Articles: Brisbane road tunnels

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Brisbane tunnels won't go under: operators

Brisbane tunnels won't go under: operators
CAMERON ATFIELD
January 22, 2010 - 5:03AM

The private operators of Brisbane's first two toll tunnels insist their business cases are sound, despite the financial collapse of a major Sydney tunnel.

Sydney's Lane Cove Tunnel went into receivership this week and became the third major infrastructure project in the city to fail in the past two decades, due to wildly optimistic traffic forecasts.

The 3.6-kilometre toll road's peak traffic volume of about 62,500 vehicles a day was well short of the projected 100,000 forecast by September 2008.

Both Rivercity Motorway, which will operate the Clem7 tunnel when it opens this year, and BrisConnections, which will operate the Airport Link tunnel, remained confident Brisbane motorists would embrace their toll roads.

Rivercity Motorway CEO Flan Cleary said the limited number of river crossings would ensure the Clem7 tunnel, between Bowen Hills and Woolloongabba, would remain financially viable.

"Every toll road is unique and there are different issues that will influence the success of an individual road," he said.

Mr Cleary said there were several strengths that supported the success of the Clem7, including Brisbane's higher population and economic growth and the city's dependency on cars.

He said at 6.8 kilometres, the Clem7 was "substantially longer" than tunnels in Sydney and Melbourne, so was a more attractive alternative for motorists.

"The Clem7 will be a very important part of the Brisbane road network and will, following the opening of Airport Link, be part of the only free-flow road through the centre of Brisbane," Mr Cleary said.

BrisConnections CEO Ray Wilson said the Lane Cove Tunnel situation was "unique to Sydney" and would not be repeated in Brisbane.

"Due to the continued economic recovery and sustained population growth, combined with the increasing congestion in the traffic network in South East Queensland, we remain satisfied with our forecasts," Dr Wilson said.

"Airport Link has strong economic drivers - linking a busy airport and rapidly growing Trade Coast Region to the CBD - providing important time savings for motorists.

"We remain confident in the long term value of project and disclosures made to date regarding the future operations."

[mufreight]

Seems like the Bligh Government is taking steps to ensure similar projects here do not suffer the same fate by keeping Brisbane public Transport poor,
Sydney has by comparison an effective public transport system and the costs of toll roads and road congestion generaly has tended to have commuters make more use of public transport, unlike here where the Government seems to see more roads as an increasing short term revenue source.
Given this there is a strong probability that in time the toll roads here will suffer the same fatefor the same reasons placing more load on public transport which at this time the Government and Translink seem not prepared to supply despite their obligation to do so.

[#Metro]

Airport link has some strong fundamentals IMHO. But how much did it cost the government?
Money might have been better used subsidizing (but not buying out) the Airtrain.

[mufreight]

Buying out Airtrain and intergrating it into the rest of the city train network would be a more practical option that would serve the public needs better.
Might need to be a little creative though with the fare structure for a perion od say 10 years to offset the cost of the takeover.

[#Metro]

I'd rather the money went to a subsidy than a buyout.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Rival operators accused of dirty tactics to lure drivers

Rival operators accused of dirty tactics to lure drivers
Article from: The Courier-Mail
Patrick Lion

January 23, 2010 12:00am

MOTORISTS have been caught in a tollway tug-of-war with claims of misleading advertising to Brisbane City Council ratepayers and dirty tactics.

Hundreds of thousands of ratepayers have been confused by a bungled advertising campaign as rival toll operators try to cash in on the expanding network of paid roads, tunnels and bridges.

The State Government-owned Queensland Motorways and the Brisbane City Council-linked RiverCity Motorway want motorists to use their electronic tags - Go Via and the new Flow. The companies are fighting over the millions of dollars in account fees and interest on top of the tolls.
Want more?

Motorists were confused this week when a notice sent out with BCC rates promoted the use of Flow for the Clem7 tunnel, due to open in the next few months. The notice did not mention that Go Via tags could also be used for the same toll.

RiverCity Motorway chief executive Flan Cleary admitted the advertisements were not clear, adding: "We've always said you only need one tag on the website and we've always said it when we're talking to people."

He said he would have been clearer about the Flow brochures "if I had my time again".

Motorists are set to face a wave of advertising as the Clem7 tunnel, Go Between Bridge and Gateway Bridge Duplication open this year, forcing more drivers to adopt electronic toll tags. But many are unaware that one tag can be used on any road and that tolls do not differ between providers.

Flow has instead offered incentives, offering $20 credit in the Clem7 tunnel and free manual top-ups and paper statements, for which Go Via charges. About 1.1 million people are with the long-running Go Via, while Flow has only attracted a few thousand motorists.

The RACQ is demanding clearer advertising for the two options as the peak motoring group predicts a third electronic tag will emerge with the completion of Airport Link on Brisbane's northside.

QML chief executive Phil Mumford insisted all fees were simply a matter of cost recovery, saying only about $5 million would come from fees this year compared with $181 million from tolls.

Almost 4000 people have paid $40 in the past six months after losing or breaking tags, while about 6000 people requested quarterly statements at a cost of $3 each.

"If we didn't own the motorways, we would not be a tag issuer solely because there's no commercial viability," Mr Mumford said.

"It's important to remember that (RiverCity) are building those fees into their $4.28 toll but we offer a maximum $2.95 toll and give a choice if customers want a statement sent out or not."

But Queensland Motorways has refused to reveal how much it earns from interest on the millions of dollars of customer cash it sits on.

RACQ spokesman Jim Kershaw said that while the fees between different products were similar, motorists not used to tolling were not being informed clearly enough.

"It is unfortunate and confusing that this hasn't been spelt out clearly to motorists that you only need one tag for any road, tunnel or bridge," Mr Kershaw said.

Both companies insist anyone who has two tags will only be tolled once. A spokesman for BrisConnections, the firm behind Airport Link, said no decision had been made on whether it would introduce another tag.

[Jon Bryant]

So when dies my private company get free advertising via the rates notice.  Equal access to all!!!!!!!! Add to this the use of the mobile traffic saftey signage for advertising.  It is a double standard.  I just can't wait till the 5 mins from Bowen Hills to the PA is 30 mins not the advertised 5.   

[Derwan]

So when dies my private company get free advertising via the rates notice.

When the council invests a significant sum of money into your private company in order for it to benefit ratepayers. 

[Jon Bryant]

Sorry Can you outline those benefits?  More traffic, more pollution, more noise, more congestion, more deaths on roads, less healthy society, more kids with asthma, more pollution related deaths, less safe city, more CO2, more vulnerible economy to peak oil, mote urban sprawl, more people dring through my suburb who don't give a damn about the impacts on my family... Got to get me some of those benefits!!!!!!

[Derwan]

Sorry Can you outline those benefits? 

Okay... "perceived" benefits according to the council.   

[Jon Bryant]

  Still see it as a double standard and the council contribution is only a small %

[#Metro]

What not to build...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Viaduct_in_Puxi,_Shanghai.jpg

[somebody]

Airport link has some strong fundamentals IMHO. But how much did it cost the government?
Money might have been better used subsidizing (but not buying out) the Airtrain.

Really?  I haven't seen the fundamentals, but I think the whole notion that you should expect people to drive to an Airport is completely barmy.  What are you going to do with the car once you are there?  Park it in really expensive parking?  Or have a friend drive it home, which means you've just made a one man job which could be completed in one hour (depending on how far it is) into a two man job requiring two hours for the second person.  When you have four passengers in the car the trade off looks much better for driving.

I do side with mufreight in that it would be much better if the private operator wasn't involved.  Then the fares could be set at a reduced level which would surely stimulate some demand.  But if I were them, I wouldn't be that keen a seller at the moment, as patronage is growing enough that it is likely that service will be able to be expanded which should see patronage growing some more.  Seems like the Brisbanites are starting to accept their airport train much more than Airport Drive.

[#Metro]

Airtrain cost $220 million to build, and it will be transferred to QLD Gov after 35 years.
http://www.airtrain.com.au/aboutus.php

Assuming no loss/no gain in value of the line or inflation, $220 million is  18 333 333 free trips at $12 a trip or
36 666 666 trips at half price fares.

($6 which I think is fair considering a taxi is $50, car has a toll $5 IIRC and if you are a traveler catching a $200 flight you obviously have the means to pay $6). It might also be a forgone bus, train or ferry service with that amount of money. QLD Gov will get the line anyway after a wait.

If you buy out the Airtrain, rather than subsidise, you waste all that money before even getting to the first person who gets the normal TL fare. And most of the buses/bus operators are not owned (outright or indirectly) by QLD Gov, they don't need to be in order to serve the public. They just need to be paid by the public.

Really?  I haven't seen the fundamentals, but I think the whole notion that you should expect people to drive to an Airport is completely barmy.  What are you going to do with the car once you are there?  Park it in really expensive parking?  Or have a friend drive it home, which means you've just made a one man job which could be completed in one hour (depending on how far it is) into a two man job requiring two hours for the second person.  When you have four passengers in the car the trade off looks much better for driving.

I wonder as well.
They do choose the drive option and the parking option because they do it everyday- so much so that it is causing congestion. So it is difficult to argue that it will be a failure because no-one will use it, but then it might be too congested... And actually, the introduction of a toll on this route might also go some way to shifting any additional people onto the train. (FYI I use Airtrain to the Airport- I'm rational!)

Yes, although it might be viewed as irrational to drive or take a taxi when there is a $12 train sitting in front of the door, I'm not going to put up concrete barricades on the road leading to the Airport.

[stephenk]

What not to build...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Viaduct_in_Puxi,_Shanghai.jpg

You are joking? Surely the NIMBY brigade would prefer a tunnel to an elevated concrete monstrosity.

The Airtrain needs to be made more attractive to move people from driving. 15 mins off-peak (preferably in line with 15 mins off-peak services on major rail lines), longer operating hours, and more attractive fares (roll on 2031).

It should be noted that many people are dropped off, and picked up from the airport. In these cases, one rail journey replaces two road journeys.

[#Metro]

Are people reading my posts correctly?

I'm not in charge of Airport Link; I have nothing to do with it.
I can see why they would do it. Doesn't mean that it was the best idea or whatever.

The point of that post was how ugly the interchange is at Bowen Hills and how more are going to pop up...

[#Metro]

Airtrain should run for longer, more frequently.
Every 15 minutes.
Earlier services, later services.

$50 to get home one night because there was no train! What is the point of booking a cheap flight during the yuck hours if you are just going to get stung on the other end by the taxi!

Later at night, where there are no services, it might be better to run a bus to the Airport as well. Though the Taxi Council, Transfer companies and possibly the airport itself (it collects fees from the taxi) might get upset.

[somebody]

Airtrain cost $220 million to build, and it will be transferred to QLD Gov after 35 years.
http://www.airtrain.com.au/aboutus.php

Assuming no loss/no gain in value of the line or inflation, $220 million is  18 333 333 free trips at $12 a trip or
36 666 666 trips at half price fares.

($6 which I think is fair considering a taxi is $50, car has a toll $5 IIRC and if you are a traveler catching a $200 flight you obviously have the means to pay $6). It might also be a forgone bus, train or ferry service with that amount of money. QLD Gov will get the line anyway after a wait.

If you buy out the Airtrain, rather than subsidise, you waste all that money before even getting to the first person who gets the normal TL fare.

It's not a waste, it's an investment.  I'd expect that a fair value of the Airtrain would be greater than $220 million today.  Patronage is rising, and they've started to make a profit on it.  We may get the line anyway, but we have to wait for 2036 IIRC to do so.  I'm not sure what subsidising would achieve really.  Much greater profits for the Airtrain operator who may also then be able to increase prices?  Or at least reduce them by less than the subsidy.

Your 18m free trips would occur in about 10 years at current patronage.  That doesn't mean that many trips will have occured 10 years from opening, of course.

And actually, the introduction of a toll on this route might also go some way to shifting any additional people onto the train. (FYI I use Airtrain to the Airport- I'm rational!)

That's actually a pretty good suggestion.  Anything which reduces congestion on airport drive is a positive.  Perhaps just charge a fee for kiss 'n' drop people: they're the only ones escaping being charged at present.

[#Metro]

I'm not sure what subsidising would achieve really.  Much greater profits for the Airtrain operator who may also then be able to increase prices?  Or at least reduce them by less than the subsidy.

You don't need to own the thing to regulate the prices. Translink does this with private bus operators.

[somebody]

I'm not sure what subsidising would achieve really.  Much greater profits for the Airtrain operator who may also then be able to increase prices?  Or at least reduce them by less than the subsidy.

You don't need to own the thing to regulate the prices. Translink does this with private bus operators.

No, true.  I would hope that they would stick to the spirit of whatever is in the contract.

But a subsidy would increase patronage, even if Airtrain receives the same fare.  So they would get windfall profits just from extra pax.  One could find it cheaper to buy them out in the first place.

[mufreight]

An operating subsidy would just go straight into Airtrains revenue with no benefit to those using it.

[p858snake]

Couldn't the government just set up a department to handle this and to standardise the equipment, then pay the required parties whatever...... oh wait, they have already tried this with public transport 

[#Metro]

If we bought it, Translink would run it. No way.
And the $400 compensation for late trains would go, once that penalty out, I'm sure problems will follow.
There is no guarantee that they would reduce the prices either. They might put them up like TL did with all the other fares.

[p858snake]

If we bought it, Translink would run it. No way.

The thing at the end of my post was a troll, i was pointing out the disappointment and /crappy/ the standardisation of ticketing services has been when the government has done it, but apparently works well when two companies can do it almost by themselves.

[#Metro]

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/subterranean-welcome-for-new-citizens-20100126-mw2m.html

Is it just me or are we starting to have some kind of infrastructure worship/cult happening in Brisbane?
The latest is citizenship ceremonies at the Clem 7 freeway tunnel entrance. Weird.

[ozbob]

PR stunt ... must be getting nervous if the punters will keep paying ...

Do you think we will get an invite to the dinner?  I mean all good tunnel projects need a commissioning dinner deep within ...

[Jon Bryant]

The worshiping of the Clem 7 is obscene.  Next they will be holding Council Meeting and moving the main Customer Contact Centre down there and then make the only way to pay your rates a cash deposit at the bottom.  The sooner this project becomes a white elephant the better for this City.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Clues point to Clem7 opening in March

Clues point to Clem7 opening in March
TONY MOORE
February 3, 2010 - 10:46AM

The Clem7 tunnel appears set to open in March.

The opening date has so far been kept secret as workers add the finishing touches to the $3 billion toll road, however two clues have emerged to cast light on its official unveiling.

On Monday, builders handed RiverCity Motorway 20 business days' notice of completion. After the handover, an independent verifier will have up to three weeks to test the tunnel and tolling systems to ensure they are in working order.

And today it was revealed a fun run to be held before the tunnel's opening has been set for Sunday, February 28.

The Royal Children's Hospital Foundation this morning sent out an alert to those who had registered with the fun run with the date.

"It's official," the e-news brief from the Hospital Foundation says.

"The CLEM7 Tunnel Run will be held Sunday, 28 February 2010 starting 6am and finishing at 8.45am!"

Runners had previously been asked to register their interest in the run without a date being revealed.

But with the fun run now only 25 days away, it seems the opening of Brisbane's first tunnel will be shortly afterwards, possibly well before Easter.

The official deadline for the Brisbane City Council-funded project is October.

Motorists will be able to enter and exit the tunnel from the Pacific Motorway and Ipswich Road at Woolloongabba, Shafston Avenue at Kangaroo Point, and the Inner City Bypass and Lutwyche Road at Bowen Hills.

Car drivers face a $4.28 per journey toll to use the tunnel, to be charged through the Queensland Motorway's Go Via tolling system or RiverCity Motorway's Flow tolling system.

RiverCity Motorway last month rejected claims ratepayers had been misled in an advertisement for the Flow system which failed to spell out the tunnel's compatibility with other tolling products.

In any case, motorists have been promised free trips for the first two to three weeks to get them used to the new route.

Electrical work on the project was 95 per cent complete last month.

"The final road surface inside the tunnel is complete, wall panels have been installed inside the tunnel and line marking is under way," RiverCity Motorway said in a statement to the stock exchange in January.

[Jon Bryant]

Of the Clem 7 reduces congestion in a years time it will be the a world first for a new road!!!!!

[#Metro]

Brisbane needs a patron saint for Congestion. Who will it be?

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Kingsford Smith tunnel back on the table

Kingsford Smith tunnel back on the table
TONY MOORE
February 4, 2010 - 5:17AM

Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman has resurrected a plan to build a tunnel under Kingsford Smith Drive as traffic on the congested arterial road continues to worsen.

Cr Newman confirmed the tunnel option, which was part of his original TransApex tunnel plan prior to his election in 2004 but shelved shortly after he took office, was back on the table.

If built, the tunnel would link traffic from the Gateway Motorway and Australia Trade Coast to the Inner City Bypass.

"We are looking at all the options," Cr Newman told brisbanetimes.com.au.

"You can widen it out over the river, but I don't particularly like that.

"You can widen it and put a public transport corridor like a bus lane or a ultimately light rail over the water.

"Or you can build a tunnel. They are the only options you have got."

The revelation came as it emerged the first of Brisbane's toll tunnels, the Clem7, would open early next month.

Current traffic projections predict 71,000 vehicles a day will use the riverside stretch of Kingsford Smith Drive by 2026, up 22 per cent from today's figure of 58,000.

Near the quickly-growing Hamilton Northshore project and Brisbane Airport, traffic will jump by 45 per cent from 55,000 to 80,000 a day.

While no firm decision on a Kingsford Smith tunnel had been made, Cr Newman said Brisbane City Council officers started looking at early design options shortly before Christmas.

"At the moment it is really a case of what are the potential options, high-level engineering studies, getting a feel for the practicalities of things," he said.

"So within those widening and tunnel options there are lots of ways you could do it and they are working on those as well. But it is really a pre-feasibility stage."

Before he was first elected in 2004, Cr Newman had proposed a $800 million, 3.9 kilometre underground `Kingsford Smith Drive Duplication', which would connect to the Inner City Bypass near the Breakfast Creek Hotel.

The tunnel project was shelved in 2005 in favour of Airport Link and the Go Between Bridge, with both projects currently under construction.

But Cr Newman said times had changed, due largely to the Hamilton Northshore high density and retail project being built by the river near Kingsford Smith Drive.

"Hamilton Northshore has been thrown into the mix and it is going to be a traffic generator," he said.

"So we are planning, what's next?"

Above ground, council has started work on a three-stage widening of Kingsford Smith Drive, with the $14 million first stage near the Gateway Motorway getting underway before Christmas.

Council plans to progressively upgrade towards the inner-city, with the final stage near the Breakfast Creek Hotel.

A council submission to Federal Government's Infrastructure Australia fund for more than $500 million for Kingsford Smith Drive was rejected.

Cr Newman said they would lodge another submission next week.

"I have spoken to a number of people at a political level about this and at an officer level, there are talks going on," Cr Newman said.

He said he had also raised the problem with the Urban Development Land Authority, the State Government-backed organisation tasked with approving the Hamilton Northshore project.

"I have discussed the pressures on Kingsford Smith Drive with ULDA Chairman Julie Boyd and CEO Paul Eagles and also made them aware of our concerns," he said.

[Jon Bryant]

Talk about a bad case of tunnel vision.  This town is doomed to a congested, polluted, unsafe, ubhealth, economically crippled future.  Well done "Can Do The Wrong Thing" Campbell

[#Metro]

How can someone put a tunnel "on the table"?
More like they put a hole in the table and all the cash fell through it.

Jonno, freeway mania its getting worse and even more expensive.

[O_128]

well the only highlight if this was built is that maybe KSD could become a light rail corridor. Im sick of Newmans  tunnel vision but the alternate is that horrible sutton woman.

[Jon Bryant]

Build this and there will not be enough rates left over to pick up our gabage let alone light rail.  There are other alternatives than the two major parties. Time to let them show that their are better ways than tunnels and roads.

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Clem7 tunnel to be toll-free for three weeks

Clem7 tunnel to be toll-free for three weeks
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Natalie Gregg

February 09, 2010 12:00am

MOTORISTS will get a free ride through Brisbane's new Clem7 tunnel for three weeks when it opens seven months ahead of schedule next month.

RiverCity Motorways CEO Flan Cleary said the contract for the $3 billion tunnel stipulates that three days of free travel be provided for every month it opens early. Mr Cleary said that he was expecting huge volumes of people to take the opportunity to test Brisbane's first road tunnel for free.

"There is always an influx in the beginning of a project like this and, if it's free, there will definitely be more people," he said. "It's something we are prepared for and . . . we think the tunnel can cope with the volumes."

Mr Cleary expects 60,000 motorists a day to use the 6.8km tunnel once the $4.28-a-trip toll starts, with that figure rising to 100,000 after 18 months.

The under-river tunnel will allow motorists to bypass Brisbane's CBD and travel between the Princess Alexandra Hospital at Buranda and Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital at Herston in less than five minutes.

RiverCity Motorways is helping drive interest in the project with an advertising blitz, as well as hosting an open day and 10km charity fun run on February 28.

Mr Cleary said last-minute landscaping, and electrical and safety checks were taking place, but the official opening to traffic was yet to be decided.

"An independent engineer will sign off that everything is ready, and we are expecting him to sign off fairly soon after the open day," he said.

Motorists using the tunnel will need to buy either a Queensland Motorways Go Via etag or a RiverCity Motorways FLOW etag.

The tunnel also uses number plate-recognition technology.

Flow is offering $20 credit in the Clem7 tunnel and free manual top-ups and paper statements, for which Go Via charges.

The open day will be held near the Clem7's northern entrance at O'Connell Terrace, Bowen Hills, and people will have the chance to walk to the lowest point under the Brisbane River on that day.

For more information or to register for the open day or 10km fun run visit www.clem7.com.au

[Jon Bryant]

Just like a drug dealer giving a non-addict a freebie to make sure they are hooked.  Then charge them to the hilt.  Got to get me some of that new road space.     

[#Metro]

The only saving feature of these roadways is the application of a toll which converts a free ride into a toll ride.

[stephenk]

The only saving feature of these roadways is the application of a toll which converts a free ride into a toll ride.

Which then makes money for the tunnel operator, which increases the chances of more road tunnels being built...

[#Metro]

Yes. Ah, if only public transport were like that, it wouldn't be so hard to get new services, investment and we'd not hear about how "we don't have funding for this, we don't have funding for that or project X is more important". And projects could be brought forward, rather than waiting until the the problem got so big that is would threaten to cripple the livelihoods of citizens...

Alas, only in a few places...

The toll is important because it charges motorists for the trip, where once before they could simply drive for free.
I think it is like installing a congestion tax/road tax by stealth.

Northern Link might be interesting, as it may allow (with lobbying) the reclamation of Coronation Drive. After all, if the politicians selling the idea want to tell us that Coro drive will be less congested, then OK,  why would they need so many lanes for cars then? You could convert them to bike only lanes, or PT-exclusive lanes.