Opposition Statement: All plans and no action on bus corridor

[ozbob]

http://www.fionasimpson.com.au/Media/LocalNews/tabid/69/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/5/All-plans-and-no-action-on-bus-corridor.aspx

All plans and no action on bus corridor

Tuesday, 28 September 2010

The government planning process should be overhauled, Shadow Minister for Transport and Main Roads Fiona Simpson said today, after $32 million was spent on Sunshine Coast transport projects without one shovel breaking the soil.

Ms Simpson said the $7 million for planning the bus corridor and the $25 million for hardship acquisitions for the multi-modal transport corridor, which will no longer be used, highlighted the need for change in process.

"Under this long-term Labor Government we see press releases, not business cases and plans," Ms Simpson said.

"The Bligh Labor Government has spent $7 million on planning the bus corridor from Caloundra to Maroochydore but a business case, which is essential for gaining Treasury funding, and a schedule for delivery are yet to materialise. That's not value for money.

"Then there is the Sunshine Coast multi-modal transport corridor that the government continues to flip-flop and back flip over the route.

"This is a real debacle that has caused real distress to the home owners, destroyed the local housing market and wasted $25 million."

Ms Simpson said the LNP believed planning dollars should deliver "shovel ready projects" that gave the community certainty and value for their taxpayer dollars.

"I support good planning but I also want to see value for money for Queensland taxpayers," she said.

"Planning funds should produce business cases not press releases."

During Estimates sittings this year, Ms Simpson questioned both the Transport and Main Roads' Ministers about the status of "plans" in the SEQIPP and discovered most SEQ projects did not have business cases.

"This Government continues to claim it is investing in our transport system, but all they are doing is dragging essential project's timelines out and spending up big on lengthy planning processes that result in next to nothing."

[#Metro]

Where is this bus corridor?
Is there a map somewhere?

[#Metro]

I think she is referring to Coast Connect, which is an implementation of BRT.
It looks quite good and doesn't seem to need much concrete, which should be quicker to implement.

http://www.coastconnect.com.au/
http://www.google.com.au/search?q=Sunshine+Coast+bus+corridor

Some road widening will be required for new bus lanes... though I wonder how these lanes
will be protected from SOV (single occupant vehicle) motorist attack and downgrading to general traffic lanes???

[#Metro]

From the Department's own website:

http://www.coastconnect.com.au/why-do-we-need-coastconnect.html

Currently, the Sunshine Coast has the lowest rate of public transport use in south east Queensland. Preliminary transport modelling indicates that without better public transport options, traffic congestion will choke the Sunshine Coast and its communities. Without an efficient public transport system, population growth will result in extra cars, extra trips and gridlock on local roads. This means increased congestion and air pollution. CoastConnect will help manage increasing traffic congestion, make it easier for people to move around the Sunshine Coast and improve the environment. In essence, CoastConnect will deliver a better public transport system while making sure the Sunshine Coast keeps its clean and green reputation.

[colinw]

Call me cynical, but I smell a rat.

Why do I have a nasty feeling that the Government's going to roll out a few bus lanes, issue press releases saying how wonderful Sunshine Coast Public Transport now is, then indefinitely shelve CAMCOS?

It seems like every proposal for improved public transport on the Sunshine Coast drags on for years and years with no action beyind a mounting pile of studies.

Sunshine Coast rail projects - CAMCOS and even Beerburrum to Landsborough are already starting to get a distinct "Kippa-Ring Mk2" feel to them.

[#Metro]

How high is the pile of studies now in meters?
You need bus + rail. It won't work properly if one or the other is missing.
I would add bicycle to that too.

Rail: Fast, high capacity, high speed over long distances, links up regions
Bus: Slower, runs on road, lower capacity to match local demand and very good as a local distributor service.
Bicycle: Can get into even the worst cul-de-sac hell areas, good for short trips and when PT frequency can't
be high (i.e. in cul-de-sac areas). I hope they put bike racks at the bus stops to get good bus-bicycle integration.

Feed me!    :bi  :bi  :bi

[Stillwater]

This document sets the scene and spells out the timeframe.  Note, the project is behind schedule and the implications of doing nothing are coming true, according to advice to government.  Read on:
http://www.arup.com.au/camcos/docs/final/ch16.pdf

Here is a CAMCOS Report executive summary:
http://www.arup.com.au/camcos/docs/final/execsumm.pdf

The Sunshine Coast Multi-Modal Transport Corridor:
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/870ec8cc-6d7a-4367-a574-8e6731161a0d/multimodaltransportcorridornewsletteroctober2008.pdf

[colinw]

Here is a CAMCOS Report executive summary:
http://www.arup.com.au/camcos/docs/final/execsumm.pdf

The scandal is the date of that report (April 2000).  10 years on, and waiting ...

How much has the cost of the project increased in that time?

[WTN]

The CAMCOS report's proposal extends beyond 2015, but not much has been implemented. Sad but true.

Coast Connect is a road based solution (of bus and transit lanes) so I find it less preferable than CAMCOS as a whole.