bridge is often closed for special events such as marches, parades, or fireworks. Figures from Brisbane City Council show three times more traffic uses the William Jolly Bridge (ca. 35,000 vehicles/day) than the Victoria Bridge (ca. 10,000 vehicles/day). Even the relatively new Go Between Bridge carries more traffic (14,000 vehicles/day).

"West End and South Brisbane have Brisbane's highest cycling mode share at 10%. They also have Queensland's best public transport - there is no pressing need to have a car in these suburbs. Conversion has broad political support from both The Greens and the LNP.  It has our support also. Drivers have plenty of other options - the Go Between Bridge, the Captain Cook Bridge, and the toll-free William Jolly Bridge.

"We support Brisbane City Council's request to convert the Victoria Bridge to a green bridge, and call on Deputy Premier Jackie Trad to approve this unique trial as a matter of urgency."

References:

Cycling in Queensland today - Department of Transport
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/-/media/Travelandtransport/Cycling/Strategy/QCS-2011-to-2021/07Pagesfrom01440MIPparta4.pdf?la=en

A tale of three toll roads: road network impact varies
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/a-tale-of-three-tolls-road-network-impact-varies-20120813-244ov.html

Convert Victoria Bridge into a ' green ' bridge
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12370.msg179320#msg179320

Ban cars from Victoria Bridge: experts
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/ban-cars-from-victoria-bridge-experts-20111121-1nrl5.html

Victoria Bridge our 'weakest link', say transport experts
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/victoria-bridge-our-weakest-link-say-transport-experts-20111127-1o1up.html

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12370.msg179574#msg179574

[ozbob]

THE @cbdbug offer support to @Robert_Dow call for Victoria Brdge to be made a green bridgehttps://t.co/wy1glDsUnZ pic.twitter.com/AKYTWo1PJT

— Brisbane CBD BUG (@cbdbug) September 9, 2016

[ozbob]

Petition: Convert Brisbane's Victoria Bridge into a 'green bridge'

>> https://www.change.org/p/annastacia-palaszczuk-convert-brisbane-s-victoria-bridge-into-a-green-bridge

In May 2016, Brisbane City Council put forward a proposal to convert Victoria Bridge into a dedicated 'green bridge' which would:

    provide a significant increase in public transport capacity and increased service levels
    reduce CBD traffic pressures and congestion.

This proposal was not supported by the Queensland Government and did not proceed.

With major CBD traffic diversions and bus route changes occuring from 12 December 2016, as a result of the State Government's Queens Wharf Brisbane casino and resort development, almost 50 extra buses will need to use Victoria Bridge during both the morning and afternoon peaks.

This petition calls on the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to urgently support Council's plan to prioritise public and active transport by converting Victoria Bridge to a dedicated 'green bridge'.

Background

The Victoria Bridge is one of the key public transport links across the Brisbane River and is absolutely critical to the city's transport network.

Each weekday during peak periods, around 200 buses per hour use the bridge - a bus every 15-20 seconds.

In addition to buses, the bridge also has an important role in carrying pedestrians and cyclists (more than 22,000 per day).

The two existing dedicated bus lanes simply don't provide enough capacity to cater for this massive number of buses.

Every day, long queues of buses on the bridge mean passengers face significant inconvenice and delays and this is 'bus jam' is only going to get worse.

CBD traffic changes associated with the Queens Wharf Brisbane development mean almost 50 extra buses will need to use the bridge during both the morning and afternoon peaks.

It's time make Victoria Bridge a true 'green bridge' by getting cars off the bridge and providing more capacity for sustainable and efficient forms of transport.

At present, only around 8,800 cars use the bridge each day and many of these are carrying only one person. In contrast, each standard bus can carry 40-60 people (or up to 100 people for articulated 'banana buses').

Across Brisbane around two thirds of all public transport trips are carried on buses and providing more bus capacity on the Victoria Bridge will improve a key bottleneck in the public transport network.

[ozbob]

[verbatim9]

Will the Bridge go "Green" now that Jackie is Transport Minister? That will be her biggest test ?