RAIL - Back On Track Forum

Of course it would take time to do proper network improvements. 

Fare cuts on the scale proposed is just stupid lazy ' vote bait ' policy and we all know it.

To be honest if by some miracle Team Price actually got control of City Hall I doubt that the Government/Translink would play ball.

Can't see your comments on the FB page and post you linked to, even if you change it to "all". Can other members see it??

 

Quote from: #Metro on January 27, 2024, 12:15:54 PMThis $110 million for this populist fares policy has a huge opportunity cost.

It would forgo funding 25 new BUZ services, for example. Possibly more if the State agreed to co-funding.

Every BUZ service introduced to date has demonstrated enormous patronage growth, even in the off-peak and on weekends. See BUZ Routes, Frequency + Reliability - the winning formula https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/handle/2123/6058

Ms Price's election policy is just going to blow up the budget that could have been used for more BUZ services. More BUZ services are something that RBOT has been calling for over 10 years.

Yet the last thing the network needs is more routes! More BUZ routes yes but also far less duplicative/rail competing routes. Goes hand in hand!

Quote from: #Metro on January 27, 2024, 13:41:30 PMCan't see your comments on the FB page and post you linked to, even if you change it to "all". Can other members see it??

 

I can see it on Mark Bailey's page.  My guess is he has hidden them. If the owner of a page hides the post the the person who posted it still sees it but not others (except friends).

He is unable to answer the question and he knows it.  No matter what he responds with he is wrong.

Sent to all outlets:

Transport Minister Bart Mellish MP must save Translink SEQ Integrated Fares System

28th January 2024

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org)  has called on the Minister for Transport Bart Mellish MP to save Translink's SEQ integrated fares system.

Residents and visitors enjoy catching public transport in SEQ because whether they catch a train, tram, bus or ferry, the fare is the same. This system has worked well for 20 years.

But Lord Mayoral candidate Tracey Price's (Labor) policies will wreck this.

Price's fares proposal will result in different fares for buses and trains, and introduce a cost penalty for transferring between them. About 20 years worth of work trying to get different SEQ regions, operators, and agencies all on the same page will go out of the window.

We are also concerned that Price's policies will also impact Queensland Rail patronage negatively. Queensland Rail already carries 10 million fewer passengers than Transperth trains do in Perth.

Our members are against proposals that would cause Queensland Rail patronage to drop even further.

Translink is the public transport agency. Translink should set fares, not Brisbane City Council.

Current public transport governance arrangements are dysfunctional and let the 'tail wag the dog', so to speak.

We call on Translink and Transport Minister Bart Mellish to reject Tracey Price's fares disintegration policy and save SEQ's integrated fares system instead.

The Smart Ticketing project roll out is expected to be completed during 2024.  This is the tool for fare reform, not ill informed ' voter bait ' stunts.

References:

Labor's 'nuts' half-price bus ticket policy for Brisbane panned
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/labor-s-nuts-half-price-bus-ticket-policy-for-brisbane-panned-20240123-p5ezgv.html

The Price is Right for Brisbane's Transport (Candidate Web Page)
https://www.traceyforbrisbane.com.au/post/the-price-is-right-for-brisbane-s-transport

Transport Performance - Train Patronage
https://www.pta.wa.gov.au/about-us/priorities-and-performance/transport-performance#Train-33

Queensland Rail Annual Report - Train Patronage (Page 40)
https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/about%20us/Documents/Queensland%20Rail%20Annual%20and%20Financial%20Report%202022-23.pdf

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

Facebook ...


====

I left this comment tagged to Mr Bailey:


https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/784282103738647?comment_id=401467555693248

QuoteRAIL - Back On Track
Mark Bailey MP can you hide posts on your page but not ours. It is very disappointing that as an ex-Transport Minister you would roll over on the fare policy you steadfastly supported. You very well know that the ' half price bus fares vote bait con ' is anti-public transport and not in the best interests of Queenslanders. It is way past the time that BCC was brought under control in terms of PT administration. You had the opportunity but failed to act. So much for the rail revolution you champion through Cross River Rail. Rod Harding's Fare Free Friday's went no where. Hopefully, this will meet the same fate.
Robert

https://x.com/railbotforum/status/1751320627699687763?s=20

Couriermail --> 'Should be worried': Schrinner's warning over 'desperate' Greens-Labor coalition $

QuoteBrisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner is "deeply concerned" about a desperate coalition between the Greens and Labor ahead of the March 16 council election – and says every resident should be "very worried".

Kicking off his campaign for re-election on Monday, Cr Schrinner said the city did not need politicians who have indicated they would cut road funding, reduce speed limits, jack up rents and stop the expansion of the Brisbane Metro bus network.

"We should all be deeply concerned about what it means if the Greens and Labor were to be running the largest council in Australia," Cr Schrinner told The Courier-Mail.

"It has an annual $4bn budget and things can go downhill quickly when there is a change in direction and administration. ...

Sent to all outlets:

Re: Transport Minister Bart Mellish MP must save Translink SEQ

30th January 2024

Good Morning,

Nothing heard, but then again did we really expect too?  Partisan politics as displayed by  ex-Transport Minister  Mr Bailey just highlights the absolute circus that is public transport administration in SEQ, and Queensland.  Is the new Minister for Transport Mr Mellish cutting the same cloth as his predecessor?

Time will tell hey.  Particularly when citizens vote.

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

Quote from: ozbob on January 27, 2024, 23:08:39 PMSent to all outlets:

Transport Minister Bart Mellish MP must save Translink SEQ Integrated Fares System

28th January 2024

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org)  has called on the Minister for Transport Bart Mellish MP to save Translink's SEQ integrated fares system.

Residents and visitors enjoy catching public transport in SEQ because whether they catch a train, tram, bus or ferry, the fare is the same. This system has worked well for 20 years.

But Lord Mayoral candidate Tracey Price's (Labor) policies will wreck this.

Price's fares proposal will result in different fares for buses and trains, and introduce a cost penalty for transferring between them. About 20 years worth of work trying to get different SEQ regions, operators, and agencies all on the same page will go out of the window.

We are also concerned that Price's policies will also impact Queensland Rail patronage negatively. Queensland Rail already carries 10 million fewer passengers than Transperth trains do in Perth.

Our members are against proposals that would cause Queensland Rail patronage to drop even further.

Translink is the public transport agency. Translink should set fares, not Brisbane City Council.

Current public transport governance arrangements are dysfunctional and let the 'tail wag the dog', so to speak.

We call on Translink and Transport Minister Bart Mellish to reject Tracey Price's fares disintegration policy and save SEQ's integrated fares system instead.

The Smart Ticketing project roll out is expected to be completed during 2024.  This is the tool for fare reform, not ill informed ' voter bait ' stunts.

References:

Labor's 'nuts' half-price bus ticket policy for Brisbane panned
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/labor-s-nuts-half-price-bus-ticket-policy-for-brisbane-panned-20240123-p5ezgv.html

The Price is Right for Brisbane's Transport (Candidate Web Page)
https://www.traceyforbrisbane.com.au/post/the-price-is-right-for-brisbane-s-transport

Transport Performance - Train Patronage
https://www.pta.wa.gov.au/about-us/priorities-and-performance/transport-performance#Train-33

Queensland Rail Annual Report - Train Patronage (Page 40)
https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/about%20us/Documents/Queensland%20Rail%20Annual%20and%20Financial%20Report%202022-23.pdf

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

https://twitter.com/QldGreens/status/1749608941506732542?t=4EnSRV-PYS5cJblcId-IYg&s=19

ABC: Brisbane City Council Election 2024 Guides

https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/bcc/2024/guides

Quote from: ozbob on January 30, 2024, 00:49:09 AMhttps://twitter.com/QldGreens/status/1749608941506732542?t=4EnSRV-PYS5cJblcId-IYg&s=19

Interestingly unambitious plan. Maybe the Greens are really playing it safe this election - (do some extra bike lanes count as dangerous?  )

Pedestrianising Albert St is good and all, but at this point it's mostly cosmetic without other amenity improvements in the southern CBD. Signs saying 30km/h aren't amenity.
Shading the Victoria Bridge is A+ though.

Couriermail --> Brisbane council election: Greens mayoral candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan's transport pledge $

QuotePublic transport across Brisbane would be free for kids, and off-peak travel free for everyone under a bold election pitch by Greens mayoral candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan.

If the Greens win power at the March 16 Brisbane City Council election they would also do a three-month trial during which public transport would be free for all across the city.

Mr Sriranganathan said they hoped this would ease cost-of-living pressures already weighing heavily on Brisbane families.

"Public transport fares in Brissie are obscenely high. We want to start with free fares for kids, and free fares off-peak for everyone, including weeknights and weekends," he said. ...

^  couple of observations.

Fares are not that expensive at all in reality,  however I do personally support free PT for children for all of Queensland.

The problem with the Greens policy is the same as the Labor Candidates ' half price fares for BCC Buses ', it won't apply to rail and will lead to bus overloading and rail patronage less than what it should be, and the interchange penalties.

And what about the rest of regional Queensland?  This BCC Election and vote bait fare PT policies are again demonstrating why BCC needs to be removed from any administrative control over PT.  SEQ is much bigger than BCC and we need proper integration.  Not more failure.

More ' vote buying ' non sustainable PT fare policies floated BCC Election

3 February 2024

Good Morning,

We note the Greens BCC Lord Mayoral Candidate has released  a policy that is yet more 'voter bait'.

Couriermail --> Brisbane council election: Greens mayoral candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan's transport pledge
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/brisbane-council-election-greens-mayoral-candidate-jonathan-sriranganathans-transport-pledge/news-story/70d0226b776dfa92ee740f5e08777263

" Public transport across Brisbane would be free for kids, and off-peak travel free for everyone under a bold election pitch by Greens mayoral candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan.
If the Greens win power at the March 16 Brisbane City Council election they would also do a three-month trial during which public transport would be free for all across the city. "

The problem with the Greens policy is the same as the Labor Candidate's ' half price fares for BCC Buses ', it won't apply to rail and will lead to bus overloading and rail patronage less than what it should be, and interchange penalties. It is actually anti-integration and will lead to worse outcomes.
And what about the rest of regional Queensland?  This BCC Election and voter bait fare PT policies are again demonstrating why BCC needs to be removed from any administrative control over PT.  SEQ is much bigger than BCC and we need proper integration.  Not more failure.

It is time for Minister Mellish to act and stop this vote buying charade!  We need a proper public transport authority for all of Queensland, with fair fares for all of Queensland.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Quote from: ozbob on January 27, 2024, 23:08:39 PMSent to all outlets:

Transport Minister Bart Mellish MP must save Translink SEQ Integrated Fares System

28th January 2024

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org)  has called on the Minister for Transport Bart Mellish MP to save Translink's SEQ integrated fares system.

Residents and visitors enjoy catching public transport in SEQ because whether they catch a train, tram, bus or ferry, the fare is the same. This system has worked well for 20 years.

But Lord Mayoral candidate Tracey Price's (Labor) policies will wreck this.

Price's fares proposal will result in different fares for buses and trains, and introduce a cost penalty for transferring between them. About 20 years worth of work trying to get different SEQ regions, operators, and agencies all on the same page will go out of the window.

We are also concerned that Price's policies will also impact Queensland Rail patronage negatively. Queensland Rail already carries 10 million fewer passengers than Transperth trains do in Perth.

Our members are against proposals that would cause Queensland Rail patronage to drop even further.

Translink is the public transport agency. Translink should set fares, not Brisbane City Council.

Current public transport governance arrangements are dysfunctional and let the 'tail wag the dog', so to speak.

We call on Translink and Transport Minister Bart Mellish to reject Tracey Price's fares disintegration policy and save SEQ's integrated fares system instead.

The Smart Ticketing project roll out is expected to be completed during 2024.  This is the tool for fare reform, not ill informed ' voter bait ' stunts.

References:

Labor's 'nuts' half-price bus ticket policy for Brisbane panned
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/labor-s-nuts-half-price-bus-ticket-policy-for-brisbane-panned-20240123-p5ezgv.html

The Price is Right for Brisbane's Transport (Candidate Web Page)
https://www.traceyforbrisbane.com.au/post/the-price-is-right-for-brisbane-s-transport

Transport Performance - Train Patronage
https://www.pta.wa.gov.au/about-us/priorities-and-performance/transport-performance#Train-33

Queensland Rail Annual Report - Train Patronage (Page 40)
https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/about%20us/Documents/Queensland%20Rail%20Annual%20and%20Financial%20Report%202022-23.pdf

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

Facebook > https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/784282103738647?comment_id=400090339181535

This sort of freebie stuff just encourages cuts or freezes in other parts to make up for the costs.

There will be little or no service improvement with this sort of thing.

We also have the results from a randomised, controlled free PT trial. If Green team want to repeat that, they can just reproduce the method of the paper below.

The impact of fare-free public transport on travel behavior: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial ($)
Regional Science and Urban Economics
Volume 86, January 2021, 103616

Authors: Owen Bull, Juan Carlos Muñoz, Hugo E. Silva
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.regsciurbeco.2020.103616

QuoteWe investigate the impact of fare-free public transport on travel behavior by randomly assigning a pass to workers in Santiago (Chile). The pass allowed them unlimited travel for two weeks, as opposed to paying the regular fare of approximately US$ 1 per trip. The main impact of fare-free public transport is an increase in overall travel of 12%.

So when fares set to zero, increase was about 12% and no impact on car trips.

Patronage increases for BUZ are closer to 100%.

Not hard to work out that service improvement is the way to go, not fare cuts.

It is beyond frustrating that successive State Governments have failed to reign in BCC.  Public transport in Brisbane/SEQ is getting to be worst in the nation.  This sort of fare bait crap will make it even more worse.

When you have ex-Transport Minister Bailey touting the Labor ' half price BCC bus fare ' nonsense you know then most of his time as Transport Minister (perhaps with the exception of the bike stuff, but then again he is a keen bike rider) was basically spin and bluster, do little and deception (lack of transparency with costs particularly).  I consider him a ' political' hypocrite of the worst kind.

The new Transport Minister is yet to show his true colours. Will he really be an improvement or follow on in the manner of the Bailey blunders and non-performance?

Sent to all outlets:

Re: More ' vote buying ' non sustainable PT fare policies floated BCC Election

3 February 2024

And furthermore ...

It is beyond frustrating that successive State Governments have failed to reign in BCC.  Public transport in Brisbane/SEQ is getting to be worst in the nation.  This sort of fare bait stupidity will make it even more worse. Even a cursory scan of the public transport research will show that service improvements is the way to go, not simple fare cuts.

When you have ex-Transport Minister Bailey touting the Labor ' half price BCC bus fares ' nonsense you know then most of his time as Transport Minister (perhaps with the exception of the bike stuff, but then again he is a keen bike rider) was basically spin and bluster, do little and deception (lack of transparency with costs particularly).  I consider him a ' political' hypocrite of the worst kind.

The new Transport Minister is yet to show his true colours. Will he really be an improvement or follow on in the manner of the Bailey blunders and non-performance?  Time will tell.

One thing is clear.  Premier Miles was very correct in appointing a new Transport Minister.

We are fast approaching a critical time for public transport in Queensland.

Queensland votes in October 2024. 

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

Quote from: ozbob on February 03, 2024, 00:32:19 AMMore ' vote buying ' non sustainable PT fare policies floated BCC Election

3 February 2024

Good Morning,

We note the Greens BCC Lord Mayoral Candidate has released  a policy that is yet more 'voter bait'.

Couriermail --> Brisbane council election: Greens mayoral candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan's transport pledge
https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/brisbane-council-election-greens-mayoral-candidate-jonathan-sriranganathans-transport-pledge/news-story/70d0226b776dfa92ee740f5e08777263

" Public transport across Brisbane would be free for kids, and off-peak travel free for everyone under a bold election pitch by Greens mayoral candidate Jonathan Sriranganathan.
If the Greens win power at the March 16 Brisbane City Council election they would also do a three-month trial during which public transport would be free for all across the city. "

The problem with the Greens policy is the same as the Labor Candidate's ' half price fares for BCC Buses ', it won't apply to rail and will lead to bus overloading and rail patronage less than what it should be, and interchange penalties. It is actually anti-integration and will lead to worse outcomes.
And what about the rest of regional Queensland?  This BCC Election and voter bait fare PT policies are again demonstrating why BCC needs to be removed from any administrative control over PT.  SEQ is much bigger than BCC and we need proper integration.  Not more failure.

It is time for Minister Mellish to act and stop this vote buying charade!  We need a proper public transport authority for all of Queensland, with fair fares for all of Queensland.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Quote from: ozbob on January 27, 2024, 23:08:39 PMSent to all outlets:

Transport Minister Bart Mellish MP must save Translink SEQ Integrated Fares System

28th January 2024

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org)  has called on the Minister for Transport Bart Mellish MP to save Translink's SEQ integrated fares system.

Residents and visitors enjoy catching public transport in SEQ because whether they catch a train, tram, bus or ferry, the fare is the same. This system has worked well for 20 years.

But Lord Mayoral candidate Tracey Price's (Labor) policies will wreck this.

Price's fares proposal will result in different fares for buses and trains, and introduce a cost penalty for transferring between them. About 20 years worth of work trying to get different SEQ regions, operators, and agencies all on the same page will go out of the window.

We are also concerned that Price's policies will also impact Queensland Rail patronage negatively. Queensland Rail already carries 10 million fewer passengers than Transperth trains do in Perth.

Our members are against proposals that would cause Queensland Rail patronage to drop even further.

Translink is the public transport agency. Translink should set fares, not Brisbane City Council.

Current public transport governance arrangements are dysfunctional and let the 'tail wag the dog', so to speak.

We call on Translink and Transport Minister Bart Mellish to reject Tracey Price's fares disintegration policy and save SEQ's integrated fares system instead.

The Smart Ticketing project roll out is expected to be completed during 2024.  This is the tool for fare reform, not ill informed ' voter bait ' stunts.

References:

Labor's 'nuts' half-price bus ticket policy for Brisbane panned
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/labor-s-nuts-half-price-bus-ticket-policy-for-brisbane-panned-20240123-p5ezgv.html

The Price is Right for Brisbane's Transport (Candidate Web Page)
https://www.traceyforbrisbane.com.au/post/the-price-is-right-for-brisbane-s-transport

Transport Performance - Train Patronage
https://www.pta.wa.gov.au/about-us/priorities-and-performance/transport-performance#Train-33

Queensland Rail Annual Report - Train Patronage (Page 40)
https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/about%20us/Documents/Queensland%20Rail%20Annual%20and%20Financial%20Report%202022-23.pdf

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

Facebook > https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/784282103738647?comment_id=400090339181535

It's says all fares? Where does it say just buses?

Quote from: Jonno on February 03, 2024, 07:18:18 AMIt's says all fares? Where does it say just buses?

BCC has no ability to influence fares other than its buses and ferries. And this needs to be changed ASAP in my view so that fare changes are the sole realm of Translink. Fare structure needs to be consistent across whole of SEQ.  If the Greens end up Governing the state well maybe they might be able to implement some fare structure changes.  Until then this is all rather moot to be honest.  Pity they didn't stick to their bus service improvement policies and improved active transport.

What about the bus regions other than Brisbane?  A lot less service than what is in Brisbane, but Brisbane will get free bus fares but the punters in the other regions don't?  Do you really think the State Government and Translink will allow the changes to the fare structure proposed by the Greens and Labor LM candidates? I don't. Even if they were elected.

The State has spent $371 million on the Smart Ticketing project. This will provide the means for some significant fare product improvement once roll out is complete and the new software back end is in place. These will be easy to implement Queensland wide. 

Greens:  Rolling out Free Public Transport

https://www.jonathansri.com/freepublictransport

Their policy says they will work with Translink to reduce fares.

"Under the Greens plan, all travel on trains, buses and ferries would be free within the Brisbane City Council area for the three month trial period, funded by a once-off $45 million subsidy from Council. "

Quote from: Jonno on February 03, 2024, 08:04:29 AMTheir policy says they will work with Translink to reduce fares.

"Under the Greens plan, all travel on trains, buses and ferries would be free within the Brisbane City Council area for the three month trial period, funded by a once-off $45 million subsidy from Council. "

They can say what they like.  Unless the Greens can get Translink or the State to say they will support the Greens Fare Policy for Brisbane if the Greens control BCC, it is meaningless, as for the Labor ' Bus Fare Policy '.  At least Labor know their limits.

But fares are not really the issue.  Poor services, coverage and frequency is.

Entertaining the "fare cut mania" for a brief moment:

Jono Sriranganathan and The Green Team

Rolling out Free Public Transport
https://www.jonathansri.com/freepublictransport

QuoteA Greens-led Brisbane City Council will:
Fund a 3 month trial of free public transport in Brisbane as a congestion-busting real-world experiment, aiming to build the case for a permanent change. The trial would run from July - September 2024.

Roll out free public transport progressively, starting with all children under 18 and then free off-peak travel for everyone.

^ Some problems with this 'trial'. Statistical ones.

- No control group in the trial. A good trial would have a group of people exempt from the free fares. Otherwise, if an increase in PT was observed, how could you be certain that the increase was due to fares and not weather, something seasonal, population growth, concerts, random blip, etc...? See Measuring Marketing Success with Control Groups

- Not necessary to do the whole city population to get valid data. You don't need to do the whole city. You just need a large enough sample (say 1000 random people including non-PT users) and issue them with and without unlimited GoCard access for 3 months. This would cost at least 10x less than $45 million is my guess.

Using GoCard for the trial would also allow you to get individual trip-level data. With Green Team's Free PT proposal it sounds like no swiping your GoCard, so how could you tell if there was an increase/decrease/no change if you just leave fare gates open and don't collect information about entries and exits?

- Fails to compare alternative measures. Even if it could be shown that PT usage increased in a trial, it still would not tell us if this was the best or most effective measure to pursue. We should also look at trial BUZ routes, for example, so we can say something meaningful about the effectiveness or strength of one measure over another.

Bus and train service trials are done all the time. A service from Brookside to UQ via Ashgrove would be a good candidate, or a 400 Centenary BUZ for example.

Tracey Price and Red Team

Being even-handed here, I do need to spend some time roasting Tracey's policy as well.

Her fare-cut policy applies to BCC buses only. But if you spend some time thinking about it (like 10 sec), you could imagine BCC simply subsidising GoCard passes which are independent of mode. You just give a passenger a half-price weekly or monthly pass for Zone 1 and Zone 2 fare product and restrict these to BCC residents only.

Given that current TransLink fares are mode-independent, this would result in half-price TransLink passes for Brisbane residents on any mode. 

Conclusion

If you want to get the most bums on seats in a cost-effective way, fare cuts are probably not it. Many people cannot access these benefits because they don't have a service or the service is too infrequent. e.g. Centenary Suburbs.

These silly policies are due to the combination of politics and the failure to engage with the community and passengers before going public. If you are doing the consulting during the campaign, it is too late.

The BCC Greens cannot influence rail fares. 
They might think they can the reality is they cannot.  Labor knows this hence their ' Bus fares stuff '. 

I hope Team Schrinner roll out free doughnuts for the first million BRT Metro pax hey?  Winner !!

Rocket Rod's ' Fare Free Fridays ' didn't help, neither will these fare policies from Greens and Labor.

Most people know the money has to come from somewhere > rates increase and less moolah for service improvements.  The political parties think that free PT will be a vote winner, when in fact it isn't at all.  The sooner BCC is removed from PT administration the better. They can remain an operator.  When BCC was formed it worked because it was an isolated patch of suburbia surrounded by market gardens.  These days we have a continuous suburban sprawl much larger than Brisbane. The PT network really needs to be one for SEQ, this includes fares of course. Thinking that Brisbane can have free fares while the rest of SEQ pays higher fares to support that largesse is pretty funny really. Until a Government finally sorts things out properly, every 4 years we will have these silly vote grabs.

I reckon it's just virtue signalling too.

Silly ill thought out policy as usual.

It doesn't lead to modern infrastructure and service improvements that we need for good public transport outcomes.

They would need to raise rates etc... to pay for it as well.

Even with free PT people will continue to drive due to poor frequency and infrastructure to complete crosstown trips in a reasonable time. Public transport takes more than double the time in most instances, sometimes triple. Then you still need to walk the last km to your destination.

Price of cars are coming down too, new and secondhand.

People aren't stupid...Maybe the uni types and people under 24 as this cohort are seeking a false sense of belonging which the Greens have ultimately taken advantage of unfortunately.

First step even before frequency, we need improved segregated infrastructure to speed up trips for both bus and bike.

First project should be the Indooroopilly to UQ busway extension delivered together with a segregated bikeway.

The busway also needs extending out towards Chandler together with a segregated bikeway.

Both bikes and buses need priority approach at intersections with reduced waiting times. Waiting times at intersections are appalling for both bus and bike at the moment.

Sent to all outlets:

Transport Advocates: Just fund more BUZ routes not fare gimmicks

3rd February 2024

RAIL Back On Track (https://rbot.au) has called on parties and candidates for the 2024 Brisbane City Council elections to drop 'fare gimmick' policies and simply fund more BUZ routes.

Proposals coming from Brisbane City Council Lord Mayoral candidates are chaotic, ineffective, and expensive. They are also overstepping their powers - it is not their area to set fare policy - this the realm of the State Government and Translink.

The latest Greens proposal for free public transport as a 'trial' is expensive and unnecessary (1). The Greens could simply replicate an existing study on free public transport conducted in Santiago, Chile which used free transit passes, for about 10x less cost to get the data they want (2).

Our members ask candidates and parties in the upcoming BCC elections to offer real solutions and more high-frequency BUZ route services. We have campaigned on more high-frequency BUZ service for over 10 years, for example (3):

- BUZ 196 Yeronga
- BUZ 230 Bulimba
- BUZ 359 Albany Creek
- BUZ 400 Centenary Suburbs

Brisbane City Council's own data shows that its stalled BUZ program is highly effective, with patronage increases of 100% or more being the norm (4). The BUZ program needs to be restarted.

The chaotic proposals coming from Brisbane City Council candidates show why train patronage and per-capita overall public transport use will continue to fall behind Perth. Perth has one Public Transport Authority, no local council running buses, and the rail operator is a division of the Public Transport Authority.

Just give us more high-frequency BUZ routes, not fare gimmicks!

References:

1. Rolling out Free Public Transport https://www.jonathansri.com/freepublictransport
2. The impact of fare-free public transport on travel behavior: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016604622030301X
3. 11 Sep 2014: Election 2015: More Buses More Often With Bus Reform https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?msg=146209
4. BUZ Routes, Frequency + Reliability - the winning formula https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/handle/2123/6058

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

I can't believe that the papers are marketing the Greens, maybe it's just for headlines and click bait. Even still, it's free marketing for the Greens.

I hope that the other parties LNP, independents and smaller parties get some headlines with the papers, as well as air time with the radio and TV stations to articulate their transport policies.

Facebook ...

https://x.com/railbotforum/status/1753615027595247930?s=20

 

I am confused. 

We supported WA state Govt doing this but slam a party for saying the want something similar!

QLD Govt should get onboard, match the funding and do all zone!!

This is how you run a low cost, statistically valid trial that will produce useful data and give a clear result either way:

QuoteUnlike previous studies, we do this experimentally, and we do not limit our attention to one particular transport mode or one specific type of day or trip purpose.4 This consideration allows us to study the full impact on travel patterns and to understand the underlying mechanisms behind the change in travel behavior, or lack thereof, which is crucial for policy. To do so, we randomly allocate individuals to a treatment group (N = 106) that received a public transportation pass that allowed them unlimited fare-free travel for two weeks on the subway and buses and to a control group that did not receive a pass (N = 101). The randomization was conducted at the individual level among workers at 13 firms in Santiago, Chile. We focus on workers because commuting trips represent the majority of morning peak trips, particularly in Santiago, where the share is 74%.

A Brisbane trial could extend the period (say to 3 or 12 months), include more people in the sample (say 1000 people in the study) and draw people more randomly (e.g. sample random addresses across the BCC area, include non-PT or car users, include non-workers).

Do it with a local university and a market research firm on board as well.

All of that would very likely cost far less than $45 million.

Excerpt from:

The impact of fare-free public transport on travel behavior: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial
Regional Science and Urban Economics
Volume 86, January 2021, 103616
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S016604622030301X

Quote from: verbatim9 on February 03, 2024, 12:34:28 PMFirst step even before frequency, we need improved segregated infrastructure to speed up trips for both bus and bike.

First project should be the Indooroopilly to UQ busway extension delivered together with a segregated bikeway.

The busway also needs extending out towards Chandler together with a segregated bikeway.

Both bikes and buses need priority approach at intersections with reduced waiting times. Waiting times at intersections are appalling for both bus and bike at the moment.

Geeens have presented all this policies first before this

Quote from: Jonno on February 03, 2024, 13:12:32 PMI am confused. 

We supported WA state Govt doing this but slam a party for saying the want something similar!

QLD Govt should get onboard, match the funding and do all zone!!

I certainly didn't. I prefer daily and weekly capping as in Sydney and Melbourne. It's fairer and is a more balanced approach overall.  Let's hope smart ticketing brings the results. It's been a long time coming.

Quote from: Jonno on February 03, 2024, 13:12:32 PMI am confused. 

We supported WA state Govt doing this but slam a party for saying the want something similar!

QLD Govt should get onboard, match the funding and do all zone!!

Big difference between a council fiefdom and an integrated fare system for all by the State.

BCC is not the agency to be setting fares.

Smart Ticketing will be the means to bring in some better fare structures and products for all of SEQ and regional Queensland. I expect we will see some prior to the October 2024 state election.

And by the way we haven't slammed the party, we have slammed the fare gimmick policies.  We supported the Greens with their bus policy to essentially double the high frequency buses and connect suburbs directly ( https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/754309400069251 ).

As far as I am concerned when it comes to PT it is very clear what our position is.  Good policy gets supported, poor policy gets canned.  Can't be any other way actually.

Nothing stopping a Council subsiding public transport instead of building more roads!!

This is working with the State to implement. Better than tweets at 30 paces as we have today!!

Brisbanetimes --> Schrinner promises $15m to speed up traffic lights in re-election bid $

QuoteLord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has promised to reduce congestion if his LNP council is re-elected on March 16, with $15 million to be spent upgrading Brisbane's traffic management system.

In the latest campaign pledge ahead of the Brisbane City Council election, Schrinner said better technology would help identify the intersections, and stop lights, that unnecessarily slow traffic. ...

... But Schrinner said it would benefit not only motorists but also those using buses, heavy vehicles, and even cyclists and e-scooter riders. ...

It actually highlights how badly the State has managed this! These proposals would not exist if the State had been proactive like WA. Still better than...check notes...a traffic light upgrade!!