2022, not 2032: bus routes that could/should be upgraded 'this year'

[aldonius]

I might've posted this before, but now I have a slogan :p

Anyway, there are a number of corridors in Brisbane where the pop density is pretty high but there's no rail or frequent bus nearby.

Some are well known, like Hawthorne/Bulimba (235), Riverhills (450) and Red Hill (380). Others a little less apparent, like Chatsworth Rd (205), Beaudesert Rd through Moorooka (125), and the part where there's no BUZ that runs the length of Logan Rd to Mt Gravatt (but the 175 does). Stafford Rd also needs more (re-upgrade the 369). And the 333 should probably add two stops, at Rode Rd and Sadlier St.

Further south, Kingston Rd (545) is also crying out for a frequent service, as is Marsden (perhaps a daytime frequent from Loganlea to Browns Plains would be appropriate here).

(I haven't done the analysis for the Coasts but I'm sure the population data is available).

[verbatim9]

I might've posted this before, but now I have a slogan

Anyway, there are a number of corridors in Brisbane where the pop density is pretty high but there's no rail or frequent bus nearby.

Some are well known, like Hawthorne/Bulimba (235), Riverhills (450) and Red Hill (380). Others a little less apparent, like Chatsworth Rd (205), Beaudesert Rd through Moorooka (125), and the part where there's no BUZ that runs the length of Logan Rd to Mt Gravatt (but the 175 does). Stafford Rd also needs more (re-upgrade the 369). And the 333 should probably add two stops, at Rode Rd and Sadlier St.

Further south, Kingston Rd (545) is also crying out for a frequent service, as is Marsden (perhaps a daytime frequent from Loganlea to Browns Plains would be appropriate here).

(I haven't done the analysis for the Coasts but I'm sure the population data is available).

TMR and BCC should be able to Buz and extend the 450 to Darra Station. Road works on Sumners road are complete and traffic runs smoothly now.

[Paul B]

None of Sandgate Road has BUZ frequency.
I've seen the argument that the sleepy suburb of Brighton "doesnt deserve" high frequency, therefore the 310 should stay hourly.
325 also should be running minimum half hourly between 7am-7pm

[aldonius]

Out of all the core Northside area, it's the 320 that seems like it most needs BUZzing.

Sandgate Rd's a bit of a tricky one, because it intertwines so much with the rail.

The 310 should probably run more frequently than hourly (pretty much any bus on a main road should probably be better than hourly!) but I would be tempted to terminate it at Toombul off-peak.

I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about the 325. Webster Rd isn't super dense, and it doesn't add much inbound of Newmarket station.

Meanwhile out in MBRC, Warner/Bray Park/western Strathpine need something better than the 670 currently offers, but I don't have a good proposal yet.

[Gazza]

For Brighton, shouldn't that get its frequency from the Redcliffe buses?

[Paul B]

It Should with the 690/691. Could completely delete the 310 or make it terminate at Sandgate. 

[Arnz]

610: Currently every 30 mins Mon-Fri, hourly Sat/Sun (Increase to every 15 mins Mon-Fri and every 30 mins Sat/Sun).

620: Currently 30 mins / 7 days.  (Increase to every 15 mins (between 7am and 6pm Mon-Sat, half hourly evenings until 9pm - Fri/Sat evening frequencies after 9pm remain unchanged, and every 15 mins between 8am and 5pm Sunday/Public Hols - early Sun Morning/evening Sunday frequencies remain unchanged).

[achiruel]

Out of all the core Northside area, it's the 320 that seems like it most needs BUZzing.

Sandgate Rd's a bit of a tricky one, because it intertwines so much with the rail.

You could same the same about Ipswich Rd/Beaudesert Rd (Fairfield, Yeerongpilly, Morooka and Rocklea are all within ~1km or less distance from bus stops along it), but it doesn't stop it from having a BUZ running along it (along with 124/125 which adds extra frequency + serves all stops, albeit it at truly weird intervals on weekdays).

Between Virginia and Sandgate, the 310 doesn't really compete directly with the train, besides North Boondall. I'd be running it every 30 minutes off-peak/15 minutes peak and maybe cutting the off-peak back to Toombul. Not even sure about that though, as there's not a lot of decent services linking Toombul and RBWH, only the 321 I think which is a bit of a milk run. It's a good opportunity to transfer to INB services. Having said that, I wouldn't have an issue with cutting the northern end at Sandgate, either.

Further south, Kingston Rd (545) is also crying out for a frequent service, as is Marsden (perhaps a daytime frequent from Loganlea to Browns Plains would be appropriate here).

I'd like to see the 545 on every 30 minutes 5am-6am (currently, first bus leaves Browns Plains just after 6, so that'd be 2 earlier services), 15 minutes 6am-7pm, 30 minutes to 9pm. Maybe some later night services hourly until 10/11pm. Every 30 minutes on weekends at least 8am-6pm, hourly before/after that (say 6-8am and 6-11pm Saturdays, 6-9pm Sundays).

That would also give Marsden a much-needed better service, connecting it with train at Woodridge and other buses at Browns Plains as well.

I wouldn't object to a frequent service from Loganlea to Browns Plains as well, but I'd rather it continue to the Hyperdome (where there's many other routes to interchange to), so basically an upgraded frequency 560. Of course this then gives a short stretch of Chambers Flat Rd a combined 7.5 minute frequency, which seems absurd for such a suburban area, but it really only covers 3 stops). I really wish the State Government/LCC had thought a bit more about bus services when Griffith Uni was built as well, it would've been good to have a green link from Edenlea Dr to Griffith Uni, instead of the current system where the bus has to travel the full length of University Dr twice (obviously, the Logan Mwy would be a bit of a barrier as well).

[aldonius]

achiruel: Good point about the Toombul-RBWH connection. I also want to say that I really appreciate everything you've said about Logan areas - I'm very much a Northsider so I haven't spent a lot of time thinking about the network there.

It's occurred to me that I have a bit of a bee in my bonnet about BUZzing the 125 because (with its tail going over to Mt Gravatt) that's almost an end-run around the GCL being perpetually terrible!

[#Metro]

Let's make it a tradition, new year new bus services; they can announce it on the same day as the fare increases.

[techblitz]

Its pretty obvious that if you are living in banyo/nudgee/northgate/Nundah and need a fast trip to RBWH/QUT....then you drive via airport link......instead of fiddling around with bus transfers at eagle junction/Toombul.....which take up to double the time than driving..
Further clogging up the Toombul intersection...


I would suggest at the very minimum a P309 which mirrors the 306 or 307 and heads straight into the airport link tunnel.....which could use a bit more bus usage than just the 310.
It also opens up another direct option should the train lines ever go down in peak hour.....instead of taking the longer 3XX city all stoppers.
The demographic is changing in those suburbs and Nundah is still powering ahead with construction.

[#Metro]

Service Summary

Proposal: Route 234 UQ Lakes via Fortitude Valley and Kangaroo Pt.(merge other UQ shuttles)

Route and Type - 10.5 km (approx); Travel time expected to be 25 minutes (approx); Cross-Town
Service Goal - Maximise patronage

Service areas: Broadly - UQ Lakes, Park Rd, PA Hospital, Buranda (optional), W'Gabba, Kangaroo Point, Fortitude Valley (Rail), RBWH (terminus).

Comments
Service is intended to capture UQ pax from RBWH, Fortitude Valley, Kangaroo Point, and Woolloongabba and link this with UQ Lakes. Kangaroo Point is poorly connected to the BCC bus network. Combines markets to ensure good two-way patronage. As a cross-town service, this bus does not enter the Brisbane CBD. Passengers for the CBD may change to buses or trains at Fortitude Valley station.

Image
- Click attachment below to expand.

[aldonius]

I'm not especially concerned with Kangaroo Point's bus service level. It has its ferries and in a few years will have its pedestrian bridge.

From a campaigns perspective I'm also looking to keep a focus on strict upgrades - zero loss aversion!

[achiruel]

Kangaroo Point ferries are great if you want to go to the CBD or New Farm. What if you want to go to the PA hospital, Buranda shops or Gabba Busway station? Not so useful then.

[#Metro]

From a campaigns perspective I'm also looking to keep a focus on strict upgrades - zero loss aversion!

PT patronage has collapsed significantly within the last 2 years. Serving up the same old same old isn't going to fly. Also, great opportunity to review while people aren't using services.

Also, last time BCC upgraded services with no pruning of bus routes to balance, there was a massive cost explosion that raised fares and cut patronage.

Update: Maybe we should get a list of 22 bus routes, that will surprise them! 

[aldonius]

"22 for '22: bus upgrades that won't wait for the Olympics"

Daytime-frequent: 15 minutes or better 6:30am-6:30pm, 30 minutes or better 5am-midnight.

- 125 (BUZ)
- 175 (BUZ)
- 196 (extension into Yeronga)
- 205 (BUZ)
- 230 (BUZ) (not 235 haha, thanks Metro)
- 234 (revamp)
- 300 (as Gold Glider)
- 320 (upgrade to daytime-frequent)
- 325 (DF)
- 380 (DF)
- 410 Enoggera-UQ (new DF)
- 450 (BUZ)
- 545 (DF)
- this space reserved for another Logan route
- 690 (DF)
- this space reserved for another MBRC route
- this space reserved for a Sunshine Coast route
- this space reserved for a Sunshine Coast route
- this space reserved for a Gold Coast route
- this space reserved for a Gold Coast route

Two slots still completely unallocated if we're aiming for 22 total.

Honourable mention to the 515 in Ipswich which I've just learned is pretty much already daytime-frequent.

[SurfRail]

I think the Gold Coast needs at least 4 - my picks would be 722, 735, 747 and 760. 

[cartoonbirdhaus]

Two slots still completely unallocated if we're aiming for 22 total

DF 369 and 590?

[#Metro]

I think 369 is OK unless patronage has changed radically. I do think it should be re-extended into DFO slotted in between the 590 so that 15-minute frequency is established between DFO and Toombul. It was really popular then!

Ideally, 369 should continue to Brisbane Airport but we will leave that Pandora's box closed for now.

[Arnz]

Sunshine Coast:

620:  Obvious candidate for upgrade (Currently every 30 mins/7 days until early evenings - with extra hourly late evening Fri/Sat services) it's the primary route between Maroochydore (Sunshine Plaza/Town Centre) and Noosa Heads.
626/627: (both routes merged - 627 is a 'short running' version of the 626 that operates between Sunshine Beach and Tewantin).  The existing 626 portion has a evening service upgrade to operate hourly from 6pm till 9pm on Mon-Sat, 8pm on Sundays.

Honorable mentions to the 610 and 616s - both routes however still need weekend frequency upgrades (Both currently 30 mins weekdays - hourly on weekends).

[achiruel]

I think 369 is OK unless patronage has changed radically. I do think it should be re-extended into DFO slotted in between the 590 so that 15-minute frequency is established between DFO and Toombul. It was really popular then!

Ideally, 369 should continue to Brisbane Airport but we will leave that Pandora's box closed for now.

If 590 is improved to 15 minute frequency, does 369 still need to be extended? I'd suggest not. I'd like to see 369 frequency increased to 15 minutes though, but at the very least get rid of the weird gaps like 40 minutes between 12:05 and 12:45 ex Mitchelton

[#Metro]

Good point.

GCL really needs to be broken up.

It doesn't have to be abolished, just individual sections run rather than big loops. Can keep the marketing to reduce loss aversion shock.

Idea - one route from Toowoomba. I think USQ - Grand Central via Kearny Springs Shopping Centre might be worth investigating.

If 590 is improved to 15 minute frequency, does 369 still need to be extended? I'd suggest not. I'd like to see 369 frequency increased to 15 minutes though, but at the very least get rid of the weird gaps like 40 minutes between 12:05 and 12:45 ex Mitchelton

Route 369 did run at 15 minute frequency about 10 years ago, however route 375 provides a competing near-BUZ like service along part of that corridor which steals the pax.

[achiruel]

I could be wrong, but doesn't 375 only share about 3 stops on Stafford Rd with 369? They serve an entirely different purpose for most of the length of both routes. Not sure how much cannibalism is really going on there. Looks like 375 stops at a couple of extra stops, though-maybe either the 369 should stop there as well, or they should be deleted.

[#Metro]

I could be wrong, but doesn't 375 only share about 3 stops on Stafford Rd with 369? They serve an entirely different purpose for most of the length of both routes. Not sure how much cannibalism is really going on there. Looks like 375 stops at a couple of extra stops, though-maybe either the 369 should stop there as well, or they should be deleted.

I thought the same too, but I decided to go there myself and have a look. It really is true - those first few stops people have a choice between 375 direct to the CBD and coming every 15 minutes OR catching the 369 indirect and half hourly... Plenty of people at those stops but they catch the 375.

Stafford Road is an ex-tram route so patronage and density are there IMHO.

The other thing is the 369 doesn't go into the bus stop at Stafford City. Ideally, that bus stop would be moved to face Stafford Road so that both could stop there.

[Cazza]

I think 369 is OK unless patronage has changed radically. I do think it should be re-extended into DFO slotted in between the 590 so that 15-minute frequency is established between DFO and Toombul. It was really popular then!

Ideally, 369 should continue to Brisbane Airport but we will leave that Pandora's box closed for now.

If 590 is improved to 15 minute frequency, does 369 still need to be extended? I'd suggest not. I'd like to see 369 frequency increased to 15 minutes though, but at the very least get rid of the weird gaps like 40 minutes between 12:05 and 12:45 ex Mitchelton

And the fact that services finish running later on weekends than weekdays 

[#Metro]

Route 590 and 599/598 need to be amalgamated between Garden City and DFO.

Unfortunately, that means some re-routing, cutting a section out of the GCL so that it isn't a continuous circle, loss aversion, an opportunity for councilors to go "OMG CUUUUTTTSSS!!" 

The whole network is completely overgrown. It needs pruning.

Cannon Hill station should probably be moved to face Creek Road so that it is "on the way".

Debatable as to what would happen to Murrarie Station in that event given that it is so close.

[achiruel]

I like the idea of moving Cannon Hill to Creek Rd. Better interchange, and would also be a relatively easy walk to the shopping centre, rather than transferring to the horribly infrequent 232. Murrarie can then get in the bin, along with Wynnum. 2 stops eliminated, 2 minutes better travel time! 

[Cazza]

I agree with the idea, but good luck moving a station that's only just had an upgrade.