4 Oct 2010: SEQ: 'I will be late, stuck in traffic gridlock'

[ozbob]

Media release 4 October 2010

SEQ:  'I will be late, stuck in traffic gridlock'

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 called for an urgent paradigm shift in transport planning in SEQ transport  with the release of the RACQ's latest Travel Times survey showing traffic on almost all of the city's major routes slows to less than 35km/h during the morning and evening peak periods.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"We have had unprecedented investment in road infrastructure across the region over the last 10 years and the result is even worse congestion during peak hour and more recently weekends.  RAIL Back On Track has recently (1) highlighted:

    * that Government's failure to strike a balance between road and rail has resulted in more cars and trucks on the roads, peak hour traffic chaos, increased travel time and worsening air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions and huge cost impacts on health;

    * the Senate Standing Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport in 2009 found that building freeways does not solve congestion and they in fact increase congestion in the long term; and

    * the recent Independent Public Inquiry into Sydney's Long Term Public Transport Plan also found that increasing levels of congestion cannot be overcome by relying on further decentralisation and endless road building."

"It is time for our Governments and the RACQ to accept that today's traffic congestion is actually the result of the road infrastructure built over the last 40 years and not because of the latest missing link, no western bypass or not enough upgrades.  Claiming more roads will reduce congestion is like smoking more cigarettes expecting it to cure lung cancer.  The only outcome of building more freeways and tunnels is worse congestion and slower traffic speeds."

"The Draft Connecting SEQ 2031 plan still remains too road centric and will continue to encourage more motor vehicle use whilst draining even more taxes away from vital services such as health, schools and policing. The fundamental reason why the current mode share of public transport does not match the 1997 projections of 10.5% (actual 7%) is due to the road centric infrastructure program over the last 10-15 years and the absolute failure to improve the frequency of both bus and particularly rail, and a failure to give buses a proper priority over other motor vehicles."

"More roads means more congestion.  Pure and simple."

References:

1. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4349.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4563.0