4 Mar 2012: SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it ..

[ozbob]

Media release 4 March 2012

SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

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 highlighted the promise that 'bus users will be able to benefit with up to 2000 express buses able to use Northern Link each day' (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track at the time doubted claims whether 2000 'express' buses per day was truly genuine (see calculations below) and wondered if it was just 'transit-wash', which is using fringe benefits of public transport to curry up favour for a road project whose actual purpose is to provide more road space and resources for car travel (2)."

Calculations

2000 express buses
18 hours per day 2000 buses / 18 hours of service = 111 buses per hour on average
60 minutes in one hour = 3600 seconds in one hour
3600 seconds in one hour / 111 buses per hour
is a bus every 32 seconds
(or assuming all the trips are return trips, a bus a minute).

"One of the most audacious publicly obvious failings in Western Suburbs transport planning was boasting about making a $300 million dollar 'saving' on Legacy Way but then, in the same release, claiming that $50 million dollars could not be found for a bus interconnection to the busway to allow council's own buses to use the Legacy Way (Northern Link Tunnel!"

"The idea of public transport being able to use Legacy way appears to have been set up to fail and nothing but 'transit-wash'.

"Brisbane City Council is continuing its bizarre record of removing bus lanes from Brisbane's most unreliable road - Coronation Drive, so that its own bus services carrying its own ratepayers are all slowed down and bus operating costs for its own fleet are increased."

"Add to that multi million dollar high-visibility Maroon CityGliders that may symbolise improvement to public transport but on further analysis actually reveals that they add zero new mobility and duplicate existing high frequency services."

"RAIL Back On Track again calls for the total abandonment of 'balanced transport' policies and a shift to 'rebalanced transport' based around walking, cycling, buses, ferries and rail."

References

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.msg35456#msg35456

2. Greenwashing, Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.0

[ozbob]

Sent to outlets:

28 March 2012

Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

Greetings,

During the recent campaign we tried to highlight the major failure to ensure Legacy Way is actually public transport friendly, as promised in 2010 by then Lord Mayor Brisbane Campbell Newman.

The fact that this project is being supported massively by federal funding, state and council as well, it is simply unbelievable that petty disagreements between the former State Government, and BCC lead to a stalemate with a failure to connect Legacy Way to the Inner Northern Busway.  This means that as stated by Campbell Newman, "up to 2000 express buses daily" will no longer be able to use it. ( http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7886.0,  and http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.msg35456#msg35456 ). We were conned.  The media was conned.

From   http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7596.msg86045#msg86045

There is a golden opportunity being lost to tempt CBD workers residing in the Centenary Suburbs, Chappell Hill and the suburbs beyond out of their cars and into buses.
BCC with the assistance of funding by the Qld State and Federal Governments, choose to make no provisions for buses to exit and enter the Legacy Tunnels at the Kelvin Grove end to access the CBD. Alas -Trans Link preferred to put up the fares instead.

Many of the existing bus routes from these locations use the Westfield Shopping Centre as a mid route hub and consequently add more congestion to Moggill Road and Coronation Drive.
Alternatively if a peak hour express banana-bus service could be routed to use the Legacy Tunnels, the existing bus station at Mt Ommaney and an expanded one at Kenmore Shopping Centre would be appropriate locations for feeder services to hub from.
Feeder buses services would not be stalled in traffic snarls and therefore capable of servicing many pockets of suburbs that presently don't have a close bus stop and provide better frequency.
Bus commuter time in peak times to the UBD would be halved or better.
By all means a lesser frequent bus service to Indooroopilly should be retained to service workers in this corridor and also university worker and students.

Under the existing alignment of the tunnels, if a bus route was to be allocated to the CBD, all in-bound buses would have to travel via the Inner City Bypass to the Royal Brisbane Hospital to join the Inner City Bus route back to the City – some extra 5 k/m.

Outbound buses from the CBD would have to do the same but then travel further north via the Federation bus stop in Windsor to gain access to the Legacy Tunnel via the Inner City Bypass - some extra 6 k/m with traffic.
This service would be great for hospital workers and patients but not viable for the more numerous City workers. In off peak times, a bus route to the R.B.Hospital should be considered and thus eliminate patient and visitor parking problems.
 
Has anyone in the design team considered that the CBD return route can be shortened by providing a short, connecting tunnel from the Inner City Bus Way to the portal at the Kelvin Grove end.
This could be an add-on project that would not interfere will the tunnelling from the Toowong end.
With a little more thought, these on/off connections could be designed to accommodate our three wings of emergency services and possibly taxis.
Also with a slight twinking of the tunnel alignment and minimal property resumptions, an underground, above flood level, bus terminal could have been created near ANZ Stadium.

The Airport Link tunnel project is far more flexible and user friendly.
It provides a through route to the Airport Precinct but with a partial bus route and suitable vehicular connections to suburbs within a 5 km radius of the CBD.
In comparison, with the existing design of the Legacy Tunnels, it basically provides only for west to east, Airport and through traffic.

How can the Federal Government inject ½ $billion into the project without making some conditions to include public transportation?
Because of joint funding, our existing 3 levels of Government obviously support the Legacy Tunnels with tolls, but we the public will suffer the financial consequences when the toll returns aren't sufficient to service the loan.

Will there be any money left to upgrade the Western and Centenary Motorways and noise barriers to cope with the possible doubling of traffic flows?
Will the Feds make the same generous donation to our State Government for this missing link?

It is disappointing that such major policy failures are left alone.

We battle on.

Best wishes
Robert

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

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

Media release 4 March 2012

SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

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 highlighted the promise that 'bus users will be able to benefit with up to 2000 express buses able to use Northern Link each day' (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track at the time doubted claims whether 2000 'express' buses per day was truly genuine (see calculations below) and wondered if it was just 'transit-wash', which is using fringe benefits of public transport to curry up favour for a road project whose actual purpose is to provide more road space and resources for car travel (2)."

Calculations

2000 express buses
18 hours per day 2000 buses / 18 hours of service = 111 buses per hour on average
60 minutes in one hour = 3600 seconds in one hour
3600 seconds in one hour / 111 buses per hour
is a bus every 32 seconds
(or assuming all the trips are return trips, a bus a minute).

"One of the most audacious publicly obvious failings in Western Suburbs transport planning was boasting about making a $300 million dollar 'saving' on Legacy Way but then, in the same release, claiming that $50 million dollars could not be found for a bus interconnection to the busway to allow council's own buses to use the Legacy Way (Northern Link Tunnel!"

"The idea of public transport being able to use Legacy way appears to have been set up to fail and nothing but 'transit-wash'.

"Brisbane City Council is continuing its bizarre record of removing bus lanes from Brisbane's most unreliable road - Coronation Drive, so that its own bus services carrying its own ratepayers are all slowed down and bus operating costs for its own fleet are increased."

"Add to that multi million dollar high-visibility Maroon CityGliders that may symbolise improvement to public transport but on further analysis actually reveals that they add zero new mobility and duplicate existing high frequency services."

"RAIL Back On Track again calls for the total abandonment of 'balanced transport' policies and a shift to 'rebalanced transport' based around walking, cycling, buses, ferries and rail."

References

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.msg35456#msg35456

2. Greenwashing, Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7886.msg92822#msg92822

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail Quest click here!

Longer trips for bus commuters after Legacy Way bus link goes begging

Longer trips for bus commuters after Legacy Way bus link goes begging

    by: Sherine Conyers, Westside News
    From: Quest Newspapers
    April 03, 2012 12:00AM

It could potentially halve the duration of many westside bus trips but a proposed link between the Legacy Way tunnel and the Inner Northern Busway appears to be dead in the water.

Despite the estimated cost being just a quarter of 1 per cent of the project's overall $1.5 billion cost, the former State Government was unable to come to a funding agreement with Brisbane City Council, which is in charge of the project.

New Transport Minister and Member for Indooroopilly Scott Emerson said it was early days but he had to "look at the books" to see how much money was available for a range of transport projects.

"I'm very aware it's an option but I'm also aware it's got a $30 million price tag on it," he said.

"I suspect the former government has understated how much money is owed."

"Legacy way as a project itself is a great project for many people in my electorate because of the amount of traffic it will take off, or ease, also in terms of travel along the Centenary Highway and the Western Freeway," he said.

Public transport lobby group Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said not building the link was missing an enormous opportunity to provide better public transport for the "poorly serviced" Centenary suburbs and help ease congestion on some of the Brisbane's most congested roads.

"It is simply unbelievable that petty disagreements between the former State Government and Brisbane City Council led to a stalemate with a failure to connect Legacy Way to the Inner Northern Busway," he said.

"If buses use the present configuration of Legacy Way they're going to have to go out the back of Herston somewhere and turn back to get in to the city," he said.

Mr Dow said the link would provide the options for super-fast express services to the city from Indooroopilly and areas further west.

"It really does improve options for people in the Centenary suburbs out that side of town, which at the moment is very poorly served by public transport because of those road congestion issues.

"If they can get on Legacy way it will make a public transport a lot more attractive option for people," he said.

Brisbane City Council Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the former Labor State Government had failed to support the connection.

"The initial plan was to link Legacy Way with the Inner Northern Busway but unfortunately the Labor State Government at the time wouldn't provide the needed funding so it didn't go ahead," he said.

"We will continue to look at other options to support this link but even without a direct connection, Legacy Way will still provide bus services with substantial time savings," he said.

Once completed, Legacy Way will connect the Western Freeway with the Inner City Bypass.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

3rd April 2012

Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

Greetings,

Will the new government actually act for the community?

Couriermail Quest Longer trips for bus commuters after Legacy Way bus link goes begging

--> http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/west/longer-trips-for-bus-commuters-after-legacy-way-bus-link-goes-begging/story-fn8m0u4y-1226316729445

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 4 March 2012

SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

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 highlighted the promise that 'bus users will be able to benefit with up to 2000 express buses able to use Northern Link each day' (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track at the time doubted claims whether 2000 'express' buses per day was truly genuine (see calculations below) and wondered if it was just 'transit-wash', which is using fringe benefits of public transport to curry up favour for a road project whose actual purpose is to provide more road space and resources for car travel (2)."

Calculations

2000 express buses
18 hours per day 2000 buses / 18 hours of service = 111 buses per hour on average
60 minutes in one hour = 3600 seconds in one hour
3600 seconds in one hour / 111 buses per hour
is a bus every 32 seconds
(or assuming all the trips are return trips, a bus a minute).

"One of the most audacious publicly obvious failings in Western Suburbs transport planning was boasting about making a $300 million dollar 'saving' on Legacy Way but then, in the same release, claiming that $50 million dollars could not be found for a bus interconnection to the busway to allow council's own buses to use the Legacy Way (Northern Link Tunnel!"

"The idea of public transport being able to use Legacy way appears to have been set up to fail and nothing but 'transit-wash'.

"Brisbane City Council is continuing its bizarre record of removing bus lanes from Brisbane's most unreliable road - Coronation Drive, so that its own bus services carrying its own ratepayers are all slowed down and bus operating costs for its own fleet are increased."

"Add to that multi million dollar high-visibility Maroon CityGliders that may symbolise improvement to public transport but on further analysis actually reveals that they add zero new mobility and duplicate existing high frequency services."

"RAIL Back On Track again calls for the total abandonment of 'balanced transport' policies and a shift to 'rebalanced transport' based around walking, cycling, buses, ferries and rail."

References

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.msg35456#msg35456

2. Greenwashing, Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

21 June 2012

"Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses"

Greetings,

During the recent election campaigns we tried to highlight the major failure to ensure Legacy Way is actually public transport friendly, as promised in 2010 by then Lord Mayor Brisbane Campbell Newman.

As the BCC Budget has revealed Legacy Way is a legacy around rate payers' necks.

The fact that this project is being supported massively by federal funding, state and council as well, it is simply unbelievable that petty disagreements between the former State Government and BCC lead to a stalemate with a failure to connect Legacy Way to the Inner Northern Busway.  This means that as stated by then Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, "up to 2000 express buses daily" will no longer be able to use it. ( http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7886.0,  and http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.msg35456#msg35456 ). We were conned.  The media was conned.

From   http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7596.msg86045#msg86045

    There is a golden opportunity being lost to tempt CBD workers residing in the Centenary Suburbs, Chappell Hill and the suburbs beyond out of their cars and into buses.
     BCC with the assistance of funding by the Qld State and Federal Governments, choose to make no provisions for buses to exit and enter the Legacy Tunnels at the Kelvin Grove end to access the CBD. Alas -Trans Link preferred to put up the fares instead.

     Many of the existing bus routes from these locations use the Westfield Shopping Centre as a mid route hub and consequently add more congestion to Moggill Road and Coronation Drive.
     Alternatively if a peak hour express banana-bus service could be routed to use the Legacy Tunnels, the existing bus station at Mt Ommaney and an expanded one at Kenmore Shopping Centre would be appropriate locations for feeder services to hub from.
     Feeder buses services would not be stalled in traffic snarls and therefore capable of servicing many pockets of suburbs that presently don't have a close bus stop and provide better frequency.
     Bus commuter time in peak times to the UBD would be halved or better.
     By all means a lesser frequent bus service to Indooroopilly should be retained to service workers in this corridor and also university worker and students.

     Under the existing alignment of the tunnels, if a bus route was to be allocated to the CBD, all in-bound buses would have to travel via the Inner City Bypass to the Royal Brisbane Hospital to join the Inner City Bus route back to the City – some extra 5 k/m.

     Outbound buses from the CBD would have to do the same but then travel further north via the Federation bus stop in Windsor to gain access to the Legacy Tunnel via the Inner City Bypass - some extra 6 k/m with traffic.
     This service would be great for hospital workers and patients but not viable for the more numerous City workers. In off peak times, a bus route to the R.B.Hospital should be considered and thus eliminate patient and visitor parking problems.
   
     Has anyone in the design team considered that the CBD return route can be shortened by providing a short, connecting tunnel from the Inner City Bus Way to the portal at the Kelvin Grove end.
     This could be an add-on project that would not interfere will the tunnelling from the Toowong end.
     With a little more thought, these on/off connections could be designed to accommodate our three wings of emergency services and possibly taxis.
     Also with a slight twinking of the tunnel alignment and minimal property resumptions, an underground, above flood level, bus terminal could have been created near ANZ Stadium.

     The Airport Link tunnel project is far more flexible and user friendly.
     It provides a through route to the Airport Precinct but with a partial bus route and suitable vehicular connections to suburbs within a 5 km radius of the CBD.
     In comparison, with the existing design of the Legacy Tunnels, it basically provides only for west to east, Airport and through traffic.

     How can the Federal Government inject ½ $billion into the project without making some conditions to include public transportation?
     Because of joint funding, our existing 3 levels of Government obviously support the Legacy Tunnels with tolls, but we the public will suffer the financial consequences when the toll returns aren't sufficient to service the loan.

     Will there be any money left to upgrade the Western and Centenary Motorways and noise barriers to cope with the possible doubling of traffic flows?
     Will the Feds make the same generous donation to our State Government for this missing link?

It is disappointing that such major policy failures and blunders are left alone and we dance along in fantasy land.

We battle on.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

An opportunity to do much for bus in and out west.

Editorial Couriermail 22nd June 2012 page 40

Population rise puts stress on infrastructure



Diabolical shambles the Legacy Way con ...

[somebody]

That was an editorial, not a Liberal Party statement?

[ozbob]

That was an editorial, not a Liberal Party statement?

Sure was, just highlights the looming transport failure.  And something as straightforward as Legacy Way is left undone ... whilst we all fret on billions for CRR 2 ...

[Golliwog]

That was an editorial, not a Liberal Party statement?

I love the Courier Mail and it's version of balance...

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> New drill to sink teeth into tunnel work

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

As a returned serviceman I do find it repugnant that the former Lord Mayor and now the current administration have used Legacy as a snow screen for another flawed road tunnel.

The fact that the feds have also supported this project with half a billion dollars, further compounds the lies associated with the commitments that the tunnel would have ' 2000 express buses daily '.

The incompetent bureaucracies couldn't manage to enable the tunnel with a connection between the INB and the Legacy Way tunnel.  It is an outrage that they appear to have gotten away with the con.

See --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7798.msg101682#msg101682

[Jonno]

Don't fret.  These tunnels will all go broke and be converted to busways or rail tunnels or both

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14 November 2012

Legacy Way BCC promotional newsletter

Greetings,

Yesterday in our mail box was a promotional newsletter from BCC - Legacy Way Newsletter November 2012.  Council must be feeling nervous?

There was no mention of the failure to enable Legacy Way for the' 2000 daily express buses' as promised by the former Lord Mayor Campbell Newman in the newsletter.  I wonder why?

See  --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7798.0

The fact that this project is being supported massively by federal funding, state and council as well, it is simply unbelievable that petty disagreements between the former State Government, and BCC lead to a stalemate with a failure to connect Legacy Way to the Inner Northern Busway.  This means that as stated by Campbell Newman, "up to 2000 express buses daily" will no longer be able to use it. ( http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7886.0,  and http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.msg35456#msg35456 ). We were conned.  The media was conned, and the newsletter is just more road con.

As a returned serviceman I do find it repugnant that the former Lord Mayor and now the current administration have used Legacy as a snow screen for another flawed road tunnel.

The fact that the feds have also supported this project with half a billion dollars, further compounds the lies associated with the commitments that the tunnel would have ' 2000 express buses daily '.

The incompetent bureaucracies couldn't manage to enable the tunnel with a connection between the INB and the Legacy Way tunnel.  It is an outrage that they appear to have gotten away with the con.

Best wishes
Robert

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

21 June 2012

"Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses"

Greetings,

During the recent election campaigns we tried to highlight the major failure to ensure Legacy Way is actually public transport friendly, as promised in 2010 by then Lord Mayor Brisbane Campbell Newman.

As the BCC Budget has revealed Legacy Way is a legacy around rate payers' necks.

The fact that this project is being supported massively by federal funding, state and council as well, it is simply unbelievable that petty disagreements between the former State Government and BCC lead to a stalemate with a failure to connect Legacy Way to the Inner Northern Busway.  This means that as stated by then Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, "up to 2000 express buses daily" will no longer be able to use it. ( http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7886.0,  and http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.msg35456#msg35456 ). We were conned.  The media was conned.

From   http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7596.msg86045#msg86045

        There is a golden opportunity being lost to tempt CBD workers residing in the Centenary Suburbs, Chappell Hill and the suburbs beyond out of their cars and into buses.
         BCC with the assistance of funding by the Qld State and Federal Governments, choose to make no provisions for buses to exit and enter the Legacy Tunnels at the Kelvin Grove end to access the CBD. Alas -Trans Link preferred to put up the fares instead.

         Many of the existing bus routes from these locations use the Westfield Shopping Centre as a mid route hub and consequently add more congestion to Moggill Road and Coronation Drive.
         Alternatively if a peak hour express banana-bus service could be routed to use the Legacy Tunnels, the existing bus station at Mt Ommaney and an expanded one at Kenmore Shopping Centre would be appropriate locations for feeder services to hub from.
         Feeder buses services would not be stalled in traffic snarls and therefore capable of servicing many pockets of suburbs that presently don't have a close bus stop and provide better frequency.
         Bus commuter time in peak times to the UBD would be halved or better.
         By all means a lesser frequent bus service to Indooroopilly should be retained to service workers in this corridor and also university worker and students.

         Under the existing alignment of the tunnels, if a bus route was to be allocated to the CBD, all in-bound buses would have to travel via the Inner City Bypass to the Royal Brisbane Hospital to join the Inner City Bus route back to the City – some extra 5 k/m.

         Outbound buses from the CBD would have to do the same but then travel further north via the Federation bus stop in Windsor to gain access to the Legacy Tunnel via the Inner City Bypass - some extra 6 k/m with traffic.
         This service would be great for hospital workers and patients but not viable for the more numerous City workers. In off peak times, a bus route to the R.B.Hospital should be considered and thus eliminate patient and visitor parking problems.
       
         Has anyone in the design team considered that the CBD return route can be shortened by providing a short, connecting tunnel from the Inner City Bus Way to the portal at the Kelvin Grove end.
         This could be an add-on project that would not interfere will the tunnelling from the Toowong end.
         With a little more thought, these on/off connections could be designed to accommodate our three wings of emergency services and possibly taxis.
         Also with a slight twinking of the tunnel alignment and minimal property resumptions, an underground, above flood level, bus terminal could have been created near ANZ Stadium.

         The Airport Link tunnel project is far more flexible and user friendly.
         It provides a through route to the Airport Precinct but with a partial bus route and suitable vehicular connections to suburbs within a 5 km radius of the CBD.
         In comparison, with the existing design of the Legacy Tunnels, it basically provides only for west to east, Airport and through traffic.

         How can the Federal Government inject ½ $billion into the project without making some conditions to include public transportation?
         Because of joint funding, our existing 3 levels of Government obviously support the Legacy Tunnels with tolls, but we the public will suffer the financial consequences when the toll returns aren't sufficient to service the loan.

         Will there be any money left to upgrade the Western and Centenary Motorways and noise barriers to cope with the possible doubling of traffic flows?
         Will the Feds make the same generous donation to our State Government for this missing link?

It is disappointing that such major policy failures and blunders are left alone and we dance along in fantasy land.

We battle on.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[somebody]

OT, but did you serve in Vietnam?

[ozbob]

Yes I did.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

16th January 2013

SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

Greetings,

One of the great (now commonplace) failures in transport planning in SEQ, namely Legacy Way. Touted as being able to be used by 2000 express buses daily by the former Lord Mayor of Brisbane Mr Campbell Newman, is the tunnel now going to be off loaded by Brisbane City Council?  What about the considerable federal funding quantum?  It is that to disappear into the financial abyss as well?

Brisbanetimes --> Council plans landmark deal to offload assets and bring forward upgrades

Couriermail --> Brisbane City Council moves to protect ratepayers from possible losses flowing from Legacy Way tunnel 

Building more and more roads is just making congestion and transport worse.  Time to take stock and re-prioritise funding into public transport for a real future.

It is still not too late to connect Legacy Way to the Inner Northern Busway and make it really useful.  Am I dreaming?

Best wishes
Robert

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

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

Media release 4 March 2012 re-released 16 January 2013

SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

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 highlighted the promise that 'bus users will be able to benefit with up to 2000 express buses able to use Northern Link each day' (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track at the time doubted claims whether 2000 'express' buses per day was truly genuine (see calculations below) and wondered if it was just 'transit-wash', which is using fringe benefits of public transport to curry up favour for a road project whose actual purpose is to provide more road space and resources for car travel (2)."

Calculations

2000 express buses
18 hours per day 2000 buses / 18 hours of service = 111 buses per hour on average
60 minutes in one hour = 3600 seconds in one hour
3600 seconds in one hour / 111 buses per hour
is a bus every 32 seconds
(or assuming all the trips are return trips, a bus a minute).

"One of the most audacious publicly obvious failings in Western Suburbs transport planning was boasting about making a $300 million dollar 'saving' on Legacy Way but then, in the same release, claiming that $50 million dollars could not be found for a bus interconnection to the busway to allow council's own buses to use the Legacy Way (Northern Link Tunnel!"

"The idea of public transport being able to use Legacy way appears to have been set up to fail and nothing but 'transit-wash'.

"Brisbane City Council is continuing its bizarre record of removing bus lanes from Brisbane's most unreliable road - Coronation Drive, so that its own bus services carrying its own ratepayers are all slowed down and bus operating costs for its own fleet are increased."

"Add to that multi million dollar high-visibility Maroon CityGliders that may symbolise improvement to public transport but on further analysis actually reveals that they add zero new mobility and duplicate existing high frequency services."

"RAIL Back On Track again calls for the total abandonment of 'balanced transport' policies and a shift to 'rebalanced transport' based around walking, cycling, buses, ferries and rail."

References

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.msg35456#msg35456

2. Greenwashing, Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

17th January 2013

Re: SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

Greetings,

The Federal Government must demand that funding for the 'smoke and mirrors' financial deal be contingent on enabling Legacy Way for the ' 2000 express buses daily ' as led by the former Mayor of Brisbane, Mr Campbell Newman.  Fair deal?

Legacy Way proposal leaves $500m funding in doubt
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/legacy-way-proposal-leaves-500m-funding-in-doubt-20130116-2ctls.html#ixzz2I9nwem5e

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

16th January 2013

SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

Greetings,

One of the great (now commonplace) failures in transport planning in SEQ, namely Legacy Way. Touted as being able to be used by 2000 express buses daily by the former Lord Mayor of Brisbane Mr Campbell Newman, is the tunnel now going to be off loaded by Brisbane City Council?  What about the considerable federal funding quantum?  It is that to disappear into the financial abyss as well?

Brisbanetimes --> Council plans landmark deal to offload assets and bring forward upgrades

Couriermail --> Brisbane City Council moves to protect ratepayers from possible losses flowing from Legacy Way tunnel 

Building more and more roads is just making congestion and transport worse.  Time to take stock and re-prioritise funding into public transport for a real future.

It is still not too late to connect Legacy Way to the Inner Northern Busway and make it really useful.  Am I dreaming?

Best wishes
Robert

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

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

Media release 4 March 2012 re-released 16 January 2013

SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

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 highlighted the promise that 'bus users will be able to benefit with up to 2000 express buses able to use Northern Link each day' (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track at the time doubted claims whether 2000 'express' buses per day was truly genuine (see calculations below) and wondered if it was just 'transit-wash', which is using fringe benefits of public transport to curry up favour for a road project whose actual purpose is to provide more road space and resources for car travel (2)."

Calculations

2000 express buses
18 hours per day 2000 buses / 18 hours of service = 111 buses per hour on average
60 minutes in one hour = 3600 seconds in one hour
3600 seconds in one hour / 111 buses per hour
is a bus every 32 seconds
(or assuming all the trips are return trips, a bus a minute).

"One of the most audacious publicly obvious failings in Western Suburbs transport planning was boasting about making a $300 million dollar 'saving' on Legacy Way but then, in the same release, claiming that $50 million dollars could not be found for a bus interconnection to the busway to allow council's own buses to use the Legacy Way (Northern Link Tunnel!"

"The idea of public transport being able to use Legacy way appears to have been set up to fail and nothing but 'transit-wash'.

"Brisbane City Council is continuing its bizarre record of removing bus lanes from Brisbane's most unreliable road - Coronation Drive, so that its own bus services carrying its own ratepayers are all slowed down and bus operating costs for its own fleet are increased."

"Add to that multi million dollar high-visibility Maroon CityGliders that may symbolise improvement to public transport but on further analysis actually reveals that they add zero new mobility and duplicate existing high frequency services."

"RAIL Back On Track again calls for the total abandonment of 'balanced transport' policies and a shift to 'rebalanced transport' based around walking, cycling, buses, ferries and rail."

References

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.msg35456#msg35456

2. Greenwashing, Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

@AlboMP Hey Albo, BCC is pulling a swifty with Legacy Way, please insist on bus connection INB see --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7798.msg117432#msg117432 ... #qldpol #auspol

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

9th June 2013

Are we insane?

Greetings,

BCC Budget this week.  Legacy way is a legacy around all our necks.

It is worth reminding you that in the original sell of  the then Northern Link - now Legacy Way, there was an indication by the then Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Campbell Newman that Legacy Way would be used by "...  up to 2000 express  buses daily ".  An absurd proposition and one that is not going to be delivered now or ever.  In fact the proposed connection between Legacy Way and the Inner Northern Busway has not even been achieved, because of petty political differences between the BCC and the former Government.

Queensland politics in action.  Sacrifice the greater community need on self-interest politics.   We have seen this recently with the Bus Review process.  This too will just further compound the mediocre transport outcomes which are now endemic in Queensland.

What a sad indictment on sanity Queensland has become.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 4 March 2012

SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

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 highlighted the promise that 'bus users will be able to benefit with up to 2000 express buses able to use Northern Link each day' (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track at the time doubted claims whether 2000 'express' buses per day was truly genuine (see calculations below) and wondered if it was just 'transit-wash', which is using fringe benefits of public transport to curry up favour for a road project whose actual purpose is to provide more road space and resources for car travel (2)."

Calculations

2000 express buses
18 hours per day 2000 buses / 18 hours of service = 111 buses per hour on average
60 minutes in one hour = 3600 seconds in one hour
3600 seconds in one hour / 111 buses per hour
is a bus every 32 seconds
(or assuming all the trips are return trips, a bus a minute).

"One of the most audacious publicly obvious failings in Western Suburbs transport planning was boasting about making a $300 million dollar 'saving' on Legacy Way but then, in the same release, claiming that $50 million dollars could not be found for a bus interconnection to the busway to allow council's own buses to use the Legacy Way (Northern Link Tunnel!"

"The idea of public transport being able to use Legacy way appears to have been set up to fail and nothing but 'transit-wash'.

"Brisbane City Council is continuing its bizarre record of removing bus lanes from Brisbane's most unreliable road - Coronation Drive, so that its own bus services carrying its own ratepayers are all slowed down and bus operating costs for its own fleet are increased."

"Add to that multi million dollar high-visibility Maroon CityGliders that may symbolise improvement to public transport but on further analysis actually reveals that they add zero new mobility and duplicate existing high frequency services."

"RAIL Back On Track again calls for the total abandonment of 'balanced transport' policies and a shift to 'rebalanced transport' based around walking, cycling, buses, ferries and rail."

References

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.msg35456#msg35456

2. Greenwashing, Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14th June 2013

Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

Greetings,

Well worth noting again the Legacy Way con.   All levels of Government should hang their heads in shame concerning the failure to deliver improved public transport outcomes as indicated by the then Lord Mayor of Brisbane Campbell Newman when first 'selling' the Legacy Way (then Northern Link project) in 2010 ( http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.msg35456#msg35456 ) .

Another great demonstration of the 'half baked' and politicised approach that characterises much of Queensland Transport infrastructure.

Enjoy the day in your gridlock and transport mediocrity.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 4 March 2012

SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

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 highlighted the promise that 'bus users will be able to benefit with up to 2000 express buses able to use Northern Link each day' (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track at the time doubted claims whether 2000 'express' buses per day was truly genuine (see calculations below) and wondered if it was just 'transit-wash', which is using fringe benefits of public transport to curry up favour for a road project whose actual purpose is to provide more road space and resources for car travel (2)."

Calculations

2000 express buses
18 hours per day 2000 buses / 18 hours of service = 111 buses per hour on average
60 minutes in one hour = 3600 seconds in one hour
3600 seconds in one hour / 111 buses per hour
is a bus every 32 seconds
(or assuming all the trips are return trips, a bus a minute).

"One of the most audacious publicly obvious failings in Western Suburbs transport planning was boasting about making a $300 million dollar 'saving' on Legacy Way but then, in the same release, claiming that $50 million dollars could not be found for a bus interconnection to the busway to allow council's own buses to use the Legacy Way (Northern Link Tunnel!"

"The idea of public transport being able to use Legacy way appears to have been set up to fail and nothing but 'transit-wash'.

"Brisbane City Council is continuing its bizarre record of removing bus lanes from Brisbane's most unreliable road - Coronation Drive, so that its own bus services carrying its own ratepayers are all slowed down and bus operating costs for its own fleet are increased."

"Add to that multi million dollar high-visibility Maroon CityGliders that may symbolise improvement to public transport but on further analysis actually reveals that they add zero new mobility and duplicate existing high frequency services."

"RAIL Back On Track again calls for the total abandonment of 'balanced transport' policies and a shift to 'rebalanced transport' based around walking, cycling, buses, ferries and rail."

References

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.msg35456#msg35456

2. Greenwashing, Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

15th June 2013

Re: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

Greetings,

What a week.  Brisbane City Council is in financial peril.  Transport Minister Emerson has taken the soft option and let BCC continue with its high cost, low efficiency, isolationist bus network.  As it is turning out, reluctantly almost, BCC is being forced to just cut more bus services and rearrange the deck chairs, rather than have the network gains that would have been achieved under the TransLink review.

Legacy Way funding is a mystery.  Will the Government bail out their mates?  No need for an answer on that one is there ... lol

It is interesting to note the absence of critical media review of the bus shambles in Brisbane.   Despite constant delays, huge cost inefficiencies, and political posturing it is all too hard.

But there is no such hesitation to bash rail at every opportunity.

Time you sat back and took a long hard honest look at yourselves and moved past the hard hats and spin.

Have a great weekend.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

14th June 2013

Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

Greetings,

Well worth noting again the Legacy Way con.   All levels of Government should hang their heads in shame concerning the failure to deliver improved public transport outcomes as indicated by the then Lord Mayor of Brisbane Campbell Newman when first 'selling' the Legacy Way (then Northern Link project) in 2010 ( http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.msg35456#msg35456 ) .

Another great demonstration of the 'half baked' and politicised approach that characterises much of Queensland Transport infrastructure.

Enjoy the day in your gridlock and transport mediocrity.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 4 March 2012

SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

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 highlighted the promise that 'bus users will be able to benefit with up to 2000 express buses able to use Northern Link each day' (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track at the time doubted claims whether 2000 'express' buses per day was truly genuine (see calculations below) and wondered if it was just 'transit-wash', which is using fringe benefits of public transport to curry up favour for a road project whose actual purpose is to provide more road space and resources for car travel (2)."

Calculations

2000 express buses
18 hours per day 2000 buses / 18 hours of service = 111 buses per hour on average
60 minutes in one hour = 3600 seconds in one hour
3600 seconds in one hour / 111 buses per hour
is a bus every 32 seconds
(or assuming all the trips are return trips, a bus a minute).

"One of the most audacious publicly obvious failings in Western Suburbs transport planning was boasting about making a $300 million dollar 'saving' on Legacy Way but then, in the same release, claiming that $50 million dollars could not be found for a bus interconnection to the busway to allow council's own buses to use the Legacy Way (Northern Link Tunnel!"

"The idea of public transport being able to use Legacy way appears to have been set up to fail and nothing but 'transit-wash'.

"Brisbane City Council is continuing its bizarre record of removing bus lanes from Brisbane's most unreliable road - Coronation Drive, so that its own bus services carrying its own ratepayers are all slowed down and bus operating costs for its own fleet are increased."

"Add to that multi million dollar high-visibility Maroon CityGliders that may symbolise improvement to public transport but on further analysis actually reveals that they add zero new mobility and duplicate existing high frequency services."

"RAIL Back On Track again calls for the total abandonment of 'balanced transport' policies and a shift to 'rebalanced transport' based around walking, cycling, buses, ferries and rail."

References

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.msg35456#msg35456

2. Greenwashing, Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing

Contact:

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

[#Metro]

As it is turning out, reluctantly almost, BCC is being forced to just cut more bus services and rearrange the deck chairs, rather than have the network gains that would have been achieved under the TransLink review.

The ironic thing is that this is going to a) freeze the number of drivers, b) make it harder for drivers to push for pay rises because of the financial constraints and c) result in less shifts for drivers, particularly after hours where the bus shift is most likely to have penalty rates. It will likely reduce the take home pay of some due to reduced hours. The effect of this is to leave drivers worse off, not better. Looks like they backed the wrong horse to me 

[SurfRail]

I told them, didn't I?

God it's annoying being Cassandra.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassandra

[HappyTrainGuy]

LONG LIVE THE 329!!!

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

15th July 2013

Greetings,

More failure.  For $50 million public transport from the west of Brisbane improved markedly.  No chance now, failure of BCC, State and Federal Governments.

Fools ...

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 4 March 2012

SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

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 highlighted the promise that 'bus users will be able to benefit with up to 2000 express buses able to use Northern Link each day' (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track at the time doubted claims whether 2000 'express' buses per day was truly genuine (see calculations below) and wondered if it was just 'transit-wash', which is using fringe benefits of public transport to curry up favour for a road project whose actual purpose is to provide more road space and resources for car travel (2)."

Calculations

2000 express buses
18 hours per day 2000 buses / 18 hours of service = 111 buses per hour on average
60 minutes in one hour = 3600 seconds in one hour
3600 seconds in one hour / 111 buses per hour
is a bus every 32 seconds
(or assuming all the trips are return trips, a bus a minute).

"One of the most audacious publicly obvious failings in Western Suburbs transport planning was boasting about making a $300 million dollar 'saving' on Legacy Way but then, in the same release, claiming that $50 million dollars could not be found for a bus interconnection to the busway to allow council's own buses to use the Legacy Way (Northern Link Tunnel!"

"The idea of public transport being able to use Legacy way appears to have been set up to fail and nothing but 'transit-wash'.

"Brisbane City Council is continuing its bizarre record of removing bus lanes from Brisbane's most unreliable road - Coronation Drive, so that its own bus services carrying its own ratepayers are all slowed down and bus operating costs for its own fleet are increased."

"Add to that multi million dollar high-visibility Maroon CityGliders that may symbolise improvement to public transport but on further analysis actually reveals that they add zero new mobility and duplicate existing high frequency services."

"RAIL Back On Track again calls for the total abandonment of 'balanced transport' policies and a shift to 'rebalanced transport' based around walking, cycling, buses, ferries and rail."

References

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.msg35456#msg35456

2. Greenwashing, Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing

Contact:

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

[Jonno]

How perverse.  BCC ow has a financial incentive to encourage more driving despite the significant costs from externalities.

BCC stuck well and truely in the 1970's!!!

[#Metro]

Look at the latest gem I found in BCC's Transport Plan for Brisbane 2008 - 2026
Maybe one for the RBOT facebook page?

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2013/11/19/undergrounds-legacy-connection

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

Underground's Legacy connection

Brisbane's newest tunnel will link up with Brisbane's future tunnel under a Newman Government plan to integrate public transport across south east Queensland.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said buses from the Underground Bus and Train project would connect with Legacy Way, delivering on the election promise of better infrastructure and planning.

"This is a great outcome for those travelling by bus to or from the city and the outer western and Centenary suburbs, saving 10 to 15 minutes," Mr Emerson said.

"It will also ease congestion along Coronation Dr and Milton Rd and will ensure Legacy Way is a vital part of south east Queensland's public transport network.

Mr Emerson said inbound buses would use the connection between the Inner City Bypass, Gilchrist Avenue and the Northern Busway, onto the new underground busway.

In the outbound direction, buses would come from the underground and use a new west-facing on-ramp to the Inner City Bypass and then onto Legacy Way.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the innovative project was a great example of different levels of government working together to address the city's public transport capacity issues.

"It connects Brisbane's northern and southern busways and provides access from the western suburbs via Legacy Way to give buses a congestion-free run beneath the inner city and reduce travel times out into the suburbs," he said.

"The biggest beneficiaries will be public transport users, commuters and freight operators who will spend less time in congestion.

"The Underground Bus and Train project will revolutionise Brisbane's bus service by filling a critical gap in the busway network through the busiest part of the city."

The Underground Bus and Train project is a 15-metre wide, 5.4 kilometre tunnel with two train lines in the lower section and two busway lanes in the upper section. It will be delivered at a cost of $5 billion, $3 billion less than Labor's fanciful proposal.

The project will also include three state-of-the-art train stations located 35 to 40 metres below Brisbane's CBD and Woolloongabba. A route map is available at www.tmr.qld.gov.au/ubat

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Legacy Way and BaT tunnel to be linked, ending long commute from western suburbs

One of Brisbane's worst traffic crawls - the bus trip from the western suburbs through the city and out to the southside - is set to be shortened by more than 15 minutes.

Western suburbs buses that will soon come off congested Milton Road, will now also be removed from Brisbane's choked inner-city streets by 2020.

Premier Campbell Newman on Wednesday confirmed that planners would link Brisbane City Council's Legacy Way tunnel to the new Bus and Train (BaT) tunnel, giving buses a much faster run across the city.

'There are certainly issues now being looked at in the pre-feasibility study – and it is early days - but there is certainly a desire to take buses from BaT and put them into Legacy Way because that gives us even greater flexibility to provide better public transport services into the Brisbane CBD," he said.

Mr Newman said the design options to link the two tunnels were now being considered.

"So if a ramp, or a bridge, or some form of access point can be created, that will really make a huge difference in terms of bus services into the CBD from the western suburbs."

The BaT tunnel – between Dutton Park and the Inner City Bypass – includes buses and trains and will be finished by 2020.

Construction of Brisbane City Council's Legacy Way tunnel - running between Toowong and the Inner City Bypass - is ahead of schedule and will be finished by late 2014, or early 2015.

This map shows the current plan to connect the passages via a bus link near the Inner Northern Busway.

Meanwhile, Mr Newman said Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey's asset sale incentive announced last Friday would allow the state to apply for federal funding to help pay for the $5 billion BaT tunnel.

Under Mr Hockey's plan, state governments can receive an additional 15 per cent "top up" to money received from asset sales from the federal government.

Assets have to be sold "for productive infrastructure" by 2016.

The Newman government has earmarked ports at Townsville, Gladstone and Bundaberg, Sunwater and the electricity generating companies, Stanwell and CS Energy for sale or long term leases.

The federal government money would be paid out over five years.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/legacy-way-and-bat-tunnel-to-be-linked-ending-long-commute-from-western-suburbs-20140402-35yyu.html

[ozbob]

Does this have an interface with the INB?

Not sure. It was to be linked if the B of BaT proceeded but I doubt if the connections have been enabled.

Brisbanetimes --> Legacy Way and BaT tunnel to be linked, ending long commute from western suburbs

It should have linked regardless of BaT but we know that Feds, State and Council all failed to ensure that.  The cost was around $50M and despite the surplus they didn't commit.

I have sent in a query to Legacy Way.  See if I get a response.

Response received, as I suspected ...

info@transcityjv.com.au

6.37am 14th May 2015

HI Robert

Thank you for your email.

I can confirm that there are no connections from Legacy Way to the busway.

Legacy Way connects directly between the Western Freeway and Inner City Bypass.

Thanks

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 5 minutes ago

4 Mar 2012: SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it .. > http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7798.msg89454#msg89454 ... more bullsh%t from Govts #qldpol


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

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 2 minutes ago

Legacy Way is a world class example of bullsh%t !  You're welcome !!  @Team_Quirk @TMRQld @jackietrad @AlboMP  #qldpol #auspol

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

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 2 minutes ago

@Team_Quirk @TMRQld @jackietrad @AlboMP  > http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7798.0 ... #qldpol #auspol O_o

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

16th May 2015

SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

Greetings,

Lots of hype building concerning Legacy Way.  The way the community has been conned concerning the lack of a bus connection from Legacy Way to the Inner Northern Busway is deplorable.  But it again highlights the failing attitude of Governments, Brisbane City Council and the transport authorities with respect to public transport.

Here is the letter where the former Lord Mayor of Brisbane stated up to 2000 daily express buses on Northern Link (the original name for Legacy Way).



We note a Queensland Parliament E-petition for the extension of the Eastern Busway.

Prioritise the Eastern Busway completion to Redland City

>> http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/e-petition?PetNum=2388

This petition is being promoted by the Deputy Mayor.  Amazing hypocrisy that Council, State and Federal Governments could not find the $50M to enable Legacy Way for ' 2000 express buses daily '  out of project savings,  but think that a billion dollars or more for a busway extension is fine ..

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



Media release 4 March 2012 re-released 16th May 2015

SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

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 highlighted the promise that 'bus users will be able to benefit with up to 2000 express buses able to use Northern Link each day' (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track at the time doubted claims whether 2000 'express' buses per day was truly genuine (see calculations below) and wondered if it was just 'transit-wash', which is using fringe benefits of public transport to curry up favour for a road project whose actual purpose is to provide more road space and resources for car travel (2)."

Calculations

2000 express buses
18 hours per day 2000 buses / 18 hours of service = 111 buses per hour on average
60 minutes in one hour = 3600 seconds in one hour
3600 seconds in one hour / 111 buses per hour
is a bus every 32 seconds
(or assuming all the trips are return trips, a bus a minute).

"One of the most audacious publicly obvious failings in Western Suburbs transport planning was boasting about making a $300 million dollar 'saving' on Legacy Way but then, in the same release, claiming that $50 million dollars could not be found for a bus interconnection to the busway to allow council's own buses to use the Legacy Way (Northern Link Tunnel)"

"The idea of public transport being able to use Legacy Way appears to have been set up to fail and nothing but 'transit-wash'.

"Brisbane City Council is continuing its bizarre record of removing bus lanes from Brisbane's most unreliable road - Coronation Drive, so that its own bus services carrying its own ratepayers are all slowed down and bus operating costs for its own fleet are increased."

"RAIL Back On Track again calls for the total abandonment of 'balanced transport' policies and a shift to 'rebalanced transport' based around walking, cycling, buses, ferries and rail."

References

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.msg35456#msg35456

2. Greenwashing, Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing

Contact:

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

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

Farce!

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

30th May 2015

Re: SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

Good Morning,

If the Legacy Way bus bull isn't enough deceit.  We can add the BaT tunnel propaganda exercise ( http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2034.msg156875#msg156875 )  to the deceit pedalled by our failed Governments.

What a shocking situation we have with public transport in Queensland.  Will the incompetence and misrepresentation be rewarded?  Of course, it is in their DNA ..

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

16th May 2015

SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

Greetings,

Lots of hype building concerning Legacy Way.  The way the community has been conned concerning the lack of a bus connection from Legacy Way to the Inner Northern Busway is deplorable.  But it again highlights the failing attitude of Governments, Brisbane City Council and the transport authorities with respect to public transport.

Here is the letter where the former Lord Mayor of Brisbane stated up to 2000 daily express buses on Northern Link (the original name for Legacy Way).



We note a Queensland Parliament E-petition for the extension of the Eastern Busway.

Prioritise the Eastern Busway completion to Redland City

>> http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/e-petition?PetNum=2388

This petition is being promoted by the Deputy Mayor.  Amazing hypocrisy that Council, State and Federal Governments could not find the $50M to enable Legacy Way for ' 2000 express buses daily '  out of project savings,  but think that a billion dollars or more for a busway extension is fine ..

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



Media release 4 March 2012 re-released 16th May 2015

SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

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 highlighted the promise that 'bus users will be able to benefit with up to 2000 express buses able to use Northern Link each day' (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track at the time doubted claims whether 2000 'express' buses per day was truly genuine (see calculations below) and wondered if it was just 'transit-wash', which is using fringe benefits of public transport to curry up favour for a road project whose actual purpose is to provide more road space and resources for car travel (2)."

Calculations

2000 express buses
18 hours per day 2000 buses / 18 hours of service = 111 buses per hour on average
60 minutes in one hour = 3600 seconds in one hour
3600 seconds in one hour / 111 buses per hour
is a bus every 32 seconds
(or assuming all the trips are return trips, a bus a minute).

"One of the most audacious publicly obvious failings in Western Suburbs transport planning was boasting about making a $300 million dollar 'saving' on Legacy Way but then, in the same release, claiming that $50 million dollars could not be found for a bus interconnection to the busway to allow council's own buses to use the Legacy Way (Northern Link Tunnel)"

"The idea of public transport being able to use Legacy Way appears to have been set up to fail and nothing but 'transit-wash'.

"Brisbane City Council is continuing its bizarre record of removing bus lanes from Brisbane's most unreliable road - Coronation Drive, so that its own bus services carrying its own ratepayers are all slowed down and bus operating costs for its own fleet are increased."

"RAIL Back On Track again calls for the total abandonment of 'balanced transport' policies and a shift to 'rebalanced transport' based around walking, cycling, buses, ferries and rail."

References

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.msg35456#msg35456

2. Greenwashing, Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing

Contact:

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

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

Farce!

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

31st May 2015

Greetings,

'Debt' Legacy tunnel capacity equal to just three trains

We are expected to believe Legacy Way will bust congestion and represents "value for money". Here we show Brisbane City Council has just built the lowest capacity, highest cost 'solution' for the people in the Western Suburbs.

RAIL Back on Track calculates a one-hour peak capacity of Legacy Way at just 2880 persons per hour.*
Scandalously, this is equal to just three Queensland Rail trains running in peak hour. Real-world usage is likely to be well below this.

In contrast, the South East Busway carries around 150 000 passengers per day, more than six times what Legacy Way will carry (24 000 vehicles/day). In peak hour the busway can handle around 18 000 passengers/direction/hour- again more than six times the capacity of Legacy Way.

The expensive $4.85 toll also significantly reduces the project's benefits vs a toll-free road.

The former Lord Mayor of Brisbane Campbell Newman promised Legacy Way would feature up to '2000 daily express buses'. Yet it failed to connect it to the Inner Northern Busway. At a mere $50 million, or 3% of project costs, the money was apparently lacking after Brisbane City Council boasted that it saved "300 million dollars, through cost-effective innovative designs". This connection could have been built without the BaT tunnel project, which in any case, was financially inferior in both cost-benefit terms and net present value terms, to Cross River Rail and only a deceptive fictitious late alternative and a political con.

It is all good and well to have infrastructure, but it is even better to have the right infrastructure.

Bus and rail reform can deliver major benefits for the Western suburbs.

Improved train services to Springfield to a train every 15-minutes would save up to half an hour per day for commuters, taking pressure off the Centenary Motorway. This improvement enables Ipswich trains to run express all day, saving 8-10 minutes on every trip. With a 400 CentenaryGlider bus service connecting at Darra station, commuters could bypass the Centenary motorway altogether.

Had Brisbane City Council invested in the 400 CentenaryGlider superbus service, 150-person capacity buses would be running every 10 minutes all day between the Centenary suburbs and the Brisbane CBD, with 24-hour service on Friday and Saturday nights. Unlike Legacy Way, it would actually go to places people want to go - Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, Toowong, Coronation Drive and the Brisbane CBD.

The Lord Mayor's slow evolution of Brisbane's buses won't and can't work. The maths just doesn't add up. At 4 bus changes per year it would take five decades to reform the bus network.** That's unacceptable.

We again call on Lord Mayor Graham Quirk to announce a fundamental reorganisation of Brisbane City Council's bus services in this new financial year. Brisbane's sister city of Auckland, NZ has done it.

Legacy Way isn't cost-effective and won't solve our congestion woes, it will in fact worsen it. Public transport must be improved in Brisbane and SEQ if we are to avoid transport failure.

Best wishes
Robert

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

References:

Media release 4 March 2012
SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7798.0

*Calculation - Passengers per direction per hour

60 minutes/hour x 60 seconds/minute = 3600 seconds (A)
Assume 1 car = 3 seconds apart = 1200 cars per lane at full capacity (i.e. divided A by 3)
Two lanes travelling in one direction = 2400 cars per direction (i.e. multiplied by 2 lanes)
Assume 1.2 passengers/vehicle = 2880 people (i.e multiplied by 1.2)

Train capacity = 1000
2800 people divided by 1000 = 2.88 trains (round up to 3)

** 200 bus routes divided by 4 routes/year = 50 years

Legacy Way will be value for money: Mayor
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/legacy-way-will-be-value-for-money-mayor-20150311-140zky.html

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk's Letter response
http://carbon-counters.blogspot.se/2011/07/capt-quirks-response-to-my.html
"The competitive tender process from Legacy Way generated a $300 million saving, through cost-effective innovative designs."

[ozbob]

Letter to the editor Queensland Times published 1st June 2015 page 21

Ipswich to pay toll for 'Legacy Way'

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

16th June 2015

Better late than never? Election spin??

Greetings,

Well well.  This >  Brisbanetimes --> ICB to be widened to eight lanes in $80 million project

    ... Along with the widening, Cr Quirk said Brisbane City Council would investigate whether a new ramp could be connected to Bowen Bridge Road, allowing motorists and bus commuters to have a direct link to the new Legacy Way tunnel ...

Better late than never I guess.  Must be an election coming up.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

30th May 2015

Re: SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

Good Morning,

If the Legacy Way bus bull isn't enough deceit.  We can add the BaT tunnel propaganda exercise ( http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2034.msg156875#msg156875 )  to the deceit pedalled by our failed Governments.

What a shocking situation we have with public transport in Queensland.  Will the incompetence and misrepresentation be rewarded?  Of course, it is in their DNA ..

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

16th May 2015

SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

Greetings,

Lots of hype building concerning Legacy Way.  The way the community has been conned concerning the lack of a bus connection from Legacy Way to the Inner Northern Busway is deplorable.  But it again highlights the failing attitude of Governments, Brisbane City Council and the transport authorities with respect to public transport.

Here is the letter where the former Lord Mayor of Brisbane stated up to 2000 daily express buses on Northern Link (the original name for Legacy Way).



We note a Queensland Parliament E-petition for the extension of the Eastern Busway.

Prioritise the Eastern Busway completion to Redland City

>> http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/e-petition?PetNum=2388

This petition is being promoted by the Deputy Mayor.  Amazing hypocrisy that Council, State and Federal Governments could not find the $50M to enable Legacy Way for ' 2000 express buses daily '  out of project savings,  but think that a billion dollars or more for a busway extension is fine ..

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



Media release 4 March 2012 re-released 16th May 2015

SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

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 highlighted the promise that 'bus users will be able to benefit with up to 2000 express buses able to use Northern Link each day' (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back On Track at the time doubted claims whether 2000 'express' buses per day was truly genuine (see calculations below) and wondered if it was just 'transit-wash', which is using fringe benefits of public transport to curry up favour for a road project whose actual purpose is to provide more road space and resources for car travel (2)."

Calculations

2000 express buses
18 hours per day 2000 buses / 18 hours of service = 111 buses per hour on average
60 minutes in one hour = 3600 seconds in one hour
3600 seconds in one hour / 111 buses per hour
is a bus every 32 seconds
(or assuming all the trips are return trips, a bus a minute).

"One of the most audacious publicly obvious failings in Western Suburbs transport planning was boasting about making a $300 million dollar 'saving' on Legacy Way but then, in the same release, claiming that $50 million dollars could not be found for a bus interconnection to the busway to allow council's own buses to use the Legacy Way (Northern Link Tunnel)"

"The idea of public transport being able to use Legacy Way appears to have been set up to fail and nothing but 'transit-wash'.

"Brisbane City Council is continuing its bizarre record of removing bus lanes from Brisbane's most unreliable road - Coronation Drive, so that its own bus services carrying its own ratepayers are all slowed down and bus operating costs for its own fleet are increased."

"RAIL Back On Track again calls for the total abandonment of 'balanced transport' policies and a shift to 'rebalanced transport' based around walking, cycling, buses, ferries and rail."

References

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4459.msg35456#msg35456

2. Greenwashing, Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing

Contact:

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

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

Farce!

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Twitter

Julie Korner ‏@JulieKorner 6m

Buses in the (when will it open??) Legacy Way Tunnel...will it make the trip faster, or slower? Details on #7news 6pm

[ozbob]

Understand there will be a 3 month trial of running the P443 Kenmore - Moggill Rocket service via Legacy Way.

Current p443 timetable has 7 inbound AM peak & 6 outbound PM peak services.

A long way from ' 2000 daily express buses ' ..   

Possibility of running more routes if trial successful.

[ozbob]

The failure to connect the Inner northern busway to Legacy Way is a grand failure.   The cost of $50 M could have easily been found from the overall project savings. 

Token trials do little to disguise that fact sadly.

Despite the longer run via Legacy Way without the proper inner bus connection there might be some time savings at peak.  The rest of the road network is generally a mess, so the more that can be avoided it might help.