Article: Lobby group pushes for overbridge

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

Lobby group pushes for overbridge


http://media.apnonline.com.au/img/media/images/2012/03/27/SNN_27-03-2012_EGN_06_SCN130312RAILd_t325.jpg

The Coast's Rail Back On Track spokesman Jeff Addison (left), and RBOT convenor Robert Dow check out Cooroy's overpass.
Geoff Potter

Lobby group pushes for overbridge

Peter Gardiner | 27th March 2012 4:00 AM

AN online lobby group is backing a Cooroy community push to have the town's railway station eyesore upgraded.

Rail Back On Line, a web-based community advocate for public-transport passengers, is echoing calls for the "rocket launcher" pedestrian overbridge to be replaced.

"The Cooroy railway station is an eyesore not in keeping with its historic status or its role as the rail gateway to the Noosa region," RBOT spokesman Robert Dow said.

"The existing overbridge, nicknamed for its steepness, is the only place in Cooroy where school children, pedestrians, cyclists, those using mobility scooters and mothers pushing prams can cross the railway tracks that divide the town.

"It was built in the 1980s and fails current Disability Discrimination Act standards."

Mr Dow said there was an urgency to find an outcome acceptable to the Cooroy community as the operation of the station overbridge was the subject of a "rail infrastructure transport services contract" that expired in 2012-13.

RBOT estimates a new overbridge, complying with the DDA provisions, would cost about $1.6 million, while its other two options are a subway or an at-grade crossing with a locked gate system that blocks access when a train is approaching.

"The optimum solution, I think, would be a subway. But because of cost that may be too much in terms of benefits," Mr Dow said.

He said the pedestrian rail crossing suggested by residents was "an immediate solution to the problem and probably the most cost-effective of all" as long as it was done with the proper safeguards.

"There's plenty of situations in Brisbane, for example, where there are pedestrian crossings across railway lines," he said.

"It makes it easy for people using mobility devices, wheelchairs and the like.

"It is appropriate that Queensland Rail and the Department of Transport and Main Roads should begin a dialogue with the local community rather than develop plans to an advanced stage and present them."

RBOT had hoped for the Cooroy rail facility to become a late election issue for the seat of Nicklin candidates.

Mr Dow said planning must be sped up for the Cooroy station to become a transit-orientated development hub - "something the State Government talks about, but does nothing to implement".

"The argument that not many passengers use Cooroy station is rubbish," Mr Dow said.

"They (Queensland Rail) have plans to massively expand the park-and-ride here in time so the solution has to be future-proofed.

"Since we've been here there would have been 20-30 people that have crossed this bridge.

"The fact is it is an important communication link for the town so it's more than just a rail crossing."

Mr Dow said the new LNP State Government should commit to a round of public consultation involving the Sunshine Coast Council about cross-rail pedestrian access at Cooroy.

"Queensland Rail, TransLink, and the Department of Transport and Main Roads are the principal agencies involved, but a role exists for the Sunshine Coast Council to be involved when considering wider town planning implications," he said.

[Fares_Fair]

Well said Mr Dow   
Explains it in a nutshell.

[Gazza]

"The optimum solution, I think, would be a subway. But because of cost that may be too much in terms of benefits," Mr Dow said.

I prefer overbridges, because they don't become full of sewage, both the generated by nearby pipes, and the type generated by certain passengers.

[Mozz]

Overbridges can bring unintended consequences. The Oxley Station pedestrian Bridge (old wood style) was selected for replacement, probably as a result of the two new tracks and station upgrades undertaken in the last 3 years.

However scant or little attention was paid to the local neighbourhood in terms of the "project" to replace the bridge, which was an important vehicle for facilitating the local community to travel from one side of Oxley to the other.

The initial advice to the Oxley community and the commuters was that it would take 5 months to replace.

13 months later it was only opened after ministerial intervention as a result of an active campaign by myself and others.

The bridge design was never part of any community consultation ...... thus we now have a spectacularly huge monolith which is around 1 to 1.5 story's above the height of the old bridge.

This means that if you try to access the bridge from Ellen Street, you have to ascend via stairs, the height of a two or three story building to get to the bridge platform.

Local community feedback has been that many older people who used to use the old bridge cannot use the new bridge due to the significant increase in height and thus number of stairs.

There is an alternate route and that is to use the subway at the Oxley station, however for some this is a 300m to 500m detour and that itself is a significant and generally a deciding factor.

[ozbob]

"The optimum solution, I think, would be a subway. But because of cost that may be too much in terms of benefits," Mr Dow said.

I prefer overbridges, because they don't become full of sewage, both the generated by nearby pipes, and the type generated by certain passengers.

Subway would be ideal and fits the landscape there well.  Have you been there to have a look? There is a natural rise and fall and entry would be seamless, the community is keen on a subway.  The preferred site is further down than the bridge, part rail overbridge part subway.

Something that has been explored previously but probably won't happen.