Article: In the fast lane

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 27th May 2010 page 1

In the fast lane

[#Metro]

Different things work in different places.

It cannot be justified that a car carrying one person is equal in priority to a bus carrying 65 or 80 passengers, or a Light Rail vehicle carrying 300 pax. Coronation drive bus lanes must be re-claimed. 

[ozbob]

The comment in the above article was based on this release.

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Media Release 27 May 2010

SEQ:  Bus transit times can be improved

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has said new road infrastructure affords opportunities to improve a number of bus routes to help avoid traffic congestion delays at peak time.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Last evening, TransLink published a service disruption announcing general bus delays which said 'Brisbane Transport advised TransLink that bus services may be delayed up to 15 minutes due to traffic congestion throughout the city and surrounding suburbs.' (1)"

"With the imminent opening of the Go Between Bridge an opportunity has been presented to speed up the express bus routes via Indooroopilly and consolidate the 444 and 443 routes to Moggill with the other express routes via Indooroopilly in Queen St Bus Station.  Currently, all these routes must use Milton Rd and Cribb St outbound which means traversing 9 sets of traffic lights between the Cultural Centre platform and Coronation Drive.  Routing via the Go Between bridge should save at least 2 sets of traffic lights and chop a few hundred metres of congested roads off the trip.  Heading inbound, the expresses currently traverse 3 sets of lights but the Go Between Bridge should be able to reduce this to one.  For the 444 BUZ and 443 rocket the outbound trip still gets an advantage."

"The establishment of bus priority  lanes on the Captain Cook Bridge and Riverside Expressway would also go a long way to easing some CBD bus congestion."

"Brisbane City Council and the State Government has invested in the new assets, let's make use of it for public transport as well as cars. The route 77 bus through the Clem 7 tunnel is very welcome and a great example, but more can be done to improve bus transit times!"

"An overall increase in QR Citytrain frequency will also assist in relieving pressure on the bus system (2).  There is latent capacity in the rail network.  Better utilisation of the new road infrastructure with a ramp up of rail frequency will do much to improve our public transport network overall, and complement the TravelSmart campaign (3) and in so doing maximise the benefit to the economy and community."

References:

1.  http://www.translink.com.au/servicechange.php?1274861341  accessed 6.12pm 26 May 2010

2.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3812.0

3.  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3805.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[Jon Bryant]

Different things work in different places.

It cannot be justified that a car carrying one person is equal in priority to a bus carrying 65 or 80 passengers, or a Light Rail vehicle carrying 300 pax. Coronation drive bus lanes must be re-claimed. 

Agree totally... and more.  Every major road should have a bus lane at least in peak hour. It is time PT is given priority over the motor vehicle.