23 Sep 2018: SEQ: Call for the establishment of a park 'n' ride taskforce

[ozbob]

Media release 23rd September 2018

SEQ: Call for the establishment of a park 'n' ride taskforce

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers said the park 'n' ride paradigm throughout SEQ is confused and broken, lacks an overall coherent strategy and is information poor and inaccurate.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Increasingly there are calls from commuters and politicians for more park 'n' ride at various railway stations and in support of bus and even ferry. There is a lack of overall coordination and no real strategy in terms of management, policy and best practice outcomes for park 'n' ride in SEQ."

"It is not possible to keep expanding park 'n' ride indefinitely.  It is much too expensive.  For example, the recent announcement of a further 650 car parking spaces at Springfield Central station at a cost of $44.5 million works out for a cost of $68,000 per car parking space (1).  $44.5 million to 2/3 fill a train. Hardly sustainable in the big picture."

"Some park 'n' ride is needed, but more emphasis must be placed on improving feeder (station) bus networks and better support for active transport options particularly bicycle and pedestrian, and encouraging commuters to use these modes."

"Another example of poor overall strategy. Altandi station precinct is having problems with overflow parking in residential streets (2).  Parking overflow blocks streets, driveways, and contributes to local road congestion and the quality life of the local community suffers. Some additional park 'n' ride is clearly warranted at Altandi as Altandi station is one of the limited stops for the Gold Coast line express services so it is a particularly attractive option for commuters.  A proper park 'n' ride strategy would have factored this in when the timetable was changed in 2014 and assured that adequate park 'n' ride together with improved feeder and active transport was done in concurrence. "

"A jurisdiction that does park n' ride well is Perth WA ( https://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/parking ).  They charge a small fee for their park n' ride of $2 daily, but importantly they have excellent feeder bus services.  People have a real alternative.  The parking charge helps keep the parking rationed to a degree and the overall outcome is much better for residents and commuters."

"Due to the poor nature of feeder bus services in SEQ generally, it would not be appropriate at present to charge a fee for park 'n' ride, but as better feeder station services become established, and TransLink are keen to use to the go card for parking management, it would be an easy thing to do in time (3).  Such revenue could then be feed back into improving feeder bus services and maintaining the park 'n' ride facilities."

"It is time to change the mindless paradigm of just expanding parking spaces.  We need to be a lot smarter. A park 'n' ride taskforce could finally develop an overall policy and strategy for sorting out the parking mess! Parking is not really free."

References:

1.  Park 'n' ride upgrade to add 650 new car spaces https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/southwest/land-decision-made-on-springfield-central-multistorey-park-n-ride/news-story/0c12b6bdb25e2c923334920ac78dfc25

2.  Altandi Station parking woes worsen https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/southeast/altandi-station-parking-woes-worsen/news-story/1d1a696491cf804468a04ab13c180bcc

3.  Commuters frustrated by lack of park-and-ride spaces, fuelling safety fears http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-31/brisbane-park-and-ride-issues-fuel-safety-fears/10055486

Contact:

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

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