Article: New CityGlider to link stadiums with entertainment precincts

[somebody]

New CityGlider to link stadiums with entertainment precincts
Georgia Waters
January 31, 2012 - 8:59AM

    Comments 1

The route of the new CityGlider service.

The route of the new CityGlider service.

A new maroon-coloured CityGlider service to link Brisbane's major sports stadiums with entertainment precincts will be announced this morning.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the new "food and footy" service would run between Paddington and Stones Corner, stopping at locations including Suncorp Stadium, the Cultural Centre, South Bank and the Gabba.

The new CityGlider service would provide better public transport choice during major events, he said.
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''CityGlider is extremely popular among inner city residents travelling home from dinner or a night out in West End, the Valley or the City. I expect the maroon CityGlider will also be very popular,'' Cr Quirk said.

It will run on a similar timetable to the original CityGlider, leaving every five minutes during peak hours and 10-15 minutes during off-peak times.

The bus would run as a 24-hour service on Fridays and Saturdays and as an 18-hour service every other day, he said.

Cr Quirk said the council would be approaching the state government for funding and aimed to have the service started from the next financial year, which begins in July.

The maroon livery of the buses was chosen to represent the colours of local sporting teams: the Brisbane Broncos and Lions, the Queensland Bulls and the State of Origin team, Cr Quirk said.

The maroon CityGlider bus route:

    Trammies Corner, Paddington
    Paddington Central
    Old Paddo Post Office, Paddington
    Paddington
    Caxton Street
    Cultural Centre, South Brisbane
    Grey Street, South Bank
    Mater Hospital, Woolloongabba
    Gabba stadium, Woolloongabba
    Stones Corner


Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/new-cityglider-to-link-stadiums-with-entertainment-precincts-20120131-1qqc5.html#ixzz1kzSPIwVL

I for one had no idea this was being thought about.  Bypassing the CBD?  An interesting idea.

[ozbob]

LOL Nice stunt.

Be interesting to see how willing the new Premier will be to fund it ...

Personally, I think funds can be better spent on improving the abysmal frequency and span of hours for buses generally for the battlers ...

Plenty of options already.

[#Metro]

STOP!!!

NO MORE P88 style disasters please!

Trammies Corner, Paddington
   

Paddington Central

BUZ 385
   

Old Paddo Post Office, Paddington
   Paddington
   Caxton Street
   Cultural Centre, South Brisbane

BUZ 385, Milton Train station (15 min freq services and event specials already)
   

Grey Street, South Bank
   Mater Hospital, Woolloongabba
   Gabba stadium, Woolloongabba
   Stones Corner

BUZ 100 and BUZ 200 and 203/304 174/175 Buranda Train station, Buranda Busway (yeah, the one that cost $465 million to put there).

This is NOT a mobility improvement! And it costs money! IT already duplicates services where there are buses every few minutes already!
It doesn't add any new destinations to the menu that were not already possible to reach using existing high frequency services.

Aaargh!!!

For heaven's sake - fund a BUZ 230 or BUZ 400
BUZ 400 can be funded by folding the western leg of P88 into a new 400 and terminating low patronage services at Indooroopilly.

[somebody]

I'm not as negative as you, TT.

At least it avoids the Roma St-Cultural Centre crapulence.

Cr Quirk said the council would be approaching the state government for funding and aimed to have the service started from the next financial year, which begins in July.

So is it funded or not?  Sounds like it's like the first "CityGlider" which only really had state involvement to allow Go Cards being used on it.

[#Metro]

I'm not as negative as you, TT.

At least it avoids the Roma St-Cultural Centre crapulence.

I totally disagree with this proposed routing on the principle that if you are going to extend high frequency, it should be put in places
where it is useful and be given to areas which DON'T have mobility, rather than areas that are already saturated with options.

Missing out on one or two stops (a la P88) or (200 verus 222) is NOT a good reason to have two separate services which cost MILLIONS
of dollars each year to run for very little net gain in mobility.

Focus on the Core.

The state should NOT fund this.

[Stillwater]

It's election time - it goes to areas where there are votes to be had.    It might be worthwhile if the government issued a go-card to everyone.  We could then line up in a queue at the polling booth and pass between curtains, there to swipe the ALP, the LNP, Greens or Ind. reader.

[#Metro]

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7576.0

[Jonas Jade]

It's not going on the Busway...... interesting.... 

[cartoonbirdhaus]

It's not going on the Busway...... interesting....  

Do you mean it's been confirmed that it's not using the SE Busway? (Obviously you couldn't, in the case of Cultural Centre.) So we'll have another 202-style scenario through there?


The system gets more and more bizarre every day...

[#Metro]

    Trammies Corner, Paddington
   Paddington Central
   Old Paddo Post Office, Paddington
   Paddington
   Caxton Street
   Cultural Centre, South Brisbane
   Grey Street, South Bank
   Mater Hospital, Woolloongabba
   Gabba stadium, Woolloongabba
   Stones Corner


Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/new-cityglider-to-link-stadiums-with-entertainment-precincts-20120131-1qqc5.html#ixzz1kzi7cjqa

Trammies corner is served by the BUZ 385 and other services there, same with paddo central, caxton street, cultural centre, duplicates function of Cultural Centre and South Bank Busway stations and Mater Hill (effectively runs parallell with these busway stations where there is a service every few seconds) probs will use the Allen St portal to get to Wooloongabba busway (two BUZ services there already plus route 66) then down Logan Road (204/174/175 on that already) to go to Stones Corner (222, Busway there)

This essentially runs parallel to the busway services - a busway in Class A that is both faster and higher frequency (buses every few seconds) and already serves these areas.
At least the Montague road CityGlider was in an area that didn't have decent PT options already.

[somebody]

To clarify: I oppose it.  Just with less vigour.

[#Metro]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/east/bulimba-needs-more-bus-services-says-public-transport-advocate/story-fn8m0sve-1226235784817

Potential solution: If the Lord Mayor wants a CityGlider, let it be put on.

However, it should be a Bulimba CityGlider serving the movie cinemas on Oxford Street and 'world class' restaurant district, on a new steam-ironed route possibly via Story Bridge and Valley (that would serve the entertainment and food aspects nicely!) or via South Bank (would allow the 230 to be abolished and replaced with the Bulimba CityGlider)

[ozbob]

Media release 31 January 2012

SEQ: Core Frequent Network: Bulimba CityGlider please!



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 calls for a Bulimba CityGlider.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track welcomes discussion about a potential new CityGlider bus service (1). We note however that the new proposed service would serve areas where there are already fast, frequent buses coming every few minutes. We believe that the CityGlider is a decent concept, however the focus should be on suburbs where high quality, high frequency services do not yet exist rather than providing more services for areas which already have decent services."

"RAIL Back On Track therefore calls for a Bulimba CityGlider to serve the world class restaurant district, movie cinema, trendy-shops and connect to the CityCat (2,3). Funding would also be easier as replacement of the 230 service would free up funds for the new Bulimba CityGlider."

"Extra Friday and Saturday night services would allow people to stay out late and enjoy late night dining in the area and support local businesses."

"We call on the Lord Mayor to reconsider his proposal for a Maroon CityGlider and instead consider a Bulimba CityGlider. The businesses, shopkeepers and residents of Bulimba experience parking crisis every day in their local streets which is impacting the livability of the area. We therefore think a Bulimba CityGlider would be a Godsend for them."

"As RAIL Back On Track has always said, services must be frequent, bottom line!"

References:

1. New CityGlider to link stadiums with entertainment precincts
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/new-cityglider-to-link-stadiums-with-entertainment-precincts-20120131-1qqc5.html

2. Bulimba needs more bus services says public transport advocate
http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/east/bulimba-needs-more-bus-
services-says-public-transport-advocate/story-fn8m0sve-1226235784817

"Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said while TransLink had the final say on bus
routes, he would throw his weight behind any move to get more
high-frequency bus services into the suburbs, particularly at busy
shopping precincts."

3. SEQ: Core Frequent Network: Bulimba/Balmoral BUZ and Centenary BUZ
should be priorities for next BUZification
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7299.0

Contact:

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

[O_128]

I WANT A BULIMBA BUZ  

If you want any proof that CC is full look at this, It will be empty if its not stopping at the actual south bank or CC stations. I am so sick of half assed bus routes. Why doesn't it continue to langlands park?

What kind of idiots are in charge of route planning?

[ozbob]

I WANT A BULIMBA BUZ  

If you want any proof that CC is full look at this, It will be empty if its not stopping at the actual south bank or CC stations. I am so sick of half assed bus routes. Why doesn't it continue to langlands park?

What kind of idiots are in charge of route planning?

This  'New CityGlider' is a stunt ... IMHO ....

[#Metro]

You know, if they delete BUZ 200 and send half the $$ from that to boost the 222, send route 203 and 204 up deshon street, fold the 230 into a Bulimba CityGlider and use the other half of the $$ released by a deleted BUZ 200 to go to a Bulimba CityGlider, you'd probably have 80% of the funds to operate a Bulimba CityGlider right there... The extra cash required would be minimal indeed. Or I even suspect - cost neutral!

Soooo much waste...

[somebody]

You know, if they delete BUZ 200 and send half the $$ from that to boost the 222, send route 203 and 204 up deshon street, fold the 230 into a Bulimba CityGlider and use the other half of the $$ released by a deleted BUZ 200 to go to a Bulimba CityGlider, you'd probably have 80% of the funds to operate a Bulimba CityGlider right there... The extra cash required would be minimal indeed. Or I even suspect - cost neutral!

Soooo much waste...

What's with your obsession with Dehson St?  Services in this area operated for years with no stops on Deshon St.

Arguably, the inner 203 should stay as is to serve O'Keefe St.

Similarly, I think Deshon St would be a half baked upgrade for the 204.  Do it properly and use the Eastern Busway!

[#Metro]

What's with your obsession with Dehson St?

I'm not aware of any obsession with Deshon St. BUZ 200 covers that area and I think if 203 and 204 were combined to run there and 174 combined into 175 and 175 boosted, that would cover logan road and that area well while freeing up funds for decent services elsewhere.

Services in this area operated for years with no stops on Deshon St.

This is true but this is a description. Your prescription was??

203 is not required for coverage on O'Keefe street. That is within walking distance to Buranda Busway station and BUZ 100 now.
203 is a legacy route. Time to grow backbone and move it.

It is an hourly service! Does it take one hour to walk between Buranda busway and the BUZ 100 bus stop? In fact there are THREE busway stations on O'Keefe Street - one at the start of O'Keefe street (PA Hospital), One in the middle (Buranda Busway) and one at the end (Stones Corner). And a train station too (Buranda)!

Route 203 - CUT!! (or at least move it!)

[somebody]

What's with your obsession with Dehson St?

I'm not aware of any obsession with Deshon St. BUZ 200 covers that area

Point is that it shouldn't.

Services in this area operated for years with no stops on Deshon St.

This is true but this is a description. Your prescription was??

This has been discussed a number of times hasn't it?  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7092.msg76544#msg76544

That is within walking distance to Buranda Busway station and BUZ 100 now.

Arguably.

[beauyboy]

IMHO this point is a waste.

What about the Hamilton Glider like what was promised in the report?

Donald

[#Metro]

I can think of better places to spend ~ $100 000 per year, and unfortunately it is not running services on O'Keefe Street (or parallel to busway stations either).

[somebody]

I don't understand the Stone's Corner terminus.  There isn't that much there.  W'Gabba or somewhere along Grey St would make more sense to me.

[Jonas Jade]

Theres some potential for stopping people changing at CC/City with this service. (not as much as there could be if it was using the busway but).

Just a couple of thoughts here:

The main advantage I see of this - the first BUZ to not go into the CBD.

The "all routes to the CBD!!!!111!!! TRANSFER IN CITY!!21`1z" mentality does need to be broken.

Could this have been used as part of the "get services out of the CBD" method eg diverting an existing CBD route out to Paddington?

[#Metro]

I'd wonder what it would be like to see route 29 extended to RBWH turnaround actually.

[somebody]

I'd wonder what it would be like to see route 29 extended to RBWH turnaround actually.

I say it makes far more sense to extend the 29 to Mowbray Park than RBWH.

[SurfRail]

I'd wonder what it would be like to see route 29 extended to RBWH turnaround actually.

I say it makes far more sense to extend the 29 to Mowbray Park than RBWH.

Why?  230 and 235 provide that connection.  There is nothing from the Gabba to the northside.

[SurfRail]

Also, this is suspiciously close to a certain very important electorate, isn't it?

[ozbob]

If there ever was a reason why network planning should be removed from BCC this is it ....

[#Metro]

Also, this is suspiciously close to a certain very important electorate, isn't it?

They could at least fix up the abysmal service on metroad 5 (Scrap the GCL and install 594 Indro - Brookside on a steam ironed route) and boost the Ferny Grove Line. Also the 359 could be BUZzed and most other buses then terminated at Enoggera. (350 might continue to the CBD though).

If this sounds expensive, just remember, Eastern Busway cost $465 million dollars for 1.5 km, enough to run these two BUZ services for the next thirty years or so.

[#Metro]

If there ever was a reason why network planning should be removed from BCC this is it ....

I actually agree. No other operator has network planning powers! That's TransLink's job.

[BrizCommuter]

Maroon CityGlider.

More waste and duplication. Oh dear!

[somebody]

I'd wonder what it would be like to see route 29 extended to RBWH turnaround actually.

I say it makes far more sense to extend the 29 to Mowbray Park than RBWH.

Why?  230 and 235 provide that connection.  There is nothing from the Gabba to the northside.

Should these even be running in peak hour?

There is the 475/6 over the Story Bridge.

As for why, connecting UQ and the 216/221/231/236, as well as the other side of the citycat run, without needing to do a quite tedious run along the entire CityCat route.

[ozbob]

"The Cleveland Non-Solution"

"The Maroon CityGlider"

Bit of a pattern emerging ....  what's next?

Eight car trains?  Hamilton Hovercraft?    

[somebody]

Additionally, reaching the Valley and RBH can also be done relatively easily at present with a change at Park Rd or the Cultural Centre (respectively).  Would it really be that advantageous to run along the Story Bridge from UQ?

[somebody]

If there ever was a reason why network planning should be removed from BCC this is it ....

I'd agree.  The non-standard original CityGlider was also such a reason.  It didn't consider the network as a whole but was an isolated route slapped on to the network.  Limited stops while the busier 199 is all stops through the common part!  What was that?

[SurfRail]

I'd agree.  The non-standard original CityGlider was also such a reason.  It didn't consider the network as a whole but was an isolated route slapped on to the network.  Limited stops while the busier 199 is all stops through the common part!  What was that?

You realise just how dopey network design gets in Brisbane by looking at West End Junction.  You have a choice of 3 BUZ routes (196/199/Glider), all of which leave from different stops on different roads.  It wouldn't occur to anybody to just put a common stop in on Melbourne Street, and delete the first stop west of the CC too.

[Mr X]

That tripped me up today and I was late to court because of it!
Who would have thought that taking a bus from an area, which at the time had the order of 30 BPH going through it, would be so god damn difficult?

Went to the 196 stop on Browning St (closest!) and the bus wasn't for another 5mins or so and seeing as I was pressed for time, I went and checked the cityglider time and it was coming around when the 196 should so I went for the 199. In waiting to cross the lights at Mollison, a 196 happily flies through the intersection and so does a cityglider when I go towards the 199... which arrived late.  End result = me late to court.

This maroon cityglider looks like an epic waste of money. Any cityglider MKII should go along KSD I reckon.

[#Metro]

Additionally, reaching the Valley and RBH can also be done relatively easily at present with a change at Park Rd or the Cultural Centre (respectively).  Would it really be that advantageous to run along the Story Bridge from UQ?

It is not really that different - all this is doing is merging the 475 Southern leg with the 29 to UQ. That's all. It would be a nice frequent connection serving Kangaroo Pt, the Valley, Wooloongabba (connections) and the Hospital precinct.

The non-standard original CityGlider was also such a reason.

Montague Road is a fast, straight arterial. I was very skeptical of the service (since no-one caught 192!) but people use it, the previous service was terrible, so that has been good.
The Maroon proposal is a different kettle of fish- it duplicates the SE Busway! Something that billions has been spent on and with frequencies in the order of seconds till the next bus.

You realise just how dopey network design gets in Brisbane by looking at West End Junction.  You have a choice of 3 BUZ routes (196/199/Glider), all of which leave from different stops on different roads.  It wouldn't occur to anybody to just put a common stop in on Melbourne Street, and delete the first stop west of the CC too.

You know what the answer to this is - "preserve all deadwood and never cut anything!"

[achiruel]

I can perhaps see a use of this bus during special events to avoid clogging up regular services, e.g. NRL/S15 finals or very large games such as double headers, State of Origin, Bledisloe Cup matches and the like but as an every day route...

BUZ230.  Or BUZ 330.  Or BUZ 400.  Or BUZ 359

FFS BUZ (oops, sorry, trademarked)  555

Anything but this!

[Mr X]

I should have guessed it, going to the holy grail, Ashgrove electorate