Financial Collapse of Brisbane Transport?

[#Metro]

I have this hypothesis that BT will destroy BCC through a slow cannibalisation of the council from the inside out.
Today, I randomly came across this, which confirms my suspicion.



From BCC Minutes,

Council Meeting 4408
4 June 2013

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Madam Chairman, the Minister for Transport has also made it clear to me and Brisbane residents in his public statements that public transport funding from the Queensland Government will be capped to four per cent growth each year. This represents a significant albeit understandable reduction in revenue across the forwards.

Even with the increased contribution from Council in 2013-14 of over $78 million, the budget papers indicate a loss on public transport operations of over $16 million in this year alone if decisive action is not taken. This represents an immediate challenge to Council's budget and rather than place the burden on Brisbane residents through higher rates or a levy, I announce today that I will enact a series of measures to make our public transport network and operations more efficient.

The measures outlined in this budget document include a review to target $3.2 million in efficiencies within our bus operations, a review of the CityCat and bus timetables to identify further opportunities for optimisation and with the opening of our new Eagle Farm bus depot this year, a strategic review of bus depot portfolio including the cessation of operations from the Richlands Depot.

Madam Chairman, my Administration recognises the need for world class high quality public transport. A fleet of over 1200 buses carrying approximately 80 million passengers per year needs constant review and careful management to ensure we deliver an efficient, effective and reliable service to Brisbane residents.

By implementing these measures and the review already undertaken, we will create a more sustainable public transport network, reducing and eventually eliminating the $16 million a year shortfall across the next three years.


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There is a limit on the number of "soft" efficiencies that can be found because the overwhelming amount of waste is STRUCTURAL, that is, the waste is coded into the structure of the network and can only be removed by altering the routes across the entire network.

[techblitz]

I have this hypothesis that BT will destroy BCC through a slow cannibalisation of the council from the inside out.

No LD...you have a HOPE that this will happen. So it will satisfy your ego so you can say `I told you so BCC'

define soft efficiency...

merging 66 and 109.....and deleting p88...soft efficiencies?
Rather major imo.
117 truncation...now that you could probably class that as a soft efficiency.

Ive got absolutely no issues with more changes and cuts...as long as the majority of savings are found around the busways....if rockets it is then so be it...then if all else fails....work on the outer burb coverage routes. I believe BUZ standard may get the flick by BCC....very real possibility. Gliders wont be going anywhere.Routes will be worked around them.

[#Metro]

No LD...you have a HOPE that this will happen. So it will satisfy your ego so you can say `I told you so BCC'

Ecxuse me, if you'd pardon me, the fiscal profligacy practiced at City Hall is wholly independent of my ego.

define soft efficiency...

merging 66 and 109.....and deleting p88...soft efficiencies?
Rather major imo.
117 truncation...now that you could probably class that as a soft efficiency.

I don't need to define it - it's already been defined as "anything contained within the BT/BCC bus review"

Ive got absolutely no issues with more changes and cuts...as long as the majority of savings are found around the busways....if rockets it is then so be it...then if all else fails....work on the outer burb coverage routes. I believe BUZ standard may get the flick by BCC....very real possibility. Gliders wont be going anywhere.Routes will be worked around them.

A growing city needs MORE services, not less. Notice I said the word 'SERVICES' not 'ROUTE NUMBERS'. I reckon some staff will go in other departments, plus rates might be ratcheted up a little (can't go too high as this is already very high at $400) and more buses will be cut next year. Remember it is $16 million PA. That's equal to cutting four BUZ 199's each year every year. You're not going to fill in a hole like that by tinkering around the edges may I suggest...

[HappyTrainGuy]

then if all else fails....work on the outer burb coverage routes.

My god and when I thought my 120 minute frequency 338 couldn't get any worse on the weekends. Good thing I choose to drive instead rather than catch it  It's a joke that you can catch the Chermside bound bus, somehow end up at Petrie then make your way to Strathpine and still be there before the next 338 turns up for that 15 minute depending on the lights trip to Strathpine if you happen to miss it by a couple minutes. I also find it a riot that if you miss it the Translink journey planner tells you to catch a 357/359 to Roma Street and get a train to Strathpine or vice versa 

[#Metro]

My god and when I thought my 120 minute frequency 338 couldn't get any worse on the weekends. Good thing I choose to drive instead rather than catch it  It's a joke that you can catch the Chermside bound bus, somehow end up at Petrie then make your way to Strathpine and still be there before the next 338 turns up for that 15 minute depending on the lights trip to Strathpine if you happen to miss it by a couple minutes. I also find it a riot that if you miss it the Translink journey planner tells you to catch a 357/359 to Roma Street and get a train to Strathpine or vice versa 

I consider a bus to be non-existent if the frequency is greater than 60 minutes. Who has the time to wait TWO HOURS for their bus? You could probably walk to the CBD faster. It takes about 40 minutes to run from the Gateway Bridge to the Brisbane CBD (Bridge to Brisbane), so the residents of Yeronga and Bulimba (inner city suburbs, mind you) would could run from their house to City Hall, buy dinner,  and still outrun the bus.

[Gazza]

s long as the majority of savings are found around the busways....if rockets it is then so be it...then if all else fails....work on the outer burb coverage routes. I believe BUZ standard may get the flick by BCC....very real possibility. Gliders wont be going anywhere.Routes will be worked around them.

What I don't get is why in the BCC Review they didn't take the chance to ditch the 160, 333 and 222 offpeak/evenings/weekends, and then make some minor route modifications to compensate (Eg 200 via Eastern Busway)
That would have saved a ton of money, without actually annoying anyone.

[techblitz]

s long as the majority of savings are found around the busways....if rockets it is then so be it...then if all else fails....work on the outer burb coverage routes. I believe BUZ standard may get the flick by BCC....very real possibility. Gliders wont be going anywhere.Routes will be worked around them.

What I don't get is why in the BCC Review they didn't take the chance to ditch the 160, 333 and 222 offpeak/evenings/weekends, and then make some minor route modifications to compensate (Eg 200 via Eastern Busway)
That would have saved a ton of money, without actually annoying anyone.

give it time...it probably guaranteed to happen if they are pressured to reign in more savings......debuzification late night is a real possibility......only so many times a bus can run completely empty from gabba to kgsbs before someone in power notices it....more cuts will be needed and the busway would have to be where the most savings are made.

[#Metro]

give it time...it probably guaranteed to happen if they are pressured to reign in more savings......debuzification late night is a real possibility......only so many times a bus can run completely empty from gabba to kgsbs before someone in power notices it....more cuts will be needed and the busway would have to be where the most savings are made.

From an operational perspective, there would be little impact.
From a symbolic and political perspective, this would be the equivalent of placing one's hand into a giant industrial size rat trap.

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6057/6268385852_0af02c0327_z.jpg

[Gazza]

give it time...it probably guaranteed to happen if they are pressured to reign in more savings

See, I'm not really sure why we have to give it time. Isn't it just spending money on a daily basis for the sake of it?

Remember, BCC decided to run the 222/200 with the same departure times, so they cant say they are keeping both routes for the purposes of higher frequency for users