RAIL - Back On Track Forum

Not clear to me how it could be any shorter.  It has to be one of the most ridiculous bus priority projects I've ever seen.

I went to Chermside yesterday on the 340 and noticed that the Northern Transit way is now open from Kedron Brook to Rhode Road in each direction. The bus that I was on in each direction was using it.

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/99676

Busting congestion on Brisbane's northside

9th February 2024

Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital Services
The Honourable Bart Mellish

. The Queensland Labor Government is reducing congestion and improving travel times for commuters.

. The Northern Transitway from Sadlier Street to Rode Road will be fully opened in April 2024, marking completion of this stage of the project.

. The remaining section to Hamilton Road will undergo a change of delivery to better integrate with planning for the proposed Gympie Road Bypass project.

Over 900m of Gympie Road transitway in both directions has now been completed, with works to Rode Road set to be completed in April this year.

The dedicated bus lanes will allow buses to travel more efficiently, providing travel time savings by separating buses from general traffic.

The remaining section of the project – from Rode Road to Hamilton Road – will be undertaken under a new contract, following the release of the Gympie Road Bypass Investment proposal, expected to be released later this year.

This will enable consideration of better integration of the transitway with the Gympie Road Bypass project and proposed upgrades to the Chermside Bus Interchange.

The delivery of the Northern Transitway project has faced considerable cost pressures, including significant work to replace old underground stormwater drainage structures that were in poorer condition than anticipated.

Works to mitigate these issues on the remaining section of the project are already underway.

The Miles Government will deliver the full scope of this project, aligned with the opportunities created by the Gympie Road Bypass project.

Translink services travel through this section of Gympie Road every two minutes on average during peak periods.

Bus users can plan their journey by downloading the MyTranslink app, visiting www.translink.com.au or calling 13 12 30.

Quotes attributable to the Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish:

"Gympie Road is the crucial connector for Northsiders.

"That's why our government is investing in the Northern Transitway and why we're investigating a bypass tunnel for Gympie Road.

"The Gympie Road Bypass tunnel unlocks a lot of potential, both underground and above ground.

"It makes sense for these two projects to be aligned, to make sure we realise every opportunity for better/improved public transport and quicker commutes for motorists.

"Commuters are already seeing the benefits from the works completed to date on the Northern Transitway and this will only increase once works to Rode Road are completed in April.

Quotes attributable to the Member for Stafford, Jimmy Sullivan:

"More than 9,000 people currently use buses to travel along Gympie Road between Kedron and Chermside each weekday.

"By separating buses from general traffic, the Northern Transitway is reducing congestion, delivering higher frequency services, improving service reliability and bonus travel time savings during peak periods.

All Gympie Road bus stops from Stafford Road to Rode Road will be open in April, helping to bust congestion and improve traffic times through the corridor.

"Current works will be completed in April this year, taking the project to Rode Road.

Background:

. The first section of the Northern Transitway opened to traffic on 13 April 2023.

. Section 2 and 3 became operational on 22 December 2023.

. Works to complete the next section to Rode Road will be completed in April. 

Ends.

Not sure how I missed this, but yeah for reference, bus lanes were meant to commence at Chermside interchange.

https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/_/media/projects/n/northern-transitway/northern-transitway-final-design-map.jpg

But now 1/3 of it is being cut off for the time being until they do the road tunnel.
A grand length of 1.5km.

I can only dream that they'll do what the did with the Airport link and build a small tunneled section alongside their new car tunnel for the remaining section to Chermside. Underground station at Chermside maybe? 

Quote from: timh on February 13, 2024, 13:49:04 PMI can only dream that they'll do what the did with the Airport link and build a small tunneled section alongside their new car tunnel for the remaining section to Chermside. Underground station at Chermside maybe? 

So you mean it won't be continuous and really just prioritises driving over public transport.  The busway alongside the Airport Tunnel is close to useless At best a minimalist approach.

They must be doing finishing touches as it was open a couple of weeks ago in both directions. As I saw it, outbound was looking at finishing just past Rhode road where Aldi is located. They had already done the work to that section. I don't know why they would revert back to general traffic now?

I have advocated from day one to work with the Gympie Road tunnel idea to allow for improvements alongside. Hopefully we will get some decent improvements with a tunnel section inbound connecting Gympie at Kedron Brook, as well as a new inline station with Gympie Road at Chermside. Although an underground one would be nice, it's likely to be a surface station rather than underground  one reckon. I could be wrong though.

They should also deliver the missing section between Federation st and Lutwyche at the same time. If this is done at the same time as the improvements mentioned above, they could essentially run the Bne Metro buses all the way to Chermside without issue.

Yes, they've mentioned extending the Metro (BERT) to Chermside, but I don't see how that's feasible right now. That Federation St to Lutwyche road section seems fraught for a bi-articulated bus to navigate. Although maybe I'm underestimating it's capabilities?

Travel easier on the Northern Transitway

https://translink.com.au/updates/446886

From Monday 15 April, the newest section of the Northern Transitway (between Sadlier Street and Rode Road) will be open – bringing you a smoother, less congested journey.

To make the most of the transitway's dedicated bus lanes and provide more people with access to a high frequency stop, we're adding routes 77, 333, 340, and P332 to eight bus stops in Kedron and Windsor.

At these stops you'll be able to catch a bus to or from the city every five minutes or better during peak (6-9am and 3-6pm weekdays) so you'll spend less time waiting.

To support your weekend travel, we're also delivering better frequency at these stops on Saturdays - with buses departing every 15 minutes or better.

As the transitway separates buses and general traffic, we're able to add stops without increasing your overall journey time - meaning your timetable won't change. ...

Good that they added Truro St finally, but why not Federation St?
Its 700m north of RBWH and 600m south of Windsor so its an ideal spacing for a BUZ.

^ And it's not even on-road.

Don't know why everything in Brisbane has to be so complicated.

Bob anyone at TL we can ask about this?

Quote from: Gazza on April 04, 2024, 16:29:41 PMBob anyone at TL we can ask about this?

Draft up a paragraph and send to me by message.  I can ask.

You would think city-bound buses at least would be moved to use the flyover and skip 2 right turns and a roundabout that is currently a construction site. But it's good that Truro Street finally has the frequency it was made for.

Quote from: Beams Road Motorway on April 05, 2024, 17:43:00 PMYou would think city-bound buses at least would be moved to use the flyover and skip 2 right turns and a roundabout that is currently a construction site. But it's good that Truro Street finally has the frequency it was made for.

The 333 and 340 already use the flyover. The 330 doesn't because it comes out of the airport link tunnel and misses the turn.

So I've finally had an opportunity to check out the Northern Transitway and I have to say I'm quite disappointed with the options for public transport access to The Prince Charles Hospital.

The time savings are trivial and PT remains a non-viable option for me. It's back to the car with a heavy sigh.

Whatever the future holds for PT in the inner North, particularly when it come to the Brisbane 'Metro', I really hope TPCH gets proper PT access like RBWH and the PAH do.

Quote from: Habitant on August 04, 2024, 10:45:54 AMSo I've finally had an opportunity to check out the Northern Transitway and I have to say I'm quite disappointed with the options for public transport access to The Prince Charles Hospital.

The time savings are trivial and PT remains a non-viable option for me. It's back to the car with a heavy sigh.

Whatever the future holds for PT in the inner North, particularly when it come to the Brisbane 'Metro', I really hope TPCH gets proper PT access like RBWH and the PAH do.

We shouldn't be solely looking at City-bound roads for bus priority. It would be easy enough to have bus priority to Prince Charles Hospital off of the Northen Transitway.

Quote from: Habitant on August 04, 2024, 10:45:54 AMSo I've finally had an opportunity to check out the Northern Transitway and I have to say I'm quite disappointed with the options for public transport access to The Prince Charles Hospital.

The time savings are trivial and PT remains a non-viable option for me. It's back to the car with a heavy sigh.

Whatever the future holds for PT in the inner North, particularly when it come to the Brisbane 'Metro', I really hope TPCH gets proper PT access like RBWH and the PAH do.

You're not wrong about PCH access. I currently have a parent as a patient there. 354, the only bus that directly services the hospital's main entrance, runs every 90 minutes on Saturday. I know there's others nearby, but I can't walk much at the moment due to a recent leg injury. So the 354 it is.

Edit: the 340 I caught from Roma St was caught in traffic around Kedron, because the transit way isn't active on weekends. This was about 10 am today.

Yep, that sounds about right.

I could in theory take the 335 to work, but it only runs from after I start work and ends before I finish!

IMO the Brisbane Metro *absolutely* must run via TPCH.
The hospital generates so many trips, from staff to visitors to outpatients etc. It's also the state's second busiest emergency department!

It's no surprise the Hospital is starting a massive expansion. But unfortunately they are having to spend millions of taxpayer dollars building car parks...

I can count the number of TPCH staff members that take public transit on one hand, whereas at PAH/RBWH it was a much higher proportion.

Is Metro still against a busway there?

Even if you can catch a 335 is still a disability access nightmare with the western footpath not wide enough for wheelchair users let alone trying to pass someone else. The yellow line on platforms have a bigger space