RAIL - Back On Track Forum

Centenary BUZ anyone? Improved rail connections perhaps? Nah, just another lane, bro.

If the bridge is widened, new lanes should be HOV, either bus or T3. Shouldn't be hard to have camera enforcement, either.

Couriermail --> Explosive secret report exposes Qld's deadly Bruce Hwy shame $

QuoteAlmost half the Bruce Highway fails basic safety ratings and just 10 per cent is assessed as extremely safe, with stretches in regional Queensland emerging as the danger zones.

The secret report card lays bare the worst sections of the Bruce Highway amid a push for the ratings - currently only available to state and federal governments - to be made public ahead of two critical elections for Queensland.

Despite repeated requests to the Queensland Government for an updated assessment, the only figures accessible to provide crucial safety information are from 2019 - and they paint a grim picture of the dangers on the highway as Queensland's road toll remains disturbingly high.

According to the Australian Road Assessment Program (AusRAP), 45.2 per cent of the Bruce Highway was rated just two stars out of five, while 44.1 per cent were rated three stars, and just 10 per cent received four or five stars.

The most dangerous sections of the road between Brisbane to Cairns are in the regions, with a notorious stretch near Mackay receiving the worst overall rating. ...

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1780277691813634473

TMR's response will be "we need to make Bruce Highway a 6-8 lane motorway from Brisbane to Cairns!!"

Government Statement

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100400

Funding released for Linkfield Road Overpass upgrade early works

25th May 2024

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

. Early works for the Linkfield Road Overpass upgrade will get underway in the coming months.

. Project has a joint funding commitment by the Albanese and Miles governments of $176 million.

. The Linkfield Road Overpass is a critical piece of infrastructure for road users in north Brisbane.

More > https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100400

Drive ---> Call for Queensland to up speed limit to 130km/h

QuoteA petition has been launched calling on the Queensland Government to raise the speed limit to 130km/h.

Townsville resident Stewart Collins submitted the petition because he believes the current 110km/h limit, which applies in every state and territory except the Northern Territory which already has a maximum of 130km/h, is outdated.

I have removed a number of posts from this thread as inappropriate.

There is even a book about the voodoo maths of traffic modeling

https://x.com/streetsblogusa/status/1800500742517563639?s=46&t=EDszjTErsxTIqAna7yuP-w

Lord Mayor finally tells the truth about his transport beliefs.  Safety measures are downgrades to driving!!! 

I guess it is good that he has finally said out loud what we all know to be true.

https://x.com/UnwalkableBris1/status/1803309543339991342

Couriermail --> RACQ to fight for fuel price caps, as Queenslanders reveal Bruce Highway is their biggest bugbear $

QuoteQueenslanders care more about fixing the deadly Bruce Highway than petrol prices and population growth, new survey data has revealed.

The Royal Automobile Club Queensland has released its priorities survey ahead of the October state election to gauge what Queenslanders want prioritised for their roads.

Respondents are asked to order a list of ten priorities covering cost of living, road safety, public transport, home and energy resilience and planning for growth, with results so far showing the Bruce Highway as Queenslanders' number one concern. ...

RACQ: Have your say on Queensland's election priorities
https://www.racq.com.au/latest-news/news/2024/05/have-your-say-on-queenslands-election-priorities

https://x.com/BrentToderian/status/1804392376636682403

https://x.com/BrentToderian/status/1805089898208317905

https://x.com/couriermail/status/1806098434019270912

Government Statement

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100736

New Bridge for Bribie Island

2nd July 2024

The Miles Labor Government has announced its first 2024 election commitment, a new $700 million bridge to Bribie Island.

The new bridge would be part of a re-elected Miles Government's continuing commitment to deliver the infrastructure that Queenslanders deserve.

The new bridge is key element of delivering four lanes for traffic along the entire length of Caboolture–Bribie Island Road.

The proposed concept design will provide two eastbound traffic lanes and a dedicated active transport path for bike riders, pedestrians and mobility devices.

Westbound traffic would use both lanes of the existing bridge.

Population and traffic volumes have grown significantly since the existing bridge was built in 1963, and traffic volumes are expected to continue to grow into the future.

While a business case for the new Bribie Island bridge is yet to be concluded, the Miles Labor Government has committed $700 million in new borrowings to fund this commitment. ...

More > https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100736

^ Wonder if there's any chance the new bridge might come with a better bus service? Hourly from 5-7 weekdays, 7-5 Saturdays, and 8-5 Sundays (westbound) is a joke.

Quote from: achiruel on July 02, 2024, 21:19:02 PM^ Wonder if there's any chance the new bridge might come with a better bus service? Hourly from 5-7 weekdays, 7-5 Saturdays, and 8-5 Sundays (westbound) is a joke.

This is a TMR project! They don't do public transport improvements remember!!

Government Statement

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100754

4th July 2024

Listening and delivering: Community to inform next steps for Queensland's future motorway

Transport Minister Bart Mellish has today announced that Transport and Main Roads will investigate an alternative proposed route for Stage 4 of the Bruce Highway Western Alternative.

Stage 4 is proposed to connect Beerburrum and Moodlu. Two routes were proposed for community feedback in late 2023.

More than 500 community members attended information sessions and more than 850 submissions were received between November 2023 and February 2024.

As well as minimising property impacts, insights confirm strong community interest in a route further west that reduces impact on the urban footprint and community severance.

Based on the feedback, Transport and Main Roads will now assess options for an alternative route, further west.  ...

Pity whole concept isn't scrapped

Government Statement

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100763

New transport infrastructure programs to boost productivity and reduce congestion

5th July 2024

Two new transport infrastructure programs will enhance productivity and assist with local congestion on Queensland roads.

These new programs were announced as part of Budget 2024-25 and form part of a record Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Programs, with a total $37.4 billion in transport investment committed in communities across the state to support jobs and economic growth.

The $100 million Productivity Enhancement Program will support the Miles Government's $26 billion Energy and Jobs Plan by focusing on improving the road network to support heavy vehicle movements, including Over Size Over Mass movements associated with key existing and emerging energy industries.

It will also help support future jobs and prosperity, particularly in our regions.

The $100 million Local Congestion Busting Program will target improvements to the road network to reduce congestion by mitigating traffic delays caused by "bottle necks", particularly at intersections.

The program takes a 'One Network' approach, with projects to be identified by TMR and progressed via discussions with key stakeholders, including local councils.

The program will focus on lower cost upgrades at locations experiencing congestion.

This program will help people get home quicker and it will help reduce freight costs along key routes.

Projects eligible for the programs could be a mix of state and council owned assets – an investment by TMR or it could take the form of a grant on a 50:50 matching basis.

Projects that achieve the objectives of reducing congestion and increasing productivity will be considered.

TMR will progress identifying projects for delivery under these important programs in the coming months. ...

> https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100763

QuoteThe $100 million Local Congestion Busting Program will target improvements to the road network to reduce congestion by mitigating traffic delays caused by "bottle necks", particularly at intersections.

MORE ROADS!!!!!!!!!!!

Sent to all outlets:

Out of touch or just plain inept - More roads has never reduced congestion

7th July 2024

RAIL Back On Track members have noted the Government Media Statement ' New transport infrastructure programs to boost productivity and reduce congestion ' https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100763  5th July 2024.

Another day and another "congestion-busting" road investment announcement.

What will it take for the Queensland Government and the Department of Main Roads and Transport to recognise that the rest of the word learnt decades ago widening roads and "upgrading" intersections is why our cities are congested messes.

Wes Marshall, a professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Colorado Denver and Director of the CU Denver Human-Centered Transportation Program, even wrote a book about it: 'Killed by a Traffic Engineer: Shattering the Delusion that Science Underlies our Transportation System' shines a spotlight on how little science there is behind the way that our road system is engineered, which leaves safety as an afterthought and a system whose designs are largely based on plausible, but unproven, conjecture (1).

Marshall explains how traffic engineering "research" is outdated and unexamined and often steered by an industry and culture considering only how to get from point A to B the fastest way possible, to the detriment of safety, quality of life, equality, and planetary health.
It is clearly utterly blinkered to the traffic choking our cities every day of the week.

Engineers Australia also recognises the phenomenon known as induced demand and how it influences how people travel, and how it also destroys the effectiveness of infrastructure designed to increase capacity and reduce congestion (aka get people home quicker) (2).

When a road or freeway is widened, or a new road is built, in an area where roads are congested or near capacity, induced traffic on the widened road increases traffic on the surrounding roads that have not been widened, resulting in system wide increased congestion.

References:

1. Killed by a Traffic Engineer: Shattering the Delusion that Science Underlies our Transportation System
https://www.amazon.com/Killed-Traffic-Engineer-Shattering-Transportation-ebook/dp/B0CWYFQJFJ?ref_=ast_author_mpb

2. Urban Transport Systems – Policy and Planning Advice
https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/2023-08/Urban-Transport-Systems-Report-%28August2023%29.pdf

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

Facebook ...

FYI

https://x.com/willnorman/status/1811678160213144005

Government Statement

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100884

Congestion-busting plan revealed for Logan Motorway

. The Miles Government and Transurban Queensland are advancing planning, market engagement and preliminary procurement for a project proposal to upgrade approximately 10km of the Logan Motorway.

. The upgrade proposal will include a new lane in each direction, enhancements to on and off ramps, and installation of the latest smart motorway technology to improve traffic and road safety outcomes.

. The project proposal is aimed at unclogging one of the South East's most congested freight routes and improve travel reliability.

More > https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/100884

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1815588048962453947

Newly, partly opened underpass at Indooroopilly.

Couriermail --> Urban Mobility Trends report lifts lid on Brisbane traffic issues $

QuoteSouth East Queenslanders are the most concerned about congestion of any residents in the country, shifting their travel behaviour to avoid traffic, new data has revealed.

The fifth annual Urban Mobility Trends report by toll road operator Transurban, to be released on Thursday, shows 73 per cent of people are more concerned about current congestion levels – a four-point increase on the previous year. ...

Couriermail --> Brisbane traffic: Southeast toll roads now pulling in $568m $

QuoteTraffic levels on Brisbane's toll roads has now surged beyond pre-Covid-19 levels, with Queensland commuters forking out $568m just to skip congestion.

Latest traffic data from toll operator Transurban shows a 2 per cent uptick in the number of cars on the road, while toll revenue shot up 9 per cent during the 2024 financial year. ...

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1821566547523174709

Guardian --> 'Too high for comfort': transport costs rising at almost three times rate of inflation, data reveals

Quote'Too high for comfort': transport costs rising at almost three times rate of inflation, data reveals
Households 'hurting' as people forced to spend more of their income on driving, petrol, tolls and public transport fares ...

https://x.com/BrentToderian/status/1829171733548675240

https://x.com/mateosfo/status/1829262247929245720?s=46&t=EDszjTErsxTIqAna7yuP-w

Government Statement

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/101292

Miles Doing What Matters: Future vision for Centenary Motorway

8th September 2024

Premier Steven Miles and Transport Minister Bart Mellish have today joined the Member for Mount Ommaney Jess Pugh to release options being considered for the future of the Centenary Motorway, as part of master planning for the region.

The options under development consider a range of congestion busting solutions between Darra and Toowong to ensure a longer-term planning approach to improve this vital road network.

This could include upgrades to the existing motorway or tunnel options.

The Government's investment arm, QIC, will work with the Department of Transport and Main Roads to build on the learnings gathered from another key congestion-busting project, the Gympie Road Bypass tunnel.

QIC will consider and provide advice on the economic merits of further investment including surface improvements and tunnel connections in western Brisbane.

The Centenary Motorway between Darra and Toowong services large numbers of both shorter and longer-distance trips, on average carrying more than 90,000 vehicles per day in some sections. Over the next two decades this is forecast to continue to rise rapidly.

The existing highway will be unable to accommodate these increased levels of vehicles. 

The master plan will identify the most effective staging approach to deliver the motorway upgrade in the medium to long term between the Ipswich Motorway in Darra and Milton Road in Toowong. It will also examine connectivity to and from Legacy Way.

Similar to what is being planned along Gympie Road, tunnel options for the Centenary Motorway could provide opportunities for public transport, cycling and walking improvements along this corridor.

Construction of the $298.5 million Centenary Bridge Upgrade across the Brisbane River is well underway, delivering a second critical crossing over the river.

Its completion will increase motorway capacity and improve safety for users of the Centenary Motorway at Jindalee.

The Miles Labor Government's $10 million investment in planning for the area is part of the record $37.4 billion road and transport program, which is supporting 28,000 good Queensland jobs.

Future investment will include a focus on enhancing the Brisbane ring road network to reduce congestion and deliver more options for people travelling through and around the greater Brisbane area.



More > https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/101292

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1832645278937313496

^

" ... "Mr Mellish said he expected the tunnel feasibility study to take a year and if the option stacks up, the government - should it be re-elected for a fourth term after the October state election - would back it financially.  ... "

I wonder if the BCR will also be ~ 0.2 as well for this one?

To be fair, it seems the intention is to service fast-growing areas like Ripley, which do not have rail (and are not getting it soon).

Plus with train frequency in the off-peak and weekends being 30 minutes (unlike Perth which is 15 min, even on weekends) you can see how a car tunnel might be seen as the only option.

Gosh, on top of the Walter Taylor and Jindalee bridge duplication. That equates to 10-12 extra lanes in that area for vehicle freeway and arterial road traffic, if the tunnel is 3 lanes in each direction.

I still think that a road tunnel from Toowong to Buranda would be far more beneficial, which would alleviate congestion on Coronation drive and the REX.

Seems also like a political move to save seats in the Centenary Suburbs and out towards Springfield.

It's likely not going to make any difference as most people have made up their minds come Oct 26.

Fuk me dead. I mean, I know Queensland is 20 years behind in many things, but we seem to be 50 years behind in transport.   

Sent to all outlets:

More congestion inducing failure looming for SEQ

9th September 2024

Good Morning,

The latest congestion inducing plan, released with the usual 'congestion busting' beat ups yesterday
" Miles Doing What Matters: Future vision for Centenary Motorway " https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/101292

will just further entrench SEQ in even more terminal transport failure.

There is a four track railway between Darra and Brisbane CBD, no need for more expensive road toll tunnels, just utilise our existing transport assets properly.

Too many rushed outer suburban developments without proper transport planning for bus and rail.  Implementing high frequency feeder bus services, with proper priority is a much better sustainable option for western Brisbane. Rail Springfield Central to Ripley North needs to be prioritised.

*

QuoteMr Mellish said he expected the tunnel feasibility study to take a year and if the option stacks up, the government - should it be re-elected for a fourth term after the October state election - would back it financially.

Whether or not the road should be a toll road will be part of the $10m planning exercise.

*https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/qld-politics/qld-government-considers-new-tunnel-to-tackle-brisbane-traffic/news-story/38a5d55cff48cc606c1fb241481be42e

We suspect this latest push for more transport failure is just a cynical attempt at more vote buying.

Let's start using what we have properly.  The money bag is out of coins!

Depressing is it not?

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

https://x.com/railbotforum/status/1832790601001292153

Facebook ...

Facebook ...