Greens: River Connect

[ozbob]

Smart affordable network plan launched today by @BenPennings #bnevotes #qldpol https://t.co/We3YyPhQUY

[Jonno]

Great connections for active and public transport!!  The possibilities are endless!!! Could even swap the Hamilton and Morningside links, etc!!!

[Derwan]

Saw a news crew (or the like) at Woolloongabba just after 12 today.  Probably something to do with the bike path along Stanley St.  (Have the Greens taken on that policy or was it just Bicycle Queensland advocating for it?)

Edit:  Yep - just saw it in the other thread. 

[ozbob]

River Connect

>> http://itsyourbrisbane.com/commitments/river-connect/

[red dragin]

I'm liking the idea of a green bridge at Newstead. Will be quite a large structure though, given the span and the low river banks.

[Old Northern Road]

I don't agree with the Newstead bridge. I think the cost would be too great plus if an East-West metro is ever built it would replace the need for it.

I do agree with the Toowong-West End bridge athough I'm not sure if running it all the way to Darra is a good idea. Wouldn't running it to UQ be better?

[#Metro]

Wonderful map!

I think some minor tweaks are in order:

1. Blue City Glider should only go as far as Toowong turnaround. Further than that - it will be unreliable and cost a lot PLUS there is already the Green CentenaryGlider going there.

2. The cross-town bus would make total sense if it simply continued across the bridge to Bulimba and Morningside. This would allow the Blue CityGlider to extend into Hamilton area, along Kingsford Smith Drive AND cater to passengers who want a direct trip to the CBD.

[Gazza]

I don't agree with the Newstead bridge. I think the cost would be too great plus if an East-West metro is ever built it would replace the need for it.

Plot Twist: east west metro could run across said bridge

[#Metro]

I think Energex and the developers at Newstead might pitch in to have a bridge. The power cables are unsightly and could be put under a new bridge there. Trick will be how to stop cars accidentally on purpose using the bridge.

[BrizCommuter]

Newstead - Bulimba Bridge is a good idea, and has been doing the rounds for years. Needs to be LR upgradable. Not sure about the West End - Toowong Bridge.

[aldonius]

Has also been doing the rounds for a long time. Probably not as long as Boundary St to UQ though...

[SurfRail]

Given the proposed densities around the West End it makes a fair amount of sense, plus the sensitivities about leaving the river perfectly navigable for masted boats isn't as great this far up.

If I was going to put in light rail in Brisbane, the Blue route is pretty much where I would do it, but it would be for the purpose of seriously upgrading the carrying capacity of that route rather than trying to displace buses from a series of other routes. 

A metro line is probably more suitable in the longer run given where this is.  If I was going to lay one in, I would be looking at something like this:



Plenty of redevelopment opportunities along here, both current and prospective - all along Montague Rd, the northern edge of Fortitude Valley and Newstead, the Bulimba Barracks, Hamilton Northshore, Doomben Racecourse etc.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

8th March 2016

Greens 'River Connect' Policy Hits The Mark


Source: http://itsyourbrisbane.com/commitments/river-connect/

RAIL Back On Track welcomes The Greens 'River Connect' proposal, featuring two new green bridges and a greatly improved CityGlider bus network. By improving the existing bus network more areas can be opened up to high-frequency bus services for the fraction of the cost of Light Rail.

The Green's proposed Toowong - West End green bridge will open up the entire West End peninsula to shopping and employment at Toowong and Indooroopilly.

Similarly, the proposed Newstead - Bulimba green bridge will greatly improve cycling and access to both the Fortitude Valley and Bulimba dining precincts. There is a possibility of running a cross-town bus from Ashgrove through RBWH to Bulimba with this proposal. It would provide true cross-town connectivity that would not be possible to beat with a car.

We actually think there is scope for a third green bridge out at Moggill, connecting Bellbowrie to Riverhills. This would allow buses to access the Centenary Suburbs and Darra station. Residents could shop at Mt Ommaney rather than having to drive almost twice the distance to Indooroopilly. Access to work and education at Springfield would also be improved.

Overall bus network reform must still be pursued. Brisbane City Council was handed the bus review in 2013, demonstrating beyond doubt that bus network reform can be pursued at a council level.

The Greens active and public transport policies have been a nice surprise this election. Light years ahead of the rest - unlike the vote bait ' metro ' and vote bait light rail by Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and challenger Rod Harding, The Greens proposals are of sound planning basis, of reasonable cost, are high-benefit and fast to deliver.

Well done.

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

Reference:

A Bellbowrie-Riverhills Green Bridge?
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10020.msg128173#msg128173

[ozbob]

http://itsyourbrisbane.com/commitments/river-connect/

River Connect

River Connect is the Greens' $491 million commitment to a clean, connected and free-flowing Brisbane. Three 'Green' bridges, much improved CityGlider connections and new infrastructure for walking and cycling will transform our transport network to finally rescue Brisbane from crippling congestion.

River Connect offers great new connections between 4 train lines, 2 busways, 4 hospitals and 3 large university campuses. Cross-town public transport will become both quicker and cheaper, encouraging many more people to leave their cars at home.  Commuter cycling will become quicker and safer. Less congestion will save money, reduce stress, help our environment, and make our city much more pleasant to live, work and play in.

Click here to download full PDF

River Connect comprises 6 interrelated infrastructure and transport redesign policies.

    $105 million Toowong to West End Green Bridge
    $200 million Teneriffe to Bulimba Green Bridge
    $40 million Green Victoria Bridge
    $10 million CityGlider bus service extension and redesign
    $106 million separated bike infrastructure plan
    $30 million transition to new solar-powered buses.



The River Connect plan is fully costed and will be delivered within the first term of a Green's led council. It is significantly more practical, effective and economically viable then both the LNP and ALP proposals. It doesn't rely on extra debt, raising rates or 'maybe money' from other governments

    A new $105 million Green Bridge for buses, cyclists and pedestrians from Ferry Road in West End to Toowong railway station will:

    Connect inner-south residents with a train station and major shopping centre; with links by bus to the University of Queensland and Centenary Suburbs, and by train as far as Ipswich and Springfield
    Allow safe, separated cycle access to the Bicentennial and Centenary Bikeways
    Connect inner-West residents with Orleigh Park and the entertainment, dining and cultural hub of West End
    Reduce congestion, as cross-town public transport will be quicker, cheaper and easier than driving
    Allow the CityGlider to extend over the bridge to Toowong and the Centenary suburbs

    A new $200million Green Bridge for buses, cyclists and pedestrians from Commercial Road in Teneriffe to Oxford Street in Bulimba will:

    Connect eastern suburbs residents directly to the inner-north
    Reduce congestion on Lytton and Wynnum Roads by allowing eastern suburbs residents to travel to the CBD quicker by bus than by car
    Enable cyclists to avoid dangerous roads and travel safely to the CBD via the New Farm-Newstead Bikeway
    Allow the CityGlider to extend over the bridge to Bulimba and Morningside railway station

    A $40 million 'Green Victoria' Bridge upgrade will:

    Halve bus congestion on the bridge, saving commuters valuable time
    Add two extra platforms at the Cultural Centre to allow separation of South East Busway buses from buses that travel between West End and New Farm or Teneriffe
    Allow commuters to know exactly where on the platform their bus is leaving from
    Add bike lanes, separated from the bus lanes in both directions, to give cyclists a safe route into the City and pedestrians more safe space on the footpaths
    Open up the public transport network by giving more opportunities for frequent connections by bus, train and ferry to more places.
    Improve the space of what is one of Brisbane's key gateways to the CBD.

    The new $10 million Green CityGlider all the way between Enoggera and Portside will provide fast and reliable connections for inner-north residents to:

    Existing CityGlider bus services to the CBD and beyond
    Bulimba and the eastern suburbs
    RBW Hospital and the Northern Busway
    Victoria Park
    Kelvin Grove State College, Queensland Academy for Creative Industries, and QUT Creative Industries Precinct
    The Doomben and Ferny Grove railway lines

The extended Blue CityGlider route all the way between Morningside and the Centenary will:

    Provide new fast and reliable connections for residents of the inner eastern and far south-western suburbs to the CBD and beyond
    Connect with the new Green CityGlider to give access to the inner-northern suburbs

The extended Maroon CityGlider route all the way between Ashgrove and Coorparoo will:

    Provide new fast and reliable connections for East Brisbane residents to the CBD, South East Busway and Cleveland railway line
    Connect with the new Green CityGlider to give access to the inner-northern suburbs

    Our $106 million plan for separate active transport infrastructure will:

    Construct new infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians along Kingsford Smith Drive, with connections to the CBD
    Extend existing separated cycle paths into the CBD, allowing thousands to ride safely into the CBD for work or education
    Connect the Goodwill Bridge and inner-south with a safe cycling route to the University of Queensland
    Connect the Bicentennial and Centenary Bikeways using a separated bike lane along Sylvan Road

    Your Green team will spend $30 million to purchase new smog and noise-free buses, powered by the sun. What a commitment to a clean, connected and decongested Brisbane!

[VD]

Hi all, I live in west end and I like the idea of a Bridge to Toowong but that area is flood prone and at high tide can be bad sometimes. I'm not a bridge expert but would the bridge need to be high enough so the bridge doesn't go under like the Go between Bridge at both ends did back in 2011

[#Metro]

Just saw this comment on our FB page. LOL.

Rail Back on Track backing socialist/marxist policies of the Greens. The problem with that is that someone has to pay for it. Usually the poor old ratepayer so that the inner city latte sippers can make sure they don't have to pay to get around the city. Off actual solutions. Like improving buses around Brisbane. Offer solutions like better arterial roads (I am no big fan of the tunnels but they will deliver better traffic access around the city even if the tolls are horribly expensive). The Sth East Busway, (A Jim Soorley project) was a masterstroke for public transport and continuing to improve that network is a priority. Removing the stupid 'no cars' on the St Lucia Bus bridge would help remove traffic from the CBD and Indooroopilly. The Greens offer stuff all. Pie in the sky stuff which won't fix even a tenth of the problems that traffic in Brisbane faces.

Has this person ever lived in a city where there was no public spending on anything. Perhaps some isolated hut nestled far in a remote desert?

The Greens has put up one of the most, if not the most financially conservative budget promises ever seen, coming in FAR below what Red Team and Blue Team are offering.

[ozbob]