1 Aug 2009: SEQ: New busways a welcome addition!

[ozbob]

Media Release 1st August 2009

SEQ: New busways a welcome addition!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has congratulated the construction alliances, the Queensland Government and TransLink on the commencement of services on the new Northern Busway and the Boggo Road Busway from this Monday (3rd August).

Robert Dow, spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"A number of our members joined the public for the walk through on the new section of the Northern Busway last weekend.  The bus station at RBWH is very impressive and will be a major improvement in facilitating access to public transport and the busway will allow some reduction in commute times.  To maximum the value of the considerable expenditure by Queensland taxpayers however, the route 66 bus needs to be extended to RBWH bus station.  This will assist in the overloading that occurs on peak times particularly between the Herston medical precinct and CBD.  Another approach would be to combine the route 109 with the route 66 and in so doing provide a seamless integrated service between the major medical precincts in Brisbane namely Herston, Mater and PA hospitals, and also UQ and QUT Kelvin Grove (1).  This would also ease the congestion between Herston and CBD on the buses."

"We look forward to the walk through on the Boggo Road busway this Sunday the 2nd August.  We note however only three bus routes will be using the new busway from Monday the 3rd August.  These bus routes are routes 139, 169 and 209 (2).  Surely it would make sense to also run route 109 on the new busway?  Also some other routes could also use sections of the new busway, for example routes 105, 108, 107, 112, 116, 113.  Why build massive infrastructure if it is not going to be utilised to the maximum?"

"Congestion costs!  It is time that all modes of public transport were properly resourced to further encourage citizens to make the change.  The new busways are a very welcome incremental improvement to the public transport network.  Let's use them to the maximum!"

References:

1.  29 July 2009: SEQ: Where's our Buz? http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2538.0

2.  TransLink Service Update http://www.translink.com.au/servicechange.php?id=55

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

Ed: updated forum link

[#Metro]

Translink/Minister put out a media release:

?There are just a few finishing touches to be made before we see more than half a billion dollars of new infrastructure added to the busway network in just over a week?s time,? she said.

?From day one the new busways will be used by more than 7000 bus services a week on 21 routes.

?Passengers will be able to travel from University of Queensland at St Lucia to Buranda, then link up with the South Eastern Busway in to the city and then out to the RBWH at Windsor.

?And that means for tens of thousands of regular public transport users traffic jams will become an unpleasant memory.?

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said the first stage of the Northern busway and the new busway station would greatly improve public transport access to the Royal Brisbane and Women?s Hospital.

Right. So someone on placement at UQ is going to go to Buranda, change, go to the CBD, change again and then get to RBWH? That doesn't make sense. They could catch 109, but that doesn't use the new busway at all, and it sits in the traffic jams on Annerly Road. Then they would have to change at the cultural centre for 333 or 66.

Don't waste time: Combine 109!

[ozbob]

Better late than never ...  lol

--> http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/seq-bus-network-review-2013/brisbane/changes#66

--> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2538.0