Translink: Kelvin Grove Road bus priority

[Golliwog]

Not quite what I was hoping for when I read the title, but still a great idea.

http://translink.com.au/about-translink/what-we-do/infrastructure-projects/kelvin-grove-road-bus-priority

What is the Kelvin Grove Road bus priority project?
The Kelvin Grove Rd bus priority project is part of TransLink's $44 million Station Upgrade Program and involves the implementation of three indented bus stops along Kelvin Grove Road, between Newmarket and Kelvin Grove.

The project will improve service efficiency and reliability along this major arterial road. Indented bus stops will also reduce congestion along the T3 transit lane to ensure it operates at its full capacity. Express services and commuter traffic will flow freely while services stop in the indented bus bays.

The three stops that are planned to be indented are located inbound between Parker and Blamey Streets on Kelvin Grove Road at:

•stop 17 (Thurlow Street)
•stop 15 (Guildford Street)
•stop 13 (School Street)
View our introductory newsletter about the project to residents (PDF 2,51 MB).

What are the benefits of the bus indents?
The Kelvin Grove Road bus indents will:

•improve safety and traffic flow along this busy urban corridor
•improve bus network operations on this crucial commuter link between the northern suburbs and the city
•encourage public transport use by improving service reliability and efficiency
•provide high-quality waiting area for passengers including shelters with seating, timetable information and lighting.

Why is it needed?
The Kelvin Grove Road bus priority project is a Queensland Government congestion management initiative to reduce congestion along one of South East Queensland's key urban corridors. TransLink has identified three bus stops between Newmarket and Kelvin Grove where the construction of indented bus bays would benefit network operations.

How will this affect me?
Construction
Construction of the new indented bus stops will be staged with each bus indent being construction one at a time to reduce the potential for impacts on surrounding service and traffic.

We will make every effort to minimise any construction impacts.

Services
During construction, it is likely that as each new bus indent is built that the existing bus stop and services will be redirected to further up or down the road to allow room for construction to occur

We will notify passengers as soon as possible of any changes to services.

[longboi]

Fine, But not really in the realm of bus priority; No queue jumps or dedicated bus lanes. If anything indented stops can hold buses up if motorists aren't obeying the 'give way' rule.

[Otto]

Fine, But not really in the realm of bus priority; No queue jumps or dedicated bus lanes. If anything indented stops can hold buses up if motorists aren't obeying the 'give way' rule.

From experience, it seems that a lot of motorists seem to think that if a bus bay is off the side of a road, they don't need to give way.. It actually slows buses down as they wait for a break in the traffic to re enter the carraigeway.. On the rare occasion, a car may give way.. No wonder drivers choose to be ignorant of the Give way rules, as police do not enforce this rule and in deed, most police are guilty of failing to give way. Seems this rule is only ever enforced as a result of an altercation between bus and car..

[dwb]

Maybe they are getting ready for a fight with BCC and putting down a bus lane as well?

Ann St for instance under the last administration was a flop cos the expresses couldn't get past the all stops. It was removed bc it didn't make the bus passengers happy nor the car drivers happy.

[Golliwog]

...but Ann St still has a bus lane?

I would point out however that while the three stops are all on the inbound side of the road, they aren't the only stops in that stretch, though there is at least one stop I can think of that's already indented. These stops that are being indented however IIRC are not BUZ stops so this should help speed up the BUZ services.

On the cars not giving way thing, I've had some bus drivers just start edging out into the lane, forcing cars to give way. I doubt it would do much but perhaps an education or enforcement campaign would be in order?

[dwb]

...but Ann St still has a bus lane?

I would point out however that while the three stops are all on the inbound side of the road, they aren't the only stops in that stretch, though there is at least one stop I can think of that's already indented. These stops that are being indented however IIRC are not BUZ stops so this should help speed up the BUZ services.

On the cars not giving way thing, I've had some bus drivers just start edging out into the lane, forcing cars to give way. I doubt it would do much but perhaps an education or enforcement campaign would be in order?

In the Valley.... there is only a bus jump not a full lane despite the remnants of paint. There are no indented stops there.

[somebody]

Bus lane starts around the Queen St/Ann St/Boundary St intersection.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Its pointless though as every time I've used it theres been some delivery truck or cab/car parked/blocking it somewhere along it.

[Golliwog]

That is something that annoys me about that bus lane. Is it actually a 24 hr one, or is it the same as the one on Edward St which is only during peak?

[Otto]

That is something that annoys me about that bus lane. Is it actually a 24 hr one

No

[HappyTrainGuy]

Only during peak on weekdays.

[somebody]

7-11am, 2-7pm.  IIRC.

[HappyTrainGuy]

I still don't know why they even allow parking outside/just before the church

[Golliwog]

I thought as much. I think that's something that should be fixed up. Its not like this is out in the suburbs where buses only come every 15 minutes off peak. This is the CBD! IIRC most of the buildings along there have underground parking and the like. Delivery vehicles should use those instead, or park in the right hand lane and cross the road at traffic lights.

[BrizCommuter]

An indented bus stop is car priority, not bus priority. Another load of BS spin!

[HappyTrainGuy]

Theres actually an underground car park on the right hand side of the church   (When travelling via Ann Street).

Personally I don't mind it if the right hand side has parking outside of peak times but the left hand side has to be adjusted.

[Golliwog]

An indented bus stop is car priority, not bus priority. Another load of BS spin!

Its on a T2/3 lane and stopped buses hold up other buses as well. No it doesn't just benefit buses, but they still get a win from it.

[BrizCommuter]

An indented bus stop is car priority, not bus priority. Another load of BS spin!

Its on a T2/3 lane and stopped buses hold up other buses as well. No it doesn't just benefit buses, but they still get a win from it.

I don't think I've ever been on a P343 or 345 that has been held up by a 390.

[somebody]

An indented bus stop is car priority, not bus priority. Another load of BS spin!

Its on a T2/3 lane and stopped buses hold up other buses as well. No it doesn't just benefit buses, but they still get a win from it.

I don't think I've ever been on a P343 or 345 that has been held up by a 390.

I can report that I have been on a 359 held up by a 390.  The same 359 would have been held up by a 345 but for the indented stop.

FWIW.