8 Nov 2010: SEQ: Richlands rich in Transit Oriented Development potential

[ozbob]

Media release 8 November 2010

SEQ: Richlands rich in Transit Oriented Development potential

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 highlighted the progress and quality of the new Richlands Station. RAIL Back on Track believes that the open land around the station could be a potential Transit Oriented Development (TOD) opportunity.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"There is a mini rail revolution under way out west in Brisbane. Progress at Richlands Rail station has been remarkable and a credit to the project team Horizon Alliance, Queensland Rail, TransLink and the Queensland Government (1)."

"The station facilities and level of integration with complementary transit modes are of a very high quality and standard. The provision of a bus interchange and bus services to the station will allow buses to 'terminate and transfer' passengers to the rail line. RAIL Back on Track has previously suggested that there is also scope for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to Rail in this area (2). The integration of high quality cycling facilities into the station design is also an inexpensive and healthy way to increase access and boost rider-ship."

"RAIL Back on Track believes the high quality and strong permanence of the facilities at Richlands station and the presence of open land around the station signals this site as a ripe opportunity for a potential TOD. RAIL Back on Track suggests that market interest for a TOD be actively tested, possibly with the assistance of the Urban Land Development Authority or landholders in the area. Similar developments around Helensvale (shopping centre), Nerang Station (town houses) and Varsity Lakes (village) show that rail is great for stimulating TODs."

"Precedents in Western Australia may also be of interest (3). Here is an extract from the Western Australia's Department of Housing and Works website talking about "The Village at Wellard" development around Wellard Station on Perth's Mandurah Line (Wellard Station is about 37 km from Perth Railway Station):

'The development will create approximately 2,700 residential lots, and will be home to some 8,500 people when completed. Demand continues to grow for sites within The Village – buyers camped out to purchase lots in Release 11, which sold out within 1½ hours.'

This development has gone on to win multiple awards (4) such as the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Western Australia) Awards for Excellence: Judges' Award, Planning Institute of Australia (Western Australia) Planning Minister's Award for Excellence and HIA's GreenSmart Development of the Year (Western Australia)."

"RAIL Back on Track commends the project team and the Queensland Government, and hopes that the good progress continues."

References:

1. Darra to Springfield Stage 1 construction Darra to Richlands
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=639.msg36081#msg36081

2. SEQ: Feed rail when Richlands opens!
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4640.0

3. Initiatives
http://www.dhw.wa.gov.au/landsales/site_files/corporate/initiatives2.htm#wellard

4. An award winning community
http://www.thevillageatwellard.com.au/Wellard/News%20Events.aspx

Map

5. Nearmap  http://www.nearmap.com/?q=Richlands%20Station@-27.596277,152.947154&ll=-27.591485,152.949986&z=15&t=k&nmd=20100911

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Richlands --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=639.msg38619#msg38619

[johnnigh]

A bit late to call Richands Station a Transit Oriented Development - at the very centre is a massive car park!

[#Metro]

We make do with the opportunities that are presented to us, as they are, as best as we can. It is just the way it is.

An underground car park (i.e. like South Bank) would be more expensive, but the costs for that could be made up by
TOD development directly above it.

Of course, the ideal situation would be to have minimal car parking, with buses ferrying people in.

[Stillwater]

The state government bangs on about affordable housing.  The Wellard model could be used to revitalise the town centres of the railway villages up and down the Sunshine Coast and North Coast lines.  Lots of opportunities for affordable housing there -- and the railway line (realigned, as planned) runs right through.  Before people say it is all too hard, it just needs a single private developer, the council and the state government to get together on a 'model' redevelopment (Beerburrum? Glass House Mountains?).  Someone needs to act to make it happen - Department of Infrastructure and Planning probably.  Once the white shoe brigade sees a buck to be made, they will be falling over themselves to duplicate the plan elsewhere.

[colinw]

Here's one in Adelaide as well -> click here

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

10 December 2010

Richlands, looming as another lost opportunity ...

Greetings,

Electric trains have commenced training operations on the recently completed Richlands Branch line.  See --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=639.msg42109#msg42109

It is a great pity that the new rail timetables for the Ipswich and Caboolture lines are not going to be implemented with the commissioning of passenger rail services to Richlands on January 24th.

We have received advice that an 'interim timetable' is to be put in place for Richlands, pending the implementation of the new 2011 rail timetables.  Why is it that rail passengers will have to continue to wait for a decent frequency?  No commitment has been given for the implementation of the new 2011 rail timetables other than 'sometime in the first half of 2011'.

This is unacceptable as the authorities have had years to plan these changes.

Not having the optimal timetable for rail, and the associated bus feeder services from day one is a major failure and reflects badly on all.

The recent Interfleet Transport Opinion Survey ( http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5041.0 ) clearly indicates why elections will continue to turn on public transport issues.

The notion of the interim timetable for Richlands should be put aside and the 2011 Ipswich Caboolture line timetables implemented concurrently with the Richlands line timetable on the 24th January 2011 to drive maximally public transport uptake and give some relief to long suffering rail commuters, and afford bus commuters some relief from the western bus congestion and failure.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

===============

Media release 8 November 2010 released 10 December 2010

SEQ: Richlands rich in Transit Oriented Development potential

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 highlighted the progress and quality of the new Richlands Station. RAIL Back on Track believes that the open land around the station could be a potential Transit Oriented Development (TOD) opportunity.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"There is a mini rail revolution under way out west in Brisbane. Progress at Richlands Rail station has been remarkable and a credit to the project team Horizon Alliance, Queensland Rail, TransLink and the Queensland Government (1)."

"The station facilities and level of integration with complementary transit modes are of a very high quality and standard. The provision of a bus interchange and bus services to the station will allow buses to 'terminate and transfer' passengers to the rail line. RAIL Back on Track has previously suggested that there is also scope for Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) to Rail in this area (2). The integration of high quality cycling facilities into the station design is also an inexpensive and healthy way to increase access and boost rider-ship."

"RAIL Back on Track believes the high quality and strong permanence of the facilities at Richlands station and the presence of open land around the station signals this site as a ripe opportunity for a potential TOD. RAIL Back on Track suggests that market interest for a TOD be actively tested, possibly with the assistance of the Urban Land Development Authority or landholders in the area. Similar developments around Helensvale (shopping centre), Nerang Station (town houses) and Varsity Lakes (village) show that rail is great for stimulating TODs."

"Precedents in Western Australia may also be of interest (3). Here is an extract from the Western Australia's Department of Housing and Works website talking about "The Village at Wellard" development around Wellard Station on Perth's Mandurah Line (Wellard Station is about 37 km from Perth Railway Station):

'The development will create approximately 2,700 residential lots, and will be home to some 8,500 people when completed. Demand continues to grow for sites within The Village – buyers camped out to purchase lots in Release 11, which sold out within 1½ hours.'

This development has gone on to win multiple awards (4) such as the Urban Development Institute of Australia (Western Australia) Awards for Excellence: Judges' Award, Planning Institute of Australia (Western Australia) Planning Minister's Award for Excellence and HIA's GreenSmart Development of the Year (Western Australia)."

"RAIL Back on Track commends the project team and the Queensland Government, and hopes that the good progress continues."

References:

1. Darra to Springfield Stage 1 construction Darra to Richlands
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=639.msg36081#msg36081

2. SEQ: Feed rail when Richlands opens!
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4640.0

3. Initiatives
http://www.dhw.wa.gov.au/landsales/site_files/corporate/initiatives2.htm#wellard

4. An award winning community
http://www.thevillageatwellard.com.au/Wellard/News%20Events.aspx

Map

5. Nearmap  http://www.nearmap.com/?q=Richlands%20Station@-27.596277,152.947154&ll=-27.591485,152.949986&z=15&t=k&nmd=20100911

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org