5 Sep 2010: SEQ: Improving transfer opportunities, improves the integration ...

[ozbob]

Media Release 5 September 2010

SEQ: Improving transfer opportunities, improves the integration of the TransLink Network

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community group and advocate for rail and public transport commuters welcomes the announcement of the Connecting SEQ 2031 plan.

In particular, the acknowledgement that rail is to be the backbone of SEQ is applauded by Rail Back on Track. Of course, all great railway systems also have great bus systems that take passengers from their front door and feed them to the local railway station.

Robert Dow, spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Brisbane already has a number of feeder buses and bus-rail interchanges but many have been forgotten about for too long, are underutilised and are in need of an overhaul."

"Some of the problems identified include:

* Poor legibility of the service
* Poor, slow, windy and indirect routes
* Some major activity centres not serviced
* Extremely limited service hours, many services have no evening or weekend service
* Poor service frequency.

"Limited service hours and poor service frequency, have been shown to be extremely powerful disincentives for people to choose public transport over motor car. Many things can be done to fix these feeder services:

* Improved branding and legibility for feeder services, similar to BUZ branding and marketing
* Simplification and consolidation of routes so buses, to increase the frequency on common corridors
* Extension of bus routes to major activity centres (e.g. alter and extend 104 to UQ Lakes station)
* Overhaul the Great Circle line 599/598 to include full weekend operation
* Use minibuses or MaxiTaxis on a fixed route/schedule in low demand areas (described briefly in SEQ 2031)
* Increase service frequency, with an aim to meet every train service
* Increase service hours to evenings and weekends
* Increase train frequency.

"Agency liaison with TransPerth, the Toronto Transit Commission or experts in transfer-based network design should be undertaken along with community consultation on how to best re-design these feeder services into a fine mesh of interlinked cross-town bus-rail feeder services."

"Completely reviewing, overhauling and upgrading the existing, underutilised bus-rail interchanges, and feeder bus
services will help achieve goals within the Connecting SEQ 2031 plan. It is something that is relatively cheap, cost-effective and rapid
to do compared with the larger, long term projects in the plan. It will also tangibly demonstrate the Government's committment to
turning the SEQ 2031 plan into a reality. Concurrently the frequency of rail services, particularly off peak, needs increases from two or one train per hour to 4 services per hour during the day and and evening to encourage seamless transfers between bus and rail."

"A fare pricing initiative on the go card is needed to support and further encourage maximum public transport utilisation for the maximum overall benefit."

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Brisbane Existing Feeder Bus Routes

101 Inala TC to Corinda Station
102 Inala TC to Corinda Station
103 Inala TC to Mt Ommaney
104 Corinda to PA Hospital (simplify and extend to UQ Lakes station via busway?)
106 Mt-Ommaney-Corinda-Indooroopilly
122 Inala TC to Garden City
161 Wishart/Garden City (limited hours)
307 Toombul-Northgate East-ACU
308 Chermside-Airport1-Aviation Precinct via Toombul
311 Brighton
312 Brighton
313 Shorncliffe
314 Deagon
326 Bracken Ridge-Sandgate-Toombul
327 Strathpine/Bracken Ridge to Toombul
328 College Green to Boondal
336/337 Clockwise/Anticlockwise Chermside loop
354 Brookside to Chermside
358 Brookside to Toombul shopping centre
362 Brookside to The Gap (Broken Link on TL Website)
367 Ferny Grove to Upper Kedron
393 Tenneriffe Ferry
338 Strathpine to Chermside
396 Arana Hills to Ferny Grove Station
397 Ferny Grove-Michelton
398 Ferny Grove-Michelton
399 Samford Valley to Ferny Grove
451 Darra to Sinammon Park
452 Darra Station (Does not go to Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre?)
462 Darra-Forest Lake
467 Sinammon Pk to Oxley Station
468 Indooroopilly to Oxley
599/598 Great Circle Line

TC- town centre