TransLink Media: New bus station for North Lakes

[ozbob]

http://www.translink.com.au/mediarelease.php?id=149

New bus station for North Lakes

Tuesday 22 June 2010

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan and Member for Murrumba Dean Wells today announced that a new $3.8 million bus station would be built at North Lakes, starting early next year.

Minister Nolan said the new bus station would be built on the corner of The Corso and Endeavour Boulevard at North Lakes.

"This new infrastructure will greatly improve access to public transport for people in North Lakes and cater for the strongly increasing demand for local bus services in the area," Ms Nolan said.

"Detailed design of the new bus station is underway with construction due to start in early 2011 and expected to be complete in the middle of the year.

"The bus station will have six bus bays, a comfortable waiting environment for passengers with sheltered seating and lighting, CCTV, public art, extensive landscaping and driver amenities.

"It will also include a kiss 'n' ride on Endeavour Boulevard for people to drop off and pick up bus passengers."

Ms Nolan said TransLink was already reviewing services including bus-rail connections at Petrie train station and upgrading bus stops on North Lakes Drive to meet the region's strong population growth.

She said works to extend the indented bus stops and provide additional shelter at the bus stop on North Lakes Drive, near the shopping centre, would begin later this month (June).

Mr Wells said the works would improve the safety and efficiency of the stops, as well as enhance passenger comfort.

"Four bus routes 676, 680, 681 & 682 service the North Lakes area and this station will help meet future demand for services in this catchment area," Mr Wells said.

"Commuters may experience some minor disruptions while this work is underway and I appreciate their patience during these times.

"The North Lakes bus station and improved bus stops on North Lakes Drive are being delivered as part of TransLink's Station Upgrade Program.

"The Queensland Government is committed to improving the public transport system in South East Queensland, including a new bus station and better bus stops for North Lakes and Mango Hill residents."

For more details on public transport, visit the TransLink website www.translink.com.au or phone the Call Centre on 13 12 30.

[Golliwog]

According to the release, this was meant to be ready in mid 2011... better late than never!

http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/details/1357703071

North Lakes station opening soon!
Last updated: 3.51pm Tuesday 15 January 2013

From Tuesday 29 January, the new North Lakes bus station will be open for business. The station will provide high quality public transport facilities and convenient connections to local and regional destinations.

Read more about the new North Lakes station.
Changes to your local bus service

Routes 661*, 679, 680, 681, 682, 684 and 687 will now stop at the new station instead of Westfield North Lakes Shopping Centre.

Routes 688 and 689 will also stop at the new station and continue to service the Westfield North Lakes Shopping Centre stops A and B on North Lakes Drive.

Route 680 will also now connect Kippa Ring Hospital with the North Lakes Health Precinct.

If you're travelling to Brisbane City, you can catch route 680 to Westfield Chermside Shopping Centre, or route 682 and 687 to Petrie station and connect with fast and frequent services to the city.

Please check back soon for updated timetables.

*Route 661 is a trial service until mid 2013

[HappyTrainGuy]

Guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh can they build it any futher away from the Westfield! At least there is a shuttle bus running from the interchange to Westfield.

[somebody]

Guuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh can they build it any futher away from the Westfield! At least there is a shuttle bus running from the interchange to Westfield.

Might as well stay out on Anzac Ave then!

[SurfRail]

I was very surprised with this location.  They must be banking on some significant infill development on the vacant space in between, which is where you would have expected the station to go.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Might as well stay out on Anzac Ave then!

Not far from it.

I was very surprised with this location.  They must be banking on some significant infill development on the vacant space in between, which is where you would have expected the station to go.

There is currently construction going on in between Westfield and the stop location. Units or small businesss I think. The only reason I can see for its current location was cost. At the time the vacant lot between the two was on a slope while the current location was already on flat land. They could have spent more and made it a interchange with underground parking. I haven't had a really good look at the area since last year but I'll swing around and try to get a few pics when I pick up some stuff this arvo. I just hope there are some ticket machines there as onboard top ups can go to hell  (680 users know what I'm talking about )

Edit: Anything else nearby anyone wants me to look at/grab a photo of while I'm there?

[SurfRail]

I also have a friend who drives for Hornibrook who will likely be in and out of there every day he's on, so he will be able to report how its going.

[HappyTrainGuy]

A few photos from this arvo. In the last 2 weeks it doesn't look like much has changed. The most noticable thing had been the street markings being added and parking removed.

The station signage.


The interchange to the left. Construction to the right. The tower in the distance is Westfield.


Another view.


Weather permitting.....


Another look at the interchange.


The building on the left are toilets with the bike cage on the right.


Having a look at the interchange it makes you wonder what the hell took so long when you consider down the road MBRL works are well and truly in full swing.

[longboi]

I was very surprised with this location.  They must be banking on some significant infill development on the vacant space in between, which is where you would have expected the station to go.

It won't be vacant forever. Like Springfield Central, these areas don't exist in a vacuum. They do grow and develop and believe it or not, plans for future development are considered when new infrastructure is built. Check out http://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/general.aspx?id=11035 for some idea of what will eventually fill the vacant space around the station. The station is located between 'Town Frame C' and 'Town Frame D'. As you can see it will be quite central to the overall town centre once complete.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Not really. I still reckon they only selected that location to do it on the cheap. The interchange takes up a good portion of that block of land. The rest of the land is now lopsided. There is space for additional buildings but beyond that its still limited catchment. There is a giant lake and parkland right behind the interchange (only way to cross it is to walk around) with the major drawcard for the area 300-400m away. It would have been more ideal to have a proper interchange on the block over where it would actual be central and then develop a proper feeder bus network. Those two things of which are currently letting down the use of public transport in the North Lakes area. Having major key roads constructed in parts also doesn't help in that situation as buses tour the back streets to get around instead of being direct to certain areas.

[longboi]

What I'm trying to get across is that Westfield won't necessarily always be the main draw card. Not to mention the presence of the station will induce development in adjoining blocks.

This is just an anecdotal example but I have encountered elderly people who interchange from the 680 on North Lakes Dr, just to go around the corner to Gregor St West on the 679. While the location of the station doesn't necessarily change things for them, it does highlight the point I'm trying to make in that not everything is/will be based within the confines of Westfield.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Yes other stores and business will open but Westfield will still be the major prodominate drawcard for the direct nearby area. Chermside has many other stores and pools and businesses not in Westfield but its still the major drawcard for the nearby area. If they had built the interchange in the middle vacant block of land they would have the existing shops to the east, existing shops/current interchange/Westfield to the south, 2 vacant blocks of land to the north and vacant land to the west whereas now all the shops are to the south, a vacant block of land to the east, small bits of land to the north and west on the same block of land the interchange is on, bordered by a lake to the north, bordered by a housing estate to the west. It might only be a small distance of what? 50-150m but in many people that can be a big distance expecially when time and personal safety is factored in.

[SurfRail]

I certainly don't think it's in the wrong place.  Maybe just a case of some actual forward thinking for a change, hence my surprise.

[longboi]

Yes other stores and business will open but Westfield will still be the major prodominate drawcard for the direct nearby area. Chermside has many other stores and pools and businesses not in Westfield but its still the major drawcard for the nearby area. If they had built the interchange in the middle vacant block of land they would have the existing shops to the east, existing shops/current interchange/Westfield to the south, 2 vacant blocks of land to the north and vacant land to the west whereas now all the shops are to the south, a vacant block of land to the east, small bits of land to the north and west on the same block of land the interchange is on, bordered by a lake to the north, bordered by a housing estate to the west. It might only be a small distance of what? 50-150m but in many people that can be a big distance expecially when time and personal safety is factored in.

I think it's difficult to conceptualise at the moment and I don't know if you can compare it with Chermside (i.e. The bus station was built before the surrounding streets were developed and there is little street activation).

I think it might be easier to picture the CBD - the vast majority of buses stop within that central area at KGS, QSBS and Adelaide St, however many people then walk to their actual destination (e.g. Riverside, George St, QUT). That is because of the amount of street activation and pedestrianisation make the difference negligible.

As SurfRail said, it's not being built for right now, it's being built to future proof the town centre. I would also argue the same case as to why Springfield Central does not require a large amount of parking space but that's for another thread.

[Old Northern Road]

North Lakes is nothing like the CBD. It's made up of campus style buildings surrounded by car parks. The Westfield will always be by far the biggest drawcard in the area and most people are going to continue to use the bus stop outside the tavern.

If they wanted to build an interchange then the best location would have been at the future Mango Hill train station. Actually I'm fairly sure that the idea for this came during the time that the state Labor government was against building the Kippa-Ring rail line (which I heard was due to a Labor politician being mates with the guy who owns Hornibrook).

[Old Northern Road]

http://translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/network-information/timetables/130129-687,688,689.pdf

I can't figure out what route the 688/689 are taking. They seem to be stopping at the Westfield twice.

http://translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/network-information/timetables/130129-675,676,677,679.pdf
http://translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/network-information/timetables/130129-681,682.pdf

677 and 681 are no longer stopping outside the shopping centre and are only stopping at the bus station. I'm sure after a few complaints that will change. Although considering the 677 and 681 are two of the most poorly patronized bus routes in SEQ there may not be anyone to complain.

[longboi]

North Lakes is nothing like the CBD. It's made up of campus style buildings surrounded by car parks. The Westfield will always be by far the biggest drawcard in the area and most people are going to continue to use the bus stop outside the tavern.

The point I'm making is that a comparable walk isn't given a second thought in the CBD, which proves it's the skewed human perception of distance which makes the location of the new station difficult to grasp.
Having been there multiple times over the past week, the majority of people are using the new station.

FYI, TransLink wanted to build it on the corner of Lakefield Dr and North Lakes Dr but the MBRC refused as they want to build their own offices on that site.

http://translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/network-information/timetables/130129-687,688,689.pdf

I can't figure out what route the 688/689 are taking. They seem to be stopping at the Westfield twice.

That's right. Look at the route map and ordered stop list here

[somebody]

The point I'm making is that a comparable walk isn't given a second thought in the CBD, which proves it's the skewed human perception of distance which makes the location of the new station difficult to grasp.

That's because public transport's market power is considerably higher within the CBD.

[longboi]

The point I'm making is that a comparable walk isn't given a second thought in the CBD, which proves it's the skewed human perception of distance which makes the location of the new station difficult to grasp.

That's because public transport's market power is considerably higher within the CBD.

All I'm saying is that it's a walkable distance. It's not the New York marathon.