Premier Statement: International expert sheds light on managing congestion

[ozbob]

Premier
The Honourable Anna Bligh
07/06/2008

International expert sheds light on managing congestion

Premier Anna Bligh has enlisted an international expert in urban congestion to advise on her congestion busting initiatives in south-east Queensland.

Professor George Hazel OBE from the United Kingdom has been in Brisbane for the past week after being invited by the Premier to advise the government on international trends in Congestion Management.

The Professor spent the week meeting with representatives from the Premier's newly established Urban Congestion Taskforce, Queensland Transport, Department of Main Roads, key industry groups and representatives from the South-East Queensland Councils.

"Managing growth and tackling congestion in south-east Queensland is a key priority for my government," said Premier Anna Bligh.

"Professor Hazel has offered insights into how other cities around the world have handled the delicate balance between keeping pace with growth and managing congestion to ensure the city retains its liveability."

Professor Hazel said effective transport management was a critical component for any city seeking to achieve a balance between economic competitiveness, the environment and lifestyle.

"In a recent study, we surveyed more than 500 city-leaders from all corners of the globe from cities such as London, Paris, Beijing, Chicago, New York and Rio de Janeiro," Professor Hazel said.

"Each city had its own unique issues and circumstances to address - however, our study highlights common themes and trends that will shape the evolution of cities.

"The major common theme was that having an effective transport network was seen as the major driver of city competitiveness. And in cities with highly-efficient networks, such as London, transport is also being used to achieve government's other environmental and social objectives."

Professor Hazel said Brisbane was similar to many other cities around the world that were balancing growth and rising levels of congestion.

"Congestion is not necessarily a bad thing - in fact it can actually be a sign of success that a city is economically strong, vibrant, and growing," he said.

"The critical management factor is knowing when congestion is affecting the economy, quality of life and the environment and then knowing how to manage it effectively."

"Balancing a range of measures to ensure people and goods can move reliability, safely and affordably is the key."

The Premier has enlisted Professor Hazel to work on an ongoing basis with the Queensland Government in managing congestion in the south east corner.

"The professor has studied transport policy around the world and we are pleased that he will bring that international experience and best-practice thinking to our city," Ms Bligh said.

"He will also conduct an annual review of the Queensland Government's Congestion Management Strategy and report on progress to the government. We will greatly wel come his feedback."

==============================================================

[ozbob]

The Professor spent the week meeting with representatives from the Premier's newly established Urban Congestion Taskforce, Queensland Transport, Department of Main Roads, key industry groups and representatives from the South-East Queensland Councils.

Again,  a great pity that these 'experts' didn't take the time to meet with the key stakeholders - the public transport commuters.

More 'expert' judgements from air conditioned offices and limo's no doubt.

I think Queensland has plenty of pro-active transport and urban planners who if properly consulted would do a better job than people without the intimate local knowledge.

[ozbob]

Correspondence sent to Premier, cc to Deputy Premier, TTA and Translink, CAST

7 June 2008

Dear Premier,

Thank you for the statement International expert sheds light on managing congestion 7 June 2008

I note from your statement:

The Professor spent the week meeting with representatives from the Premier's newly established Urban Congestion Taskforce, Queensland Transport, Department of Main Roads, key industry groups and representatives from the South-East Queensland Councils.

It is a great pity that the key stakeholder in all of this, the public transport commuter and everyday citizen is left out of any meaningful consultation.

It is obvious that approaches up to this time have failed with respect to urban congestion.

RAIL Back On Track is pleased that external 'expert' opinion is utilised as an additional resource, but would encourage these 'experts' to consult with public transport commuters as well.

Best wishes,

Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track  http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Professor George Hazel OBE Biography here --> http://www.mrcmcleanhazel.com/George%20Hazel.htm


MegaCity Challenges - report  http://w1.siemens.com/pool/en/about_us/megacities/MegaCity-Report_1439020.pdf

At some point in 2007, humanity will
reach a significant demographic milestone:
for the first time in history more
people will live in cities than the countryside,
according to predictions by the
United Nations. By 2030, over 60% of
people will live in cities. The growth rate
is particularly rapid in many of the so-called
megacities, cities with more than 10
million inhabitants. The megacities listed
by the UN already have a total population
of around 280 million. They are increasingly
the growth engines of their respective
national economies. But as these
cities and economies grow, so do the
challenges.

One key issue is the burden
that growth is placing on urban infrastructures.
Urban residents the world over want
? and deserve ? a good quality of life.
They need good air to breathe, good water
to drink and reliable electricity to
power their lives. People need healthcare.

They also need to be mobile ? so transportation
systems must be capable of
transporting millions of people while
putting as little strain as possible on the
environment and city budgets. In other
words, a good quality of life requires a
well-functioning infrastructure. Moreover,
an effective infrastructure in turn
contributes to economic prosperity, further
improving quality of life. Unfortunately,
the infrastructure in many cities lags behind
the population?s needs ? a major
challenge for city governments in both
emerging and industrialized nations.
This report summarizes the key findings
of a unique global research project
undertaken by two independent research
organizations with the support of
Siemens, the infrastructure provider. The
goal of the project was to carry out research
at the individual megacity level to
gather objective data as well as perspectives
from mayors, city administrators
and other experts on local infrastructure
challenges. Over 500 public- and privatesector
experts from 25 cities were interviewed
for this purpose.

The result is a fascinating and, we
hope, useful picture of how challenges
are prioritized and what infrastructure
solutions are best able to improve the
local economy, environment and quality
of life of megacities.

We hope you enjoy reading the report!

Prof. George Hazel, OBE,
MRC McLean Hazel
Doug Miller, GlobeScan

An interesting report but summarises the obvious.

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here

Real cost of Brisbane congestion

Real cost of Brisbane congestion
June 7, 2008 - 3:07PM

Solving Brisbane's traffic problems will be crucial to make the city competitive on the world stage, an international expert in urban congestion said today.

British professor George Hazel has been visiting Brisbane to advise the state government on managing traffic congestion in the fast-growing city.

Prof Hazel recently surveyed 500 leaders of cities worldwide including London, Paris, Beijing, Chicago, New York and Rio de Janeiro.

While each city had its own unique issues and circumstances to address, there were common trends that shaped their evolution, he said.

"The major common theme was that having an effective transport network was seen as the major driver of city competitiveness," he said.

Prof Hazel said with 1,200 new residents moving to Queensland every week, Brisbane was similar to many other world cities in facing the need to balance growth and rising congestion.

"Balancing a range of measures to ensure people and goods can move reliably, safely and affordably is the key."

The Queensland government and Brisbane City Council are spending billions of dollars tackling traffic problems through a series of tunnels, busways and bridges.

AAP

[ozbob]

Oil has just hit another high.

And still we talk about roads tunnels and bridges. 

Sustainable mass transit will move the masses, free up the roads for essential vehicles, be environmentally and economically sound.  More tolls roads and tunnels is in the long term not going to do a great deal at all.

[curator49]

"World Expert" well we have had lots of those over the years. The Wilbur Smith (World Expert) report recommended the end of trams in Brisbane and the building of lots of freeways. The only one built was the South-East Freeway. Land resumptions for a Northern Freeway out of the city were started but now that road after several decades has been canned and the properties are being offered for sale.

"Can Do" Newman is lumbering the ratepayers of Brisbane for generations to come, with a massive debt to build road tunnels under the city yet for years we have heard the State Government say an underground rail system was not viable as it was "too expensive".

I see the South Australian Government in its latest budget is going to make some significant additions to Adelaide's light rail and heavy rail networks following the success of its first expansion from the Glenelg Tramway. Adelaide also has a section of guided busway system which although they say it was "a success" (probably the "spin doctors" at work again) appears that it will not be expanded rather the Government have opted for a light rail expansion instead. Newman (and Ron Clark on the Gold Coast) are only in favour of buses and totally discount light rail. Buses will have their place - as feeders into light and heavy rail stations. The buses can sweep areas away from these central mass transit spines and this will eliminate congestion on the roads.

[mufreight]

An underground electric heavy rail two track system can move three times the number of commuters that can be moved on a four lane road tunnel so Can Do's claim that rail tunnels would be too expensive is just so much hot air, Under ground electric rail is less expensive to operate than a road based bus system and no eyesore exhaust stacks belching the poluting exhaust gasses from the tunnel ventilation systems.
The often proposed underground rail link from the Gold Coast line at Dutton Park to the Gabba under the river to Gardens Point with an interchange station at Central then to Spring Hill and Joining the presently underutilised exhibition line in the vicinity of Viotoria Park.
Such a line would solve the problems of track capacity through the Brisbane CBD and the new stations at the Gabba, Gardens Point and Spring Hill would see more commuters abandon their cars, a trend that will increase as the price of fuel rises so less cars on the road will have less need of the billion dollar underground road system.
Another point that you can raise with your local political representative, a little less spin and some more practical action would be welcome and the lack of practical realistic proposals with regard to public transport just couyld be the catalyist for a rethink by Mr man in the street on how he votes.
Cheers

[curator49]

Of course the Premier is right, she will relieve Brisban's road congestion. No-one will be able to afford the petrol to drive their cars let alone pay the tolls through the tunnels under the city that are currently being built. Less cars - less congestion.

[stephenk]

City planning also needs to be looked at, not just transport options. It is unsustainable to keep building cities outwards with low population densities. For sustainability and transport efficiency we need to start building upwards and increase population density. It may be a big change from the "Aussie Dream", but otherwise Australia will be left behind the rest of the developed world when oil prices increase further.

[jason]

Does anyone have anythig positive ever to say on here?

It always doom and gloom from the forum members

[Zoiks]

We do welcome good news such as the recent announcement of a further 50 odd trains sets placed on order, but so much support gets given to road projects that we dont have much good news to report about.