Article: Fortitude Valley audit reveals public transport woes ...

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Fortitude Valley audit reveals public transport woes after night on the town

Fortitude Valley audit reveals public transport woes after night on the town

    * by Sarah Vogler
    * From: The Courier-Mail
    * July 11, 2010 7:02PM

AFTER a night on the town, getting out of Fortitude Valley can be harder than getting into any of its clubs. Reporter Sarah Vogler and photographer Marc Robertson investigate.

AN early morning safety audit has revealed transport woes continue to plague Fortitude Valley's burgeoning entertainment precinct.

The Courier-Mail was invited along for an exclusive look at the audit, conducted from 2am to 5am yesterday.

A group of more than 40 people took part in the audit, which included police, Brisbane City Council, the Valley Chamber of Commerce and Valley Liquor Accord. And they found, while general safety had improved around the area, two major public transport hubs – Brunswick St train station and the NightLink bus stop in Warner St – were contributing to drunken violence and safety issues.

The first hurdle was uncovered in Warner St where patrons ejected from nearby clubs clashed with the public waiting to catch the bus service home.

At one stage, police were called after a man allegedly assaulted another man near the bus stop. It is believed he had just been ejected from a nearby club.

Fortitude Valley division Inspector Steve Donnelly said the mixing of clubbers with public attempting to catch the late-night bus service was exacerbated by traffic congestion as buses battled with taxis and cars.

Buses at some stages blocked traffic from entering the street as they lined up to reach the Warner St bus stop.

At the Brunswick St train station, the safety audit team was confronted by a large crowd of clubbers waiting outside locked doors. Valley Metro only opens its doors about 15 minutes before the early morning trains are due to depart.

Some in the crowd became agitated when they were allowed inside and discovered just one ticket machine and one booth to buy tickets from. Eventually, staff let some through without paying so they did not miss their train.

With Ekka just over three weeks' away, the problem is expected to worsen as more flock to the entertainment precinct.

Other safety issues identified included two suspected unauthorised nightclub venues.

Valley Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Carol Gordon said the Valley community had embraced the safety audit.

Ms Gordon said they would continue to lobby TransLink, Queensland Rail and Valley Metro to find a solution to the problems at the Brunswick St rail station and Warner St bus stop.

Valley Liquor Accord chairman Danny Blair said access to the Fortitude Valley train station was at the top of the list of safety issues identified by the group.

"There's an issue because to get to the Fortitude Valley train station, you have to go through private property so they only open the doors up 15 minutes prior to a train," Mr Blair said.

Mr Blair said Queensland Rail and TransLink were considering placing plasma televisions out the front of the Valley Metro to display train timetables.

Ms Gordon said the audits had led to improved lighting and 40km/h speed limits since 2005.

[longboi]

Nightlink really needs to have a good review.

My immediate thoughts on improvements would be upgrading to half-hourly frequencies and running on Thursday night.

[somebody]

Nightlink really needs to have a good review.

My immediate thoughts on improvements would be upgrading to half-hourly frequencies and running on Thursday night.

Indeed that it needs upgrading, but I wouldn't support extending the current service to Thursday night only.  Either it becomes a 7 day service or sticks with Fri/Sat.  What is needed is an N444, N150 replacing the N111, N450 replacing the N464, extending the N100 to Richlands, coordination of the timetables (did you know there is a half hour without any buses leaving???).  I.e. There should be a 20 minute service as far as Griffith Uni between N130/N150/N555, 30 minute frequency as far as Carindale shops between N200 and N250.  Also the Warner St stop is too small.  Some buses need to use Ballow St and they also need buses that don't stop at the Valley island stop to stop elsewhere on Ann St.  Probably an additional train at around 2:30am for Ipswich/Beenleigh/Caboolture.

I think those proposals are pretty modest really.

[#Metro]

Night Link is a success! Agree with 555 and 111, more coverage required and a N150.
A thursday night might be worth trying. A trial maybe? Most of the suburban shops are open then.