POLL: 204 via Eastern Busway?

[somebody]

This question hasn't been asked on its own before, so sorry, but I'm going to ask it.  Here's the link to nearmap which shows where the stops are (except the O/B Stone's Corner one which is invisible at this scale): http://www.nearmap.com/?ll=-27.498108,153.046256&z=18&t=h&nmd=20110708

I will find it incomprehensible if this is not supported.

At Stone's Corner, it is currently a coin toss whether to wait for an I/B bus at the busway station or the old stop.  Moving the 204 would make it a pretty easy decision.  It is similar at Langlands Park, except that there are three possible places to wait.  This has got to be exceedingly annoying for locals.

Heading outbound, I guess you would wait on Adelaide St for a 174/175/204, but one problem at a time.

[Mr X]

It's funny sitting at Stones Corner station at this big bus infrastructure with no buses but you see other buses going past on the street outside in traffic!

204 should use the busway.

[O_128]

this shouldn't be a question but a statement.

[somebody]

this shouldn't be a question but a statement.

That may be, but there appear to be those that don't agree.  At least in some of their posts.

[SurfRail]

Yes.  203 as well.

I also believe that for system legibility, the 206 and 207 should stop at Buranda and, for as long as the 250 and 270 serve express stops to Carindale, they should observe Langlands Park.

[somebody]

Yes.  203 as well.

I also believe that for system legibility, the 206 and 207 should stop at Buranda and, for as long as the 250 and 270 serve express stops to Carindale, they should observe Langlands Park.

Legibility is a pretty marginal reason for the 206 to serve Buranda - the main reason is to allow others (111/120/170/180 people) access to a city precincts route.

[Bulimba30A]

Agree with simon on the reason for 206 to serve Buranda.

Before I answer the 204 question, what's the idea for where it goes once it is in the busway, via Buranda or Gabba?

[somebody]

Agree with simon on the reason for 206 to serve Buranda.

Before I answer the 204 question, what's the idea for where it goes once it is in the busway, via Buranda or Gabba?

It could only go to Buranda.

[Mr X]

Unless it does a 250   

[jouzocha]

Or it could exit the busway via the O'Keefe St portal, right O'Keefe St then left Logan Rd.

Honestly I'm not sure what the best answer is, the only problem I see with it using the busway is taking services away from Logan Rd W'gabba.  The 174/175 covers it pretty well during the daytime but is pretty thin at nights/on weekends.  It's a pity there's no exit from EB to Logan Rd.

[somebody]

While it is true that it would reduce services along Logan Rd between 'Gabba and Old Cleveland Rd, it is only about 1km, perhaps less.  A distance which should be walkable to the mid point from a busway station for most people.  There are far larger gaps in the express PT coverage than that across Brisbane.

[O_128]

Or it could exit the busway via the O'Keefe St portal, right O'Keefe St then left Logan Rd.

Honestly I'm not sure what the best answer is, the only problem I see with it using the busway is taking services away from Logan Rd W'gabba.  The 174/175 covers it pretty well during the daytime but is pretty thin at nights/on weekends.  It's a pity there's no exit from EB to Logan Rd.

there is the 200 till 11pm on weeknights, plus the 66, plus the 230/235 plus the rest.

[SurfRail]

Or it could exit the busway via the O'Keefe St portal, right O'Keefe St then left Logan Rd.

Honestly I'm not sure what the best answer is, the only problem I see with it using the busway is taking services away from Logan Rd W'gabba.  The 174/175 covers it pretty well during the daytime but is pretty thin at nights/on weekends.  It's a pity there's no exit from EB to Logan Rd.

Ther 174/175 services need to be upgraded anyway - getting a BUZ-zone effect (ie the way Adelaide does most of their Go-Zones) would suffice.  The 174/175 can basically be a BUZ between the City-Valley and Mt Gravatt Central - I can live with a split in half-there because you have other services covering that area and converging on Garden City.

[somebody]

Ther 174/175 services need to be upgraded anyway - getting a BUZ-zone effect (ie the way Adelaide does most of their Go-Zones) would suffice.  The 174/175 can basically be a BUZ between the City-Valley and Mt Gravatt Central - I can live with a split in half-there because you have other services covering that area and converging on Garden City.

I agree, but for a different reason.  Between Broadwater Rd and Mt Gravatt-Capalaba Rd you only have the 172 and 175 as full time routes (as far as I can recall).  I think the branch effect is certainly a disadvantage, but accepting that for now, with a view to upgrading the frequency later is the best that we are going to get here.  174 and 175 are each hourly on Sunday.  I'd really like to see the bit to Mt Gravatt Central upgraded and can accept the small bit beyond waiting for later for an upgrade.

Longer term I think the solution might be to BUZ the 175, and combine the 174 and 170 into a single BUZ service SEB/Logan Rd/Creek Rd/Newnham Rd/Garden City.

At the risk of repeating myself, BUZ showed the greatest increase in patronage weekends and evenings.  It's about time we got out of the mentality of providing higher frequency PT weekday daytimes than other off peak times.

[ozbob]

Media release 19 September 2011

SEQ: Send the 204 bus via Eastern Busway

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 bus route 204 to use the Eastern Busway.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back on Track members have debated the pros and cons of routing the 204 bus onto the new Eastern Busway (1).  An investment of around half a billion dollars needs to be utilised to the maximum. The failure to utilise the Eastern Busway for bus route 204 results in a mediocre public transport outcome for both Stone's Corner and Old Cleveland Rd."

"At Stone's Corner heading inbound, off peak it is more attractive to ignore the busway and use the street based services for their greater frequency.  This results in the busway being under utilised, and a lower resultant effective frequency as compared to what would be at the busway, especially evenings and weekends."

"Outbound is a problem not the subject of this particular release.  Similarly at Langlands Park the effective frequency is divided between the busway station, the East Leagues stop on Main Ave, Coorparoo and the Old Cleveland Rd stop.  This results in an effective headway no better than 15 minutes off peak at no stop."

"On Old Cleveland Rd, the 204 bus is significantly slower due to the need to compete with the traffic.  This is a popular route and many would benefit from a speed increase by routing on the Eastern Busway, which in turn would make the route even more popular."

"We note that the Veolia services are using the Eastern Busway and we support that, but better use of the taxpayer investment must be made and moving the 204 bus onto the Eastern Busway will achieve that in part."

"Why was the busway built, if TransLink and Brisbane Transport don't want to use it maximally?"

Reference:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6689.0

Contact:

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