25 Jan 2016: SEQ: Time for the Brisbane bus revolution!

[ozbob]

Media release 25th January 2016

SEQ: Time for the Brisbane bus revolution!

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 has said it is time that Brisbane's bus network was reformed. (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Public transport must be fast, direct and frequent. The present Brisbane bus network is based on a direct service model that embeds poor service, poor frequency, poor connections, legacy routing and is becoming unaffordable. Other operators are treated as 'competitors' by BCC rather than as team players in an integrated network."

"Many jurisdictions such as Auckland, Houston and Hobart have moved on with public transport network reform, delivering much better networks with more frequent service and significant patronage gains."

"In 2013, TransLink acting on Government direction, with the support of Transport Consultants, proposed a proper reform of the Brisbane Bus Network.  This review was not proceeded with as the then State Government lacked the resolve to do what was right in the end. What has changed since  then?  A token bus review done by BCC has just further compounded network failures.  There has also been an impact on regions outside Brisbane as cuts to services and spans, the consequence of BCC's intransigence.  Hardly equitable or decent is it? Band-aids on festering wounds just leads to rampant disease!"

"The forthcoming Council Elections provides an opportunity for all candidates to articulate clear policies for public transport reform, particularly for Brisbane's ailing bus network."

"There is an excellent local example of how network reform benefits us all.  It is the Gold Coast.  Network reform has delivered frequent, connected bus routes to the light rail and has delivered patronage gains of over 20%.  There are lessons there for Brisbane. Passengers will transfer on a connected network.  It is how real frequency and excellent service is generated."

Reference:

1.  Brisbane - bus network proposal http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11047.0

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11047.0

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

26th January 2015

Re: SEQ: Time for the Brisbane bus revolution!

Good Morning,

To further highlight how successful reform delivers.  Here is a release from October 2015 and follow up, highlighting the fact that connections on a public transport network delivers!

It is beyond farce the appalling situation with public transport in SEQ.  Brisbane City Council riding rough shod over transport authorities and State Government for crass political reasons.

The Newman Government lacked the courage to do the essential reform.  It remains to be seen if the present Government is able to do the right thing.  Meanwhile Brisbane's public transport just worsens as does bus jam.

Expensive infrastructure to address the bus problems is not needed. As we have shown, bus network reform will deliver the goods for a near neutral cost.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 5th October 2015



Bus Reform: Gold Coast already doing what Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says can't be done

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 calls on Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and Deputy Premier Jackie Trad to reform the Brisbane bus network.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"There are now multiple Gold Coast bus services that run between train and tram stations, requiring passengers to connect. It's a direct contradiction of what Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and Brisbane City Councillors continually say isn't possible in Brisbane."

Examples on the Gold Coast include:

    704 (Helensvale - Seaworld via Southport)
    709 (Helensvale Station-Southport LRT)
    745 (Nerang Station - Broadbeach LRT)
    740 (Nerang Station- Surfers Paradise)
    750 (Robina station - Bond University - Broadbeach LRT)


"Despite all of these bus services running between train stations and tram stations, 'forcing' connections, Gold Coast bus patronage has increased. And it has done so in the same high-fares environment Brisbane City Council buses operate in. Brisbane does not have light rail, but it does have busways and train stations that could serve the same purpose.

"International cities have a similar approach, notably Vancouver (Canada) and Toronto (Canada). And more recently, Auckland (NZ) and Houston (USA) have done entire network redesigns, also adopting this approach.

"Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and Brisbane City Council are simply wrong on bus reform. They're wrong. And they know it because their own Lord Mayor's Mass Transit Report told them so.

"How far will Deputy Premier Jackie Trad let patronage plunge before there is action? 5 million? 10 million? total ruin?

"The Lord Mayor and Brisbane City Council should stop obstructing bus reform. Fix the bus black-hole areas in Yeronga, Bulimba, Albany Creek and the Centenary suburbs. Introduce a new BulimbaGlider to Bulimba, and a CentenaryGlider to the Centenary suburbs."

Our New Bus Network Proposal shows how it can be done ---> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

"Only genuine reform of rail and bus networks, together with fare reform will guarantee abundant and low-cost public transport for all."



TransLink Bus Route 740. Passengers interchange at both ends of this service.
Source: http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/timetables/20140721-740.pdf

Contact:

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

References:

Bus Route 704
http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/timetables/20140721-704.pdf

Bus Route 709
http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/timetables/20140721-709.pdf

Bus Route 740
http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/timetables/20140721-740.pdf

Bus Route 745
http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/timetables/20140721-745.pdf

Bus Route 750
http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/timetables/20140721-750,N750.pdf

Sent to all outlets:

Re: Bus Reform: Gold Coast already doing what Lord Mayor Graham Quirk says can't be done

5th October 2015

Greetings,

This is how a bus route should look like. Simple, frequent and fast.
There is no reason why this cannot be done in places like Toowong and other parts
of Brisbane. Internationally, Vancouver, Toronto, Houston and Auckland all design their
bus networks this way.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and all Brisbane City Councillors need to come out of the
1980s and publicly affirm their unqualified support for bus reform. Either that or we
will need fresh faces at Brisbane City Council that can get the job done.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Exhibit A: Surfside Bus Route 709


Reference:

Griffith University station to Helensvale station via GCUH station
http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/timetables/20140721-709.pdf

Media release 25th January 2016

SEQ: Time for the Brisbane bus revolution!

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 has said it is time that Brisbane's bus network was reformed. (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Public transport must be fast, direct and frequent. The present Brisbane bus network is based on a direct service model that embeds poor service, poor frequency, poor connections, legacy routing and is becoming unaffordable. Other operators are treated as 'competitors' by BCC rather than as team players in an integrated network."

"Many jurisdictions such as Auckland, Houston and Hobart have moved on with public transport network reform, delivering much better networks with more frequent service and significant patronage gains."

"In 2013, TransLink acting on Government direction, with the support of Transport Consultants, proposed a proper reform of the Brisbane Bus Network.  This review was not proceeded with as the then State Government lacked the resolve to do what was right in the end. What has changed since  then?  A token bus review done by BCC has just further compounded network failures.  There has also been an impact on regions outside Brisbane as cuts to services and spans, the consequence of BCC's intransigence.  Hardly equitable or decent is it? Band-aids on festering wounds just leads to rampant disease!"

"The forthcoming Council Elections provides an opportunity for all candidates to articulate clear policies for public transport reform, particularly for Brisbane's ailing bus network."

"There is an excellent local example of how network reform benefits us all.  It is the Gold Coast.  Network reform has delivered frequent, connected bus routes to the light rail and has delivered patronage gains of over 20%.  There are lessons there for Brisbane. Passengers will transfer on a connected network.  It is how real frequency and excellent service is generated."

Reference:

1.  Brisbane - bus network proposal http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11047.0

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11047.msg167508#msg167508