4 Aug 2009: SEQ: New busways are 'not buz-ing'!

[ozbob]

Media Release 4 August 2009

SEQ: New busways are 'not buz-ing'!

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 Monday the 3rd August, but has called for some immediate improvements to routes and service frequency on the new busways.

Robert Dow, spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Yesterday I took the opportunity to travel to UQ Lakes and RBWH on the buses to observe the new busways in operation (1).  These are excellent additions to the busway network however the failure to ramp up routes and frequency means that their real 'congestion busting' value is not being realised."

"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 particularly when the remaining sections are completed."

"Yesterday afternoon at around 4pm the 333 buses going to and leaving from the RBWH bus station were already overloaded.  The route 66 buses should be extended immediately to RBHW and consideration be given to a novel combined route 66 and 109. This will assist in the overloading that occurs on peak times particularly between the Herston medical precinct and the CBD."

"The approach would be to combine the routes 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 (2).  This would also help ease the congestion between Herston and CBD on the buses."

"The Boggo Road busway section has only three bus routes will be using it.  These bus routes are routes 139, 169 and 209 (3).  Surely it would make sense to also run route 109, or better still a combined 66 and 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? We note that TransLink is having discussions with Brisbane Transport to include route 109 on the busway but surely this should have been in place from the opening?"

"Congestion costs plenty!  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.  Quick tour Northern Busway and Boggo Road - Eastern Busway 3rd August http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2557.0

2.  29 July 2009: SEQ: Where's our Buz? http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2538.0

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

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 4th August 2009 page 5

Quicker route to uni

[ozbob]

Delighted to note Minister Nolan's comments re the 109!     Excellent!

Now for the 66/109 innovation! 

[haakon]

Speaking of not buzzing I was hoping to use the Boggo road train/busway interconnect as an alternative to the Cleveland line to get to Buranda this morning. Only to discover the first bus of the morning was 9:59am........

[#Metro]

We'll that's exciting news!