Removal of Drop Off zone and Car Park at South Brisbane

[Jon Bryant]

With the extension of the Convention Centre at South Brisbane why could the drop off zone and car parking be removed and a Plaza built in their place.  It is an eye sore as it is and the need for drop off and car parking surely no longer exists.   Why does the railway station never get upgraded when the surrounding area is developed even the adjacent busway station. 

[O_128]

With the extension of the Convention Centre at South Brisbane why could the drop off zone and car parking be removed and a Plaza built in their place.  It is an eye sore as it is and the need for drop off and car parking surely no longer exists.   Why does the railway station never get upgraded when the surrounding area is developed even the adjacent busway station. 

I have been asking myself this for awhile, why the need for parking out the front.

[ButFli]

Doesn't every station need car parking for staff and other QR vehicles? There is also a railway shop at South Brisbane which needs some parking.

Plus South Brisbane is a bit of a heritage item.

[Jon Bryant]

Doesn't every station need car parking for staff and other QR vehicles? There is also a railway shop at South Brisbane which needs some parking.

Plus South Brisbane is a bit of a heritage item.

No every station does not need a car park for staff.  Ideally our stations are a TODs with no car parking and employyess live close to the work. Not sure about the railway shop but such a centrally located station does not need car arking.  A loading zone maybe but deliveries could be by rail as well.  If we want to stick to the stations heritage then lets put back the Tram line that useed to terminate in the drop off zone.

The space needs to be made into a attarctive, shaded plaza.  A place to spend time in not a car park.

[#Metro]

The space needs some big fig trees and actual soil and grass not black bitumen and ugly surroundings with industrial chains forming some kind of fence. The pink paint looks a bit odd... The spaces are a bit underutilized- there is potential for a cafe and seating etc.

Staff carparking I can understand, but a big kiss-and-ride drop off zone and taxi stand can be put in too (for people leaving QPAC after performances).

[longboi]

The carpark is an eyesore but I doubt it will go. Theres some QRP management offices inside the building as well as station staff.

[Jon Bryant]

Until we kill of the sacred cow (aka the car park we just MUST have) we are not going to change the travel behaviour of our communities.  Why do QRP need a car park.  They have free train travel and should be supporting their own business.

[curator49]

The Railway Shop at South Brisbane has been closed for some years. Besides the usual station staff there are other railway offices located at South Brisbane - the Audit Branch was there at one stage. However, I do agree after some provision is made for some car parks for railway staff the area could undergo some beautification but the development needs to be mindful of the heritage listing of the building.

[somebody]

Until we kill of the sacred cow (aka the car park we just MUST have) we are not going to change the travel behaviour of our communities.  Why do QRP need a car park.  They have free train travel and should be supporting their own business.

What about staff who arrive before the first train?  Or don't live on a train line but need to arrive before their buses start or leave after they finish?

[O_128]

Until we kill of the sacred cow (aka the car park we just MUST have) we are not going to change the travel behaviour of our communities.  Why do QRP need a car park.  They have free train travel and should be supporting their own business.

What about staff who arrive before the first train?  Or don't live on a train line but need to arrive before their buses start or leave after they finish?

They can park in the Convention centre carpark

[longboi]

Until we kill of the sacred cow (aka the car park we just MUST have) we are not going to change the travel behaviour of our communities.  Why do QRP need a car park.  They have free train travel and should be supporting their own business.

What about staff who arrive before the first train?  Or don't live on a train line but need to arrive before their buses start or leave after they finish?

They can park in the Convention centre carpark

And pay for it? That's a bit unreasonable when you have to work outside PT hours.

[Jon Bryant]

It is a catch 22 but we have to draw the line or we have lost the battle. It is a bit ironic that a station worker can not catch PT to work because their employer provides such a poor service!!!!

[stephenk]

It is a catch 22 but we have to draw the line or we have lost the battle. It is a bit ironic that a station worker can not catch PT to work because their employer provides such a poor service!!!!

It's not necessarily an issue with poor service. If a worker starts at 5am, lives 30mins away by train, and the first train from their station is at 4:45am, then they are quite obviously not going to be able to get to work by train. That's if the worker lives near a train line, which many don't.

Whilst it may seem ironic, the reality is many QR staff and other shift workers cannot use public transport to get to work for very early or very late shifts.

[Otto]

It is a catch 22 but we have to draw the line or we have lost the battle. It is a bit ironic that a station worker can not catch PT to work because their employer provides such a poor service!!!!

It is a bit difficult to catch the bus to work when I AM the driver of the first bus..... Therefore, I must use my car which also needs to be parked at work untill I finish....

[Jon Bryant]

They seem to achieve it in Europe but it is just too hard for us.

[stephenk]

They seem to achieve it in Europe but it is just too hard for us.

Can you provide examples of staff using public transport to from work when public transport is not running in Europe?

London Underground provides staff taxis for those travelling to/from work when the tube is not running. These taxis run along tube line routes. Staff who are not on these routes either have to use night buses or drive.

[longboi]

They seem to achieve it in Europe but it is just too hard for us.

They seem to, or actually do?

[O_128]

Until we kill of the sacred cow (aka the car park we just MUST have) we are not going to change the travel behaviour of our communities.  Why do QRP need a car park.  They have free train travel and should be supporting their own business.

What about staff who arrive before the first train?  Or don't live on a train line but need to arrive before their buses start or leave after they finish?

They can park in the Convention centre carpark

And pay for it? That's a bit unreasonable when you have to work outside PT hours.

Im sure an arangement can be work out so they can park for free

[Jon Bryant]

Show me photos of car parking at any city railway station in Vienna, Munich, Berlin, Paris, Frankfurt, Cophenhagen, Odslo, Moscow, Zurich, London, etc., etc.  (Source: Many trips and living in these Cities, Jonno, various.)

[Emmie]

Would it be a reasonable compromise to leave some necessary parking there for staff - OR QR could negotiate a deal with the Convention Centre to use a certain number of car parking spaces?  QR and Toowong Village have this sort of arrangement.

The main issues seem to me to be

- why can't such a large, under-used drop off space be converted into a something appealing, suitable for its location near the Cultural Centre?
- and why doesn't South Brisbane Station, with all its heritage importance, get some general TLC?  For a start - this is a station which serves many casual users, yet there is no adequate signage, either below or on the platforms

[cartel_brisbane]

with no car parking and employyess live close to the work

Laugh Out Loud. I'm not sure, but last time I checked, Brisbane isn't Fantasy Land and the trains don't run on rainbows.

Staff must have car-parking available. Especially when there is no reasonable alternative.

[Jon Bryant]

... And the Catch 22 continues. It is the same old argument. There is no public transport so we need car parking.  Not specifically for the station in question but generally.  Provide the car parking and there is no need for the public transport.  We need to start somewhere and car parking around public transport is the best place to start.  Until the service is put in place then may a taxi for earlier starters in such locations

[O_128]

Staff must have car-parking available. Especially when there is no reasonable alternative.

Yes the convention centre carpark, just give them free parking

[cartel_brisbane]

Until the service is put in place then may a taxi for earlier starters in such locations

and then imagine the outcry about such a "luxury" in the papers! They would be clawing for blood the Courier Mail at that story of staff taking Taxi's early morning or night about the place. Its happened before.

[Jon Bryant]

Personally I think the Convention Centre car parking should be removed/converted/shut off as it is a significant contributor to car trips into the City. For example I know of a person who lives near a busway and works at the Convention Centre who drives because the car park is there.  

[mufreight]

One must question as to how the drop off zone and car parking at the cultural centre is relative to rail infrastructure projects.
Having reread this thread from start to finish I would be most interested if some of those posting in this thread could enlighten me and no doubt many others.

[Jon Bryant]

Personally I think the Convention Centre car parking should be removed/converted/shut off as it is a significant contributor to car trips into the City. For example I know of a person who lives near a busway and works at the Convention Centre who drives because the car park is there.  

[Jon Bryant]

One must question as to how the drop off zone and car parking at the cultural centre is relative to rail infrastructure projects.
Having reread this thread from start to finish I would be most interested if some of those posting in this thread could enlighten me and no doubt many others.

The surrounding environs at our stations are all part of the customer expeience and the attractivness of the service.  It is directly related as is the poor safety of park and rides surrounding our stations. 

[#Metro]

... And the Catch 22 continues. It is the same old argument. There is no public transport so we need car parking.  Not specifically for the station in question but generally.  Provide the car parking and there is no need for the public transport.  We need to start somewhere and car parking around public transport is the best place to start.  Until the service is put in place then may a taxi for earlier starters in such locations

While I may not agree with certain specific suggestions, the whole idea behind Jonno's post is sound. Surely there is some middle ground here. Which is: That area really needs to be done up and turned into something for the public rather than just another yucky asphalt carpark.

I agree with Jonno. I and others have posted things about commuter experience- the smaller things which are forgotten but important to the image of the system, the comfort and convenience of the people who use it.

Its hard to construct things and work with peoples (difficult) needs, but that is what is needed to be done because that is what the job calls for. TL and the government takes the time to listen to us and accommodate our needs, the favour should be extended to the ordinary commuter...

[Golliwog]

Show me photos of car parking at any city railway station in Vienna, Munich, Berlin, Paris, Frankfurt, Cophenhagen, Odslo, Moscow, Zurich, London, etc., etc.  (Source: Many trips and living in these Cities, Jonno, various.)

Don't have pictures, but I know for a fact that Paris's Gare du Nord has a quite large underground car park. To my knowledge, I don't think their metro's have parking though, but I'll have a look when I'm out and about.

[Golliwog]

Ok, so having wandered around Paris a bit yesterday, the only free parking available at a station is on street parking, although Parisians seen to have a talent for finding a place to park where back in Brisbane you wouldnt. Also, there are a lot more people here who use mopeds and motorbikes. However there is also a large number of places near many metro/railway stations that offer paid parking. I don't know the price or how many spaces they provide, but it is there. All underground of course.

This is of course just what I have seen, and I did not really venture out of the "built up" central part of Paris.

[p858snake]

Doesn't every station need car parking for staff and other QR vehicles? There is also a railway shop at South Brisbane which needs some parking.

Plus South Brisbane is a bit of a heritage item.

New Market has none (well a little cutout at the end where the dumpster bin is) although the SES has a little un-secured carpark across the road.