SEQ high frequency bus routes - call for action

[ozbob]

Better buses needed while SEQ waits

14th May 2024

RAIL Back On Track welcomes the announcement today that funding is locked in for rail to Caloundra.
This project will be a game-changer in terms of improving mobility, saving residents time and allowing them to bypass congestion.

But as one milestone is reached, there are several new ones that present themselves, and the task of fulfilling our regions transport plans is never complete.

It's fantastic that the Sunshine Coast has finally had a win, but the fact is people continue to move to South East Queensland, growth is happening in all directions, and much of this growth is happening outside the catchment of the current rail system.

This is even true of state led "Priority development areas" such as Yarrabilba, Flagstone and Ripley, which are growing every week with minimal public transport available.

Whether it's project like Cross River Rail,  trains to Redcliffe or trains to Maroochydore, what we've seen is that time and time again is that delivering a new rail line tends to be a painful multi decade process for the Queensland Government, with "stalling tactics" tending to be quite obvious.

So what's the solution in the meantime for "everywhere else"?

We know that growth areas like Maroochydore, Coolangatta, Ripley, Redbank, Flagstone, Yarrabilba, Hamilton and Southern Redlands can't just have nothing until rail eventually reaches them.

What is needed is a broader roll-out of high frequency bus routes (Operating at least every 15 minutes, 7 days a week)  outside of traditional inner city areas, running direct along arterial roads.

This is the type of policy that can be implemented in months or within a couple of years, not decades, can be done relatively cheaply, and it would introduce more people to the concept of useful public transport, not just those who can afford to live in Brisbane's inner suburbs or near an existing station.

Buses are not necessarily the most glamorous part of the transport network, but a decent bus system should always be a starting point for getting people out of cars.

It shouldn't be the case where you have entire council areas Moreton Bay or Redlands with populations bigger than Cairns that don't have a single high frequency bus corridor.

Nor should it be the case where the state government is opening up areas like Yarrabilba yet only funding bus 6 days a week at a 2 hour frequency at times.

Most of Translink's improvements in more recent times have been fairly lame offerings such as timetable tweaks or hourly bus routes. Treasury needs to allocate more funding for Translink to allow service improvements, it is not all about infrastructure.

The SEQ Regional Transport Plan (2021) calls for around 25 new frequent bus links to be implemented over the next 18 years, but at present there is no implementation plan and no funding pipeline to roll it out.

This needs to change urgently.

TMR's bus vision



Source:
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/-/media/aboutus/corpinfo/Publications/regionaltransportplans/RTP-SEQ-web.pdf

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

[ozbob]

Facebook ...

Better buses needed while SEQ waits 14th May 2024 RAIL Back On Track welcomes the announcement today that funding is...

Posted by RAIL - Back On Track on Monday 13 May 2024

[ozbob]

https://x.com/railbotforum/status/1790067377335353416

[ozbob]

https://x.com/grescoe/status/1791091291029471711

[#Metro]

Buses are the secret sauce to high train patronage, and just high patronage in general. 

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

Re: Better buses needed while SEQ waits

23rd May 2024

Good Morning,

We certainly support the SEQ Council of Mayors in the calls for more funding for service improvements in public transport today.

SEQ mayors unite to demand new state deal to pay for population growth
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/seq-mayors-unite-to-demand-new-state-deal-to-pay-for-population-growth-20240522-p5jfu9.html

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Better buses needed while SEQ waits

14th May 2024

RAIL Back On Track welcomes the announcement today that funding is locked in for rail to Caloundra.
This project will be a game-changer in terms of improving mobility, saving residents time and allowing them to bypass congestion.

But as one milestone is reached, there are several new ones that present themselves, and the task of fulfilling our regions transport plans is never complete.

It's fantastic that the Sunshine Coast has finally had a win, but the fact is people continue to move to South East Queensland, growth is happening in all directions, and much of this growth is happening outside the catchment of the current rail system.

This is even true of state led "Priority development areas" such as Yarrabilba, Flagstone and Ripley, which are growing every week with minimal public transport available.

Whether it's project like Cross River Rail,  trains to Redcliffe or trains to Maroochydore, what we've seen is that time and time again is that delivering a new rail line tends to be a painful multi decade process for the Queensland Government, with "stalling tactics" tending to be quite obvious.

So what's the solution in the meantime for "everywhere else"?

We know that growth areas like Maroochydore, Coolangatta, Ripley, Redbank, Flagstone, Yarrabilba, Hamilton and Southern Redlands can't just have nothing until rail eventually reaches them.

What is needed is a broader roll-out of high frequency bus routes (Operating at least every 15 minutes, 7 days a week)  outside of traditional inner city areas, running direct along arterial roads.

This is the type of policy that can be implemented in months or within a couple of years, not decades, can be done relatively cheaply, and it would introduce more people to the concept of useful public transport, not just those who can afford to live in Brisbane's inner suburbs or near an existing station.

Buses are not necessarily the most glamorous part of the transport network, but a decent bus system should always be a starting point for getting people out of cars.

It shouldn't be the case where you have entire council areas Moreton Bay or Redlands with populations bigger than Cairns that don't have a single high frequency bus corridor.

Nor should it be the case where the state government is opening up areas like Yarrabilba yet only funding bus 6 days a week at a 2 hour frequency at times.

Most of Translink's improvements in more recent times have been fairly lame offerings such as timetable tweaks or hourly bus routes. Treasury needs to allocate more funding for Translink to allow service improvements, it is not all about infrastructure.

The SEQ Regional Transport Plan (2021) calls for around 25 new frequent bus links to be implemented over the next 18 years, but at present there is no implementation plan and no funding pipeline to roll it out.

This needs to change urgently.

TMR's bus vision



Source:
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/-/media/aboutus/corpinfo/Publications/regionaltransportplans/RTP-SEQ-web.pdf

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

[ozbob]

https://x.com/DarrenDavis10/status/1793423230713397614

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Infrastructure funding pledge to help ease SEQ growing pains $

The news

Last week, the mayors of four south-east Queensland councils facing population explosions levelled grave concerns about a lack of infrastructure funding at the state government. ...

 ... Mellish said he understood Harding's public transport and road concerns, as well as those of other mayors.

"I had a positive discussion with the south-east Queensland mayors on Thursday, and will continue to work closely with them on the best solutions for these issues."

What do public transport lobby groups say?

Rail Back on Track's Robert Dow said buses needed to be prioritised because new rail lines took a decade to plan, design, fund and build.

"We know that growth areas like Maroochydore, Coolangatta, Ripley, Redbank, Flagstone, Yarrabilba, Hamilton and Redlands can't just have nothing until rail eventually reaches them," Dow said.

"What is needed is a broader rollout of high-frequency bus routes – operating at least every 15 minutes, seven days a week – outside traditional inner-city areas on major arterial roads."

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1794345502873710624

[#Metro]

So the minister spoke about things already done in the past, which didn't answer Mayor Harding's current ask about *future* bus funding.

With no LGA contribution, they don't have any bargaining leverage at the table IMO.

Will be interesting to see if any substantial new bus operational funding is unlocked in the state budget, my hunch is it won't.

[ozbob]

Pending electoral doom can lead to some interesting outcomes ... 

I would not be surprised if there is some funding in the budget for bus improvements in some of the SEQ LGAs.

[achiruel]

Do we have any specific routes in Moreton/Redland that we're targeting for HF upgrades?

In Redland, the 250 is bleedingly obvious, and the fact it hasn't already been done is disgraceful IMO. And hourly services on weekends, with the last services leaving at 6 (in)/7 (on) pm on Sundays, for the main trunk route if a whole region, is a f#$@&!g joke!!

Maybe the 270 as well. Are there others?

In Moreton Bay, probably the 660, 680. Also think it needs a new route connecting Kippa Ring directly to Sandgate without doing a scenic tour of the whole peninsula.

Maybe the 640 as well. Might help relieve the heavy traffic on Bribie Island Rd. I also think the Sandstone Point Hotel should have to contribute to extra 640s when there's an event, much like events at stadiums have to.

[AJ Transport]

On another thread I listed a series of routes that have high ridership in SEQ council areas (excluding Brisbane and Gold Coast which are better served by high frequency services). I think any of these would benefit from BUZ level services.

Moreton bay - 680, 690, 640, 676

Ipswich - 515, 524, 526, new route between Ipswich and Springfield station

Redlands - 250, 280

Logan - 545, 560

Sunshine Coast - 620, 616, 626