New Western Region Services

[STB]

Spotted this from the TransLink website

http://www.translink.com.au/servicechange.php?1288752273

More reliable Western Region services coming soon

From Monday 13 December, the Westside bus network will change to improve service reliability, making travel easier for customers in Ipswich and surrounding suburbs.

As part of these changes, passengers wishing to board or leave a bus service will only be able to do so at a dedicated TransLink bus stop, meaning more accurate timetables, more reliable services and improved connections.

A new FlexiLink service will be introduced for customers in areas with limited public transport services.
Getting used to the changes

To allow passengers time to adapt to these changes, a 10-week amnesty period will be place from Monday 13 December until Tuesday 1 March 2011.
82 new and 91 relocated bus stops

As part of the improvements, 82 new bus stops will be introduced as part of improvements to the network - most passengers will be within walking distance from a dedicated bus stop. We will also relocate 91 bus stops to improve passenger safety.

Other big changes include services running every 15-30 minutes during peak running times, and the introduction of Sunday services on most routes.

463    Goodna station to Forest Lake Village    Monday to Friday: 6.08am–8.31pm
Saturday: 8.07am–6.05pm
Sunday: 9.07am–5.05pm    Peak: 30 minutes
Off-peak: 60 minutes    

    * Sunday and public holidays services introduced
    * More peak services and improved timetable
    * Terminates at Forest Lake Village

500    Riverlink Shopping Centre to Goodna station    Monday to Friday: 6.15am–8.06pm
Saturday: 7.17am–5.56pm
Sunday: n/a    Peak: 30 minutes
Off-peak: 60 minutes    

    * Sunday and public holiday services introduced
    * More peak services and improved timetable
    * Combined with route 501
    * No longer services Nile and Duncan Streets

502    Riverlink Shopping Centre to Bundamba TAFE via Blackstone    Monday to Friday: 6.02am–9.00pm
Saturday: 8.14am–5.45pm
Sunday: 9.14am–5.08pm    Peak: 30 minutes
Off-peak: 60 minutes    

    * Sunday and public holiday services introduced
    * More peak services and improved timetable
    * Extended to Bundamba TAFE
    * No longer services Braeside Road and Harold Street

503    Riverlink Shopping Centre to Bundamba TAFE via Raceview    Monday to Friday: 6.00am–9.43pm
Saturday: 7.46am–5.36pm
Sunday: 8.46am–5.31pm    Peak: 30 minutes
Off-peak: 60 minutes    

    * Sunday and public holiday services introduced
    * More peak services and improved timetable
    * Extended to Bundamba TAFE and new areas of Raceview
    * Cascade Street no longer serviced

506    Riverlink Shopping Centre to Leichhardt    Monday to Friday: 5.35am–9.08pm
Saturday: 7.30am–6.12pm
Sunday: 8.30am–5.12pm    Peak: 30 minutes
Off-peak: 60 minutes    

    * Sunday and public holiday services introduced
    * More peak services and improved timetable

508    Yamanto Loop    Monday to Friday: 6.49am–6.17pm
Saturday: 7.39am–4.46pm
Sunday: 8.28am–4.46pm    Peak: 30 minutes
Off-peak: 60 minutes    

    * Sunday and public holiday services introduced
    * More peak services and improved timetable
    * New route services new areas of Willowbank, and provides direct journey to Riverlink Shopping Centre
    * No longer services Amberley Air Force Base

509    Riverlink Shopping Centre to Yamanto    Monday to Friday: 6.10am–9.12pm
Saturday: 8.19am–6.15pm
Sunday: 9.19am–5.15pm    Peak: 30 minutes
Off-peak: 60 minutes    

    * Sunday and public holiday services introduced
    * More peak services and improved timetable
    * No longer services Ash and Equestrian Streets, and Deebing Heights Road (replaced by school service for students)

512    Riverlink Shopping Centre to Brassall via Ipswich    Monday to Friday: 5.58am–8.29pm
Saturday: 7.32am–5.28pm
Sunday: 8.32am–5.28pm    Peak: 30 minutes
Off-peak: 60 minutes    

    * Sunday and public holiday services introduced
    * More peak services and improved timetable
    * Combination of routes 507 and 517
    * Will service Brassall and Coalfalls
    * Woodend and Sadliers Crossing now serviced by route 513 (Woodend Loop)

513    Woodend Loop    Monday to Friday: 6.32am–7.33pm
Saturday: 8.03am–5.35pm
Sunday: n/a    Peak: 30 minutes
Off-peak: 60 minutes    

    * Sunday and public holiday services introduced
    * More peak services and improved timetable
    * Combined with previous route 527

515    Brassall to Yamanto    Monday to Friday: 5.45am–9.59pm
Saturday: 6.49am–8.05pm
Sunday: 7.47am–7.35pm    Peak: 15 minutes
Off-peak: 15 minutes    

    * Peak services every 15 minutes to Ipswich Hospital
    * Connects with route 508 (Yamanto Loop)
    * Sections of Thorn and Pine Streets no longer serviced

516    Riverlink Shopping Centre to One Mile    Monday to Friday: 6.05am–8.36pm
Saturday: 8.03am–5.38pm
Sunday: 9.03am–4.38pm    Peak: 30 minutes
Off-peak: 60 minutes    

    * Sunday and public holiday services introduced
    * Improved timetable

522    Orion Springfield Town Centre to Goodna    Monday to Friday: 5.55am–8.42pm
Saturday: 8.24am–5.44pm
Sunday: 9.24am–4.44pm    Peak: 30 minutes
Off-peak: 60 minutes    

    * Sunday and public holiday services introduced
    * More peak services and improved timetable
    * More direct service to Goodna train station

524    Goodna station to Redbank Plains    Monday to Friday: 5.45am–8.39pm
Saturday: 7.44am–5.43pm
Sunday: 8.44am–4.43pm    Peak: 30 minutes
Off-peak: 60 minutes    

    * More peak services and improved timetable
    * More direct service to Goodna train station

525    Collingwood Park Loop    Monday to Friday: 6.13am–8.41pm
Saturday: 8.20am–5.44pm
Sunday: 9.20am–4.44pm    Peak: 30 minutes
Off-peak: 60 minutes    

    * New seven day service for Collingwood Park
    * Passengers from Augustine Heights, Springfield and Redbank wanting to travel to Redbank train station will need to catch route 524 or 526

526    Orion Springfield Town Centre to Redbank    Monday to Friday: 5.35am–9.23pm
Saturday: 7.43am–5.26pm
Sunday: 8.43am–5.26pm    Peak: 30 minutes
Off-peak: 60 minutes    

    * Sunday and public holiday services introduced
    * More direct service to Goodna train station
    * More peak services and improved timetable

530    Orion Springfield Town Centre to Goodna    Monday to Friday: 5.39am–9.30pm
Saturday: 7.46am–6.20pm
Sunday: 8.45am–5.20pm    Peak: 30 minutes
Off-peak: 60 minutes    

    * More direct service to Goodna train station
    * New route services additional areas of Springfield/Springfield Lakes
    * No longer loops around Sinnathamby Boulevard

Information displays

Customers can find out more about the service changes in coming weeks at several information displays. TransLink staff will be on hand to help at the following locations:

    * Thursday 18 November from 7am to 9am, Orion Springfield bus station
    * Thursday 18 Novemberfrom 10am to 1pm, Ipswich library (40 South Street, Ipswich)
    * Thursday 18 Novemberfrom 2pm to 4pm, Redbank Plaza bus station
    * Friday 19 Novemberfrom 9am to 1pm, Riverlink Shopping Centre

Timetables will be available from this website and at selected locations in early December.

[STB]

Western Region FlexiLink details at - http://www.translink.com.au/flexilink.php

FlexiLink zones include:

ROAM ZONE A: North Tivoli, Tivoli and Moores Pocket to Riverlink (Ipswich)
ROAM ZONE B: Basin Pocket and North Booval to Ipswich
ROAM ZONE C: Goodna and Bellbird Park to Goodna train station
ROAM ZONE D: Karalee to Dinmore train station

Serviced by Yellow Cabs for a $2 fixed fare.

[STB]

And by the looks of things while reading through these changes, the Western Region to get it's first semi-BUZ route, route 515 upgraded from every 30mins currently to every 15mins all day everyday.

[ozbob]

Thanks for posting this.  Otherwise occupied with a tour of Nambour at this time.



This is a good general move forwards. Delighted that these improvements have been announced.  It has been difficult out west for a while, mainly because timetables etc.  did not keep pace with the horrible road congestion etc.

[Golliwog]

I'm not familiar with the area or its routes, but this sounds great. Plus they've given over 1 months notice of the change.

[STB]

http://www.translink.com.au/mediarelease.php?id=232

Nolan delivers better bus services for Ipswich

Wednesday 3 November 2010

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan today announced details of the largest restructure of bus services in Ipswich's rich history.

Ms Nolan said FlexiLink would be introduced along with 16 restructured bus routes across Ipswich to provide reliable, on-time connections between key locations, residential areas and the Ipswich train line.

And for the first time buses will run seven days a week on many routes.

"These changes will provide better and more cost effective public transport for the people of Ipswich, including a new FlexiLink service," Ms Nolan said.

"FlexiLink will be a $2 pre-booked service operating throughout the day to connect customers with major hubs including shopping centres and medical facilities, as well as train stations and bus routes."

FlexiLink services will operate in four distinct service areas known as 'roam zones'.

    * Tivoli, Moore's Pocket, Riverlink and Ipswich
    * Ipswich, Basin Pocket, North Booval and Booval Fair
    * Goodna, Bellbird Park, Goodna train station and Redbank Shopping Centre
    * Karalee, Barellan Point and Ipswich train station

This new style of service will pick up passengers from home, which will be ideal for the elderly and people with mobility issues who cannot easily walk to regular bus stops.

"Buses will run seven days a week on 12 additional routes providing Sunday and public holiday services to many areas for the first time," Ms Nolan said.

"Under the restructure buses will operate for the first time in parts of Willowbank and Springfield.

"Once the new routes start in December, buses will only stop at dedicated bus stops.

"We'll also have dedicated bus stops to replace the outdated hail 'n' ride system to greatly improve on-time running.

"Buses will not be making constant, unscheduled stops to pick up and drop off passengers.

"Dedicated bus stops are also more accessible for people with mobility concerns, have readily available timetable and transport information and are safer for passengers and drivers."

An amnesty period from Monday 13 December to Tuesday 1 March 2011 will help customers become familiar with the new arrangements.

The Government will build 173 (82 new and 91 relocated) bus stops across the city before buses starting using the new routes.

Ms Nolan said all bus services in the Ipswich region operated by Westside Bus Company would have timetable changes to improve their reliability and in many instances route alignment has also changed.

The Government has increased funding for bus services in the Ipswich region by more than $1 million - from $14.98 million in 2009/10 to $16.3 million in the current financial year.

And another seven Queensland Rail services have been added to the Ipswich line in the last two years.

The Government has steadily been improving services in Ipswich since 2009 following a safety audit which has led to better standards across the network.

Patronage on Westside buses has increased by 8.7 per cent - up 170,000 trips to 2.16 million trips in 2009/10.

Ms Nolan urged customers to spend some time becoming familiar with the changes before implementation.

The new services and routes will start on Monday 13 December.

TransLink staff will be on hand at information sessions on November 18 at Orion Springfield bus station (7-9am), Ipswich library (10am-1pm), Redbank Plaza bus station (2-4pm) and on November 19 at Riverlink Shopping Centre (9am-1pm).

Changes include:

Route 515 (Brassall to Yamanto via Ipswich) will be the region's first high-frequency route, running every 30 minutes between Yamanto and Brassall via Warwick Road, Bell Street and Riverlink Shopping Centre, with additional services during peak times to provide a 15 minute frequency between Brassall and the University of Queensland.

Additional peak services will also be added to the revised routes 502 (Riverlink to Bundamba TAFE via Blackstone), 503 (Riverlink to Bundamba TAFE via Riverview), 506 (Riverlink to Leichhardt), 508 (Yamanto to Willowbank), 512 (Riverlink to Brassall via Ipswich), 513 (Riverlink to Woodend), 516 (One Mile to Ipswich), 524 (Goodna station to Redbank Plains) and 526 (Springfield to Redbank).

Improvements to other routes including, routes 500 (Riverlink to Goodna train station), 509 (Riverlink to Yamanto), 522 (Springfield to Goodna), 525 (Collingwood Park to Redbank station) and 530 (Springfield to Goodna).

For more information on public transport, visit the TransLink website www.translink.com.au or phone 13 12 30.

[longboi]

Good to see but I'm not very impressed with the amount of services on 60min off-peak frequencies 

[somebody]

Yes, I think the major upgrade is 515 going to 15 minute frequency from 30 minute and presumably greater operating hours on other routes.

[#Metro]

This is excellent!

A slight grumble re:frequencies
60 minute frequencies- nobody except the absolutely transport dependent is going to wait an entire hour.
And then another wait for a connection to a train? It just won't happen.

Everything else is really good though, an improvement is an improvement.

Does this count towards the seats target or not?

[haakon]

I'm amused to see the route I use hasn't been touched (510), it is great to see a large revamp of the bus network in the Ipswich region however.

[somebody]

Does this count towards the seats target or not?

Yes.  The seats were promised for SEQ, weren't they?

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

City bus shake-up

City bus shake-up

Josephine Gillespie | 4th November 2010

IPSWICH is to get more Sunday bus services and new connections to Springfield and Willowbank after a massive overhaul of its public transport system.

The project will also include a new timetable for the region's bus services as well as new bus stops for 82 locations.

But among the raft of new services, three routes – the 505, 510 and 523 – are to be axed.

A new 'FlexiLink' taxi service will be created to service the residents affected, allowing them to book a cab to locations within Ipswich for a fixed $2 fare.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said it was the largest restructure of bus services in Ipswich's history.

"It is taking services from something seen as a last resort to a valuable commuter service," Ms Nolan said.

"Patronage on Westside buses increased nine per cent in the last year, with improvements to services.

"This is another step in that regard."

Ms Nolan said the new FlexiLink service would operate throughout the day to connect customers with major hubs

including shopping centres and train stations.

"This new style of service will pick-up passengers from home, which will be ideal for the elderly and people with mobility issues who cannot walk to regular bus stops," she said.

Ms Nolan said the service would be operated as a 12-month trial.

"We expect some people will be concerned with the changes, but what we are doing is essentially employing someone to transport them door-to-door and providing a better service at lower cost to tax payers than running an empty bus service," she said.

Buses will also run daily on 12 additional routes providing Sunday and public holiday services to many areas for the first time.

Bundamba mother-of-four Natalie Parsons said the changes were a good idea.

"It is easier for people who don't have cars," she said.

"I always use public transport, nearly everyday, to go shopping at Booval or take the kids to Queens Park.

"Sunday is the only day we don't go anywhere because there are no buses."

An amnesty period from Monday, December 13 to Tuesday, March 1, 2011 will help customers become familiar with the new arrangements.

Ms Nolan said all bus services in the Ipswich region operated by the Westside Bus Company would also have timetable changes to improve their reliability.

The new routes and services will start on December 13.

TransLink staff will be on hand at information sessions on November 18 at Orion Springfield bus station (7 to 9am), Ipswich library (10am to 1pm), Redbank Plaza bus station (2 to 4pm) and on November 19 at Riverlink shopping centre (9am to 1pm).

For more information, visit the TransLink website at www.translink.com.au or phone the call centre on 13 12 30.

[ozbob]

Media release 3rd November 2010

Ipswich: Do the bus stop!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has commended the restructuring of Ipswich bus services.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Ipswich is a rapidly growing city. The improvement of public transport services and extension of bus services is very, very welcome. These improvements will make Ipswich a much better place to live in, shield people from increasing costs of car travel, and make the city more attractive for people and businesses thinking about where to move in South East Queensland."

"The boosting of frequency on route 515 to every 15 minutes all day and the introduction of real bus stops is a very significant improvement."

"RAIL Back on Track hopes that some form of distinctive 'frequent network' branding could be developed for such a route, in a similar way to Brisbane's Bus Upgrade Zones (BUZ) routes so that frequent services can be distinguished quickly from other bus services."

"These improvements are very welcome and will grow bus patronage in the region. As RAIL Back on Track has always said 'services must be frequent, bottom line.'"

Reference:

1. Nolan delivers better bus services for Ipswich  http://www.translink.com.au/mediarelease.php?id=232

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[Cam]

Check out  the response to the article on the Queensland Times website from Kevin_Thomas

"How much will this cost the tax payer?"

[somebody]

"How much will this cost the tax payer?"

It's not an unreasonable question.  A lot less than road upgrades, may be our answer.

[STB]

http://ipswich-news.whereilive.com.au/news/story/bus-changes-in-ipswich-create-anger/

Bus changes create anger

4 Nov 10 @ 05:00pm by Shannon Sagaidak

TIVOLI resident Paul Andrews is furious at a plan to cut bus services in his suburb.

The Tivoli route is among three to be axed in an overhaul of Ipswich's public transport system set to take effect from December 13.

The restructure will include a new timetable, 82 new bus stops and 12 additional routes across the city, but routes 505, 510 and 523 will be replaced with a new pre-booked door-to-door FlexiLink taxi service.

FlexiLink will connect affected residents with major Ipswich hubs for a fixed $2 fare.

Mr Andrews said the changes would be an inconvenience to his family, local school children and retirees who relied on the service.

``I rely on the bus to pick up my son, do the shopping and go into town, but my girlfriend relies on it every day to get to work,'' Mr Andrews said.

``I used to be able to get on at Tivoli and go all the way to Ebbw Vale for $1.70, and that's on two buses with the one ticket.

``Having to pre-book a taxi will be a hassle and I've heard they won't pick up just one person.''

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said the affected routes ran buses with low patronage figures.

``We looked very carefully at which services were the worst performing and they were buses which had less than seven people on per hour,'' Ms Nolan said.

``We expect some people will be concerned with the changes, but what we are doing is essentially employing someone to transport them door-to-door and providing a better service at lower cost to taxpayers than running an empty bus service.''

She said the service would be operated as a 12 month trial.

Buses will also operate for the first time in parts of Willowbank and Springfield under the restructure.

``Buses will run seven days a week on 12 additional routes providing Sunday and public holiday services to many areas for the first time,'' she said.

``We'll also have dedicated bus stops to replace the outdated hail n' ride system to greatly improve on-time running.''

Rail and public transport community group RAIL Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow welcomed the improvements.

``Ipswich is a rapidly growing city. These improvements will make Ipswich a much better place to live in, shield people from increasing costs of car travel, and make the city more attractive for people and businesses thinking about where to move in southeast Queensland,'' Mr Dow said.

[#Metro]

Having to call up it a bit weird. Something like this was trialled in Canberra a while ago and was scrapped.
It might be too flexible. Taxi on set route with set hours and times with set stops might be better IMHO.

[Stillwater]

The FlexiLink concept is reasonably well known on the Sunshine Coast, where it originated between Boreen Point and Tewantin.  http://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/addfiles/documents/transport/flexilink_boreen_point_tewantin.pdf

It has been extended to about seven runs since.  Maxi taxis operate the service.
The thing that intending passengers must get used to is that they have to book a place on the run two hours in advance of travel.

FlexiLink is a means of 'growing' a bus route, which I am sure is behind the Sunshine Coast Council's decision to use a ratepayer transport levy to fund it.  Obviously, if more than a maxi taxi load of people is using any one run, a bus becomes viable.

As the population ages, FlexiLink allows folk to continue to enjoy village life, yet have reasonable access to the public transport network, for which the first stage is a bus-taxi hybrid taking them to the next biggest town.

[Stillwater]

Some further FlexiLink coverage:

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2010/06/29/flexilinks-fans-in-boreen-point/
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2010/04/29/taxis-to-become-buses-and-you-can-ride-for-just-2/

[ozbob]

Those folks who have the flexi-link option now will realise in the passage of time that they have a better service in  the sense they can travel more flexibly and not limited to the just the less than  optimal bus timetable on the runs that were a little light in pax.  In  time they will be re-instated.

This is also positioning western bus for further adjustments when the Ippy timetable is changed next year.  As I understand it Westside is to continue.  There have been improvements but importantly the timetables are being finally sorted out.  There have been new timetables around for a while but nothing happened.  Good to see progress here now.

I attended the board meeting of the TTA at Ipswich earlier this year, this was a very large part of the meeting agenda.  Sorting out the western bus network.  Progress!

[ozbob]

Despite assurances the people who loose a bus service will have flex-link there appears that there might be some folks who are not covered.  Seeking to clarify this.  There is also the aspect of additional fare costs as what was an initial go card trip, then  a transfer was a continuation  of journey, where as now $2 flat plus a new go card trip/journey fare.

Also seeking to see the specific detail of the proposed timetables.

[#Metro]

How much would it cost to just make it free?

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

Bus blow for aged

Bus blow for aged

Andrew Korner | 6th November 2010

AFTER collapsing twice in the last year and being moved into an aged care facility, Godfrey McMurtrie now claims his independence has been dealt another blow.

AFTER collapsing twice in the last year and being moved into an aged care facility, 74-year-old Godfrey McMurtrie now claims his independence has been dealt another blow.

Mr McMurtrie said new changes to Ipswich bus services meant he would now have to walk up a steep hill to get access to public transport for his twice-a-week trip into town.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan this week announced an overhaul of the public transport system which would result in Ipswich people having access to more Sunday bus services and new connections to Springfield and Willowbank.

But the gains will come at the expense of several existing bus routes – the 505 covering Moores Pocket and Tivoli being one of them.

A Tivoli Gardens resident, Mr McMurtrie said dozens of old-age pensioners who live on Moore's Pocket Road would be affected by the changes.

"We rely on the buses all the time – then out of the blue someone told me the buses are finishing up on December 13," Mr McMurtrie said.

"There are crippled people here who use the bus and there's a little old lady in her 80s who goes out every day – this buggers them up," he said. A spokeswoman from Ms Nolan's office promised that residents affected by the cancellation of bus services would have access to a new taxi service, called Flexilink, with a fixed $2 fare to locations within Ipswich.

Taxi pick up and drop off locations include Sunnycove Retirement Village at 56a Moores Pocket Road.

"Taxis that accommodate people with wheelchairs or other disabilities will be also available for FlexiLink customers," she said.

Yellow Cabs will operate the service through a dedicated phone number, which will be publicised in the coming weeks.

[#Metro]

Yellow Cabs will operate the service through a dedicated phone number, which will be publicised in the coming weeks.

IMHO the way it should be done is you ring up TransLink on 13 12 30, you say "Ipswich FlexiLink" and it connects you to the taxi company or a TL operator who handles the dispatch.

One public transport system. One number. No worries.

[somebody]

One public transport system. One number. No worries.

Probably both ways of doing should be offered.  A lot of people find the one number idea of the banks quite annoying, as it takes so long to find the person you actually need to talk to.

[ozbob]

A lot of people find the one number idea of the banks quite annoying, as it takes so long to find the person you actually need to talk to.

Too right.  We have suggested a direct go card number in the past as well, but nothing has happened (yet).

[Stillwater]

I like to think that I am not yet into my 'old age', but I have used FlexiLink and believe that the oldies will find it a pretty good service.  Only $2 to the shops is not bad (or from Peachester to Beerwah, for example).  One day, I was the only passenger and got a chauffeur service all the way -- and an interesting travel companion / driver.

Would be great to go on the TransLink website and plot a course by public transport from Kenilworth to Surfers Paradise for holidays, for example!  FlexiLink plugs people into the wider system and increases passenger numbers on regular trains and buses - that's got to be good all round.

[STB]

This reminds me of the situation with route 272 and then route 258 at the retirement village at the end of a dead end street in Cleveland (at the end of Smith Street). 

For years a bus serviced that retirement village and then did a three point turn to get back out again, for a while it had passengers then the retirement village management brought a bus for the seniors and the patronage on the urban services disappeared. 

When TransLink approached the retirement village that they wanted to pull the bus out due to quite rightly safety reasons of having to do a three point turn in a large bus, rather than the small midis that now defunct Bayside Buslines brought in 1994 for cost savings and could safely do a three point turn at the end of that street, the seniors jumped up and down so the service was held on for a little longer with still no passengers using it so it was canned and there's been not a peep from that place (although I think a compromised was done by sending the bus about 300m away at the back of the retirement village instead of outside the front door with route 258).

Moores Pocket Road is essentially the same deal with a dead end street with little room to safely turn around, regardless it's simply bad planning with a mass transit service to turn back on itself.  And for those who choose to live in these isolated villages, that's a compromised they have to understand and accept, especially if large DDA compliant buses are replacing the smaller midis.  As a compromise, they now get a personalised taxi service rather than relying on specific times.  In time I think they will accept it just as it has happened in other areas.

[#Metro]

And for those who choose to live in these isolated villages, that's a compromised they have to understand and accept, especially if large DDA compliant buses are replacing the smaller midis.

IMHO there is a serious disconnect between whoever is doing the street layouts and PT planning. Once the streets are turned into a maze and all the destinations form a squiggle, it becomes impossible to provide good, direct PT that is economical to provide and tolerable.

Recent experiences on buses from Helensvale Station, Gold Coast doing infuriating and torturous looping, traveling in suburban back streets with multiple speed humps and bumps and other speed calming obstacles which made the ride extremely uncomfortable just reinforces my view. If you want to build an estate like that, put in Almere-style busway.

[STB]

FYI, up until around 2007, TransLink did not have a say in street design and layout for new estates.  Nowadays, all development applications must get approval via TransLink (among many other departments), before DAs of new estates are approved.  

This is to ensure that the traditional view of developers to build estates that would be car friendly but not for PT, are friendly for both car and PT usage.  In fact, TransLink has a department on the same floor as the Network Planning section (where all the bus planning people are located) as the officers looking after the DAs that come through.

In this case though, I don't think it's bad planning on street design and layout, just bad planning on locating a retirement village (I'm assuming that Moores Pocket Road was there well before the retirement village was).

[mufreight]

there is effectively a turning circle at the end of Moores Pocket Road, it would require little effort or expense to surface it and the majority of drivers have no difficulty in turning there in the one sweep

[ozbob]

Advertisement The Satellite 10th November 2010 page 24

More reliable services on the way

[Sunbus610]

Bus change riles residents
Josephine Gillespie | 15th November 2010 | Queensland Times

Moores Pocket Road residents are angry about losing their local bus. Angry Ipswich residents will voice their concerns about changes to the city's bus services at a series of community meetings this week.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan recently announced an overhaul of the public transport system would result in Ipswich people having access to more Sunday bus services and new connections to Springfield and Willowbank.

But the gains will come at the expense of several existing bus routes – the 505 covering the suburbs of Moores Pocket and Tivoli being one of them.

Read more on this story HERE (Queensland Times)

[mufreight]

No mention of the apparent withdrawal of the 504 services to Brassall, the replacement extended 515 service only extends to the railway workshops museum so there is now no bus services along Pine Mountain Road beyond Delacy Street to Hunter Street Brassall, leaving all in that area with no public transport as there is no coverage for the residents in this area by Flexilink as this area is outside the boundaries of the zones of the taxi based zonal system for Flexilink.
More duplicity on the part of the Minister, Queensland Transport and the Translink dictatorship.

[somebody]

Doesn't the 512 cover that service?

[STB]

Personally I'm holding off on criticism until the timetables and route maps are released to the public, until then, we're just taking unnecessary stabs in the dark which won't help either side IMO.

[somebody]

Personally I'm holding off on criticism until the timetables and route maps are released to the public, until then, we're just taking unnecessary stabs in the dark which won't help either side IMO.

And reduces the credibility of said criticism.

[mufreight]

Doesn't the 512 cover that service?

NO
The 512 comes into Brassall in the opposite direction, if you think otherwise contact Translink and ask for the details of the route of the 504, the 512 and the 515 then pull out the UBD or Near Map and see for yourself and while you are doing so verify the areas of coverage by the replacement Flexilink.
You could then find out that the view through the rose coloured glasses is not quite so good.

[somebody]

How do you know, mufreight?  I don't know that it will serve it of course, but it seems to be implied, based on the comments that the 512 will not serve Woodend and Sadliers Crossing.

[mufreight]

How do you know, mufreight?  I don't know that it will serve it of course, but it seems to be implied, based on the comments that the 512 will not serve Woodend and Sadliers Crossing.

Over an hour spent on the phone with Translink