5 Nov 2014: Brisbane Bus Reform: New Bus Network Proposal

[ozbob]

Media release 5th November 2014

Brisbane Bus Reform: RAIL Back on Track Launches New Bus Network Proposal

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers launches its new Hi Frequency Bus network proposal for Brisbane.

RAIL Back on Track New Bus Network Launch

A service quality map of Brisbane City Council's Bus services:
>> http://tiny.cc/checkyourbus

A service quality map of RAIL Back on Track's Hi Frequency Bus Network proposal
>> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

Survey Form
>> http://goo.gl/forms/p0TSHaR9vG

RAIL Back on Track Facebook Page
>> https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack

Screenshot instructions to download the map as .kml for those wishing to download and view the file on their home computer
>> http://backontrack.org/docs/bus/KMLbus.png

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Today we are calling on the public to help us be part of something big. We've noticed that over in New Zealand, Auckland's mayor is out reforming his bus network while our own Lord Mayor was cutting bus services. As Brisbane and Auckland have been sister cities since 1988, our volunteer members have put together a new bus network based on what our New Zealand cousins are doing and we are now inviting the public to participate.

"Residents can now compare BCC's Bus Network and our new Hi Frequency Bus Network proposal. Featuring interactive mapping and aerial photography, residents can zoom in on their house, their suburb, their workplace and compare the quality of BCC's bus service in their area with our Hi Frequency Bus Network proposal. They can see how strong or weak the bus network is in their area, its overall quality and how it fits into the wider bus network.  People with Google Earth may also download the maps and see individual routes. Tell your friends, family, work colleagues to go to our website https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack and fill in our survey or use the direct survey link here http://goo.gl/forms/p0TSHaR9vG

"Residents of Centenary, Albany Creek, Yeronga, Bulimba and Ashgrove would be major winners from bus reform. However, the money for these upgrades is currently locked up because our Lord Mayor insists on driving all buses all to the CBD with many duplicating each other, meaning no money is available to upgrade bus service in these suburbs. We are asking the public to think about their willingness to have some people on the network connect, with a short wait at a civilised facility, if this is the key to massively expanding Brisbane's public transport network without increasing fares.

"Under bus reform passengers will see greater liberty and freedom to go where they want, when they want on a bus that is always coming soon, and have a more equitable distribution of high quality bus services across the entire city.

"Under bus reform, a new 400 CentenaryGlider would connect to all day express trains at Darra station, run through Mt Ommaney, Indooroopilly and along Coronation Drive to the CBD, every 10 minutes all day. You'd be able to use this bus to go shopping, go to work, study, dining out, having a night out in the Valley and more because it connects to everything. It's the closest thing to Light Rail without actually laying the track. Under bus reform, Bulimba's bus services would be massively upgraded with a BulimbaGlider created from amalgamating the existing half hourly 230 and 235 routes into a single bus line coming every 15 minutes all day going to the CBD and also connecting to trains at Morningside. The great thing about this bus reform is that it recycles existing resources so there is a lid kept on fares.

"In Ashgrove, route 380 The Gap would be upgraded to high frequency. A direct bus to the University of Queensland at St Lucia through Ashgrove coming every 15 minutes would also connect with Toowong, Bardon, Ashgrove, Enoggera, the Ferny Grove Rail Line and Brookside Shopping Centre. There is massive student demand in this area, and residents of Ashgrove, Ferny Grove and The Gap would no longer have to travel into the CBD and then out again to get the The University of Queensland.

"To help change along, where appropriate, the new service should run alongside the old for a limited period while passengers 'try before they buy', along with local consultation. This would enable people to actually experience the difference and give informed feedback rather than be asked to accept something that they've never seen or tried before.

"Our New Zealand cousins have set a high standard of public performance when it comes to tough choices and bus reform. The Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council should step up and show that they're capable of doing the same thing. We submit this proposal to TransLink and the Queensland Government as feedback for every single bus service in the entire city of Brisbane, and we formally request a TransLink feedback reference number."

References:

1. Bus Reform: Auckland City Council versus Brisbane City Council
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11016.0

2. "Transferring" can be good for you, and good for your city
http://www.humantransit.org/2009/04/why-transferring-is-good-for-you-and-good-for-your-city.html

3. Auckland: how network redesign can transform a city's possibilities
http://www.humantransit.org/2012/10/auckland-how-network-redesign-can-transform-a-citys-possibilities.html

4. Brisbane's Sister City - Auckland
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/about-council/governance-strategy/economic-development/international-relations-program/list-sister-cities/brisbanes-sister-city-auckland

Contact:

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

Key Features of RAIL Back on Track's Hi Quality Bus Network proposal

New 900-series CITYCONNECTOR buses dedicated to cross-town travel. There are thirteen CITYCONNECTOR routes modelled on Melbourne's Orbital SmartBus services. http://ptv.vic.gov.au/projects/buses/smartbus/

Bus Rapid Transit Superbuses capable of carrying 150 passengers per vehicle placed on high volume corridors such as 412 St Lucia via Coronation Drive, 333 Chermside via Northern Busway, 222 Carindale Heights via Old Cleveland Road, and a new hi-frequency 400 CentenaryGlider. This is the closest thing to light rail without actually laying down tracks or putting up wires.

Simpler, easier to understand and intuitive bus network with fewer bus route numbers to remember, fewer timetables to rummage through and with buses connecting to trains and other buses. The number of bus routes is a measure of service complexity and dilution of bus service quality; frequency needs to be concentrated in a few bus routes for services to always be coming soon.

Improved Rail Services. Trains to Springfield would run every 15-minutes all day, permitting Ipswich trains to run express, all day every day. This saves 8 minutes of travel time between Ipswich-Brisbane CBD and it means a bus interchange can be built at Indooroopilly Rail station allowing residents to bypass Coronation Drive congestion. Express trains take just 8 minutes to travel between Indooroopilly Rail Station and Roma Street Station, avoiding Coronation Drive congestion and unreliability. In contrast, BUZ 444 departing Indooroopilly Shopping Centre takes 17 minutes for the same journey and can get caught in congestion. Kippa Ring line opening will see 15 minute all day trains as far as Petrie and frequent train service would be extended by one station to Murrarie on the Cleveland Line to connect with CITYCONNECTOR buses.

More Buses More Often. New all-day Hi-Frequency bus services would be extended into Albany Creek (359 to Mitchelton Station), The Centenary Suburbs (400 CentenaryGlider via Coronation Drive), Bulimba (230 BulimbaGlider via Riding and Thynne Rd), Ashgrove (380 The Gap) and Yeronga (196 Yeronga). Service upgrades by 'topping up' existing near-frequent service to Stafford (375 Stafford City), Toombul (300 Toombul) and Logan Road (175 Garden City).

Limited Interchange at Key Interchange Points (KIPs). These locations would receive distinctive stops and upgraded signage. Most people will experience no need to connect and will not have to do anything as their bus will continue to transit straight through these KIPs on an unbroken journey to the CBD. Generally, passengers on services originating north of Chermside, East of Carindale and West of Indooroopilly may be asked to change. As space for CBD buses is very scarce, services that carry low volumes of passengers into the Brisbane CBD may also be asked to change. Extended service to new parts of the city is mathematically not possible without this change to the network.

Uses existing resources more efficiently by recycling wasteful and inefficient bus routing in the current BCC bus network, keeping a lid on fares while growing patronage and fare revenue.

Proposal does not depend on BaT, new busways, new rail lines or the construction of major and expensive infrastructure. As a planning reform it may be implemented rapidly within 12-48 months. Of course this depends on co-operation,  willingness and preparation of the bus operator(s) to make the required changes.

[ozbob]

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