28 Jan 2011: SEQ: Think bus, fill train!

[ozbob]

Media release 28 January 2011

SEQ: Think bus, fill train!

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 suggests TransLink consider closer integration of rail with bus and priority measures for the Western Corridor as travel for anyone in any bus route going down Coronation Drive is just not reliable any more.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"On January 25th, heavy traffic congestion on Coronation Drive delayed bus passengers by 15 minutes. On January 27th, an incident on the other side of Brisbane at Greenslopes delayed bus passengers on Coronation Drive by almost a full hour! (1) We can only imagine what delays are in store for commuters next week."

"Travelling on Coronation Drive has become totally unreliable; mass delay of one sort or another happens frequently, and it's particularly bad as there are no bus lanes and the buses are forced to run in Class C right of way (mixed traffic) which is the lowest priority and worst reliability."

RAIL Back On Track would like TransLink to consider the merits of closer integration of the bus services in the Western Corridor with the Ipswich line at Indooroopilly, particularly now that the timetable includes more frequent trains, which increases the capacity to accommodate bus-train transfers. This would allow bus passengers the opportunity to interchange with frequent metro-style frequency rail services during peak hour, which run in Class A right of way (absolute and total priority, independent of the road network).

"For example, between 7am - 7:59am there are 10 trains currently heading towards the CBD from Indooroopilly(2). In the draft timetable, five extra services are added in this hour, boosting rail capacity and giving a metro-style frequency of roughly a train every 4 minutes (3)."

"Options for consideration could include re-routing to allow bus passengers to have the opportunity to transfer to rail, or at the other end of the scale the construction of a simple bus-rail interchange at Indooroopilly rail station."

"Judging by the $3.8 million Park and Ride being constructed at The Gap, which includes car-parking (a cost probably not required for Indooroopilly), sheltered waiting areas, seating, lighting, security cameras, and a platform bus stop that allows buses to turn around, it seems financially worthy of consideration (4)."

"Ultimately we must make better and proper use of our high quality rail assets and the exclusive Class A right of way priority they offer. Class A right of way is a level of priority equivalent to that of dedicated busways, so why not use these train stations just like busways - by running buses to the train station, or at least past them to give passengers the opportunity to transfer?"

"This sort of feeder strategy is used in Perth, WA and seems to work well."

"Feeder routes may also allow buses to turn back to do another run, increasing the frequency and cutting bus stop waiting time, because the route is now shorter. The money that would have been used to pay the bus to drive all the way to the CBD can now be re-invested in higher frequency service. Overall, some trips may even be faster this way(5)."

"Think bus, fill train!"

References:

1. Coronation Drive Bus delays
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2695.msg46181#msg46181

2. Current Ipswich Line timetable
http://translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/services-and-timetables/timetables/101010_ipswich.pdf

3. Proposed DRAFT Ipswich Line timetable
http://www.translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/service-updates/rosewood-ipswich-line-draft-timetable.pdf

4. Enoggera Reservoir park 'n' ride
http://translink.com.au/about-translink/what-we-do/infrastructure-projects/enoggera-reservoir-park-n-ride

5. 'Transferring' can be good for you, and good for your city, Jarrett Walker, Public Transport Consultant
http://www.humantransit.org/2009/04/why-transferring-is-good-for-you-and-good-for-your-city.html

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Bus delays --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2695.msg46010#msg46010

[#Metro]

Oh look, another chaos, right on schedule!

Motorists are urged to avoid Milton Road this morning after an oil spill.

Travel should be delayed along Milton Road's outbound lanes at Auchenflower, a police spokesman said.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/oil-spill-blocks-milton-road-20110128-1a783.html

[ozbob]

From the Westside News 16th February 2011 page 12

Road-rail call leaves TransLink unmoved




Disappointing response to say the least, particularly in view of this as well --> http://westside-news.whereilive.com.au/news/story/survey-supports-bus-rail/

Who is TransLink actually for??  The public or more stupid route 88's?  

[#Metro]

More than 81 per cent of respondents said more services were needed during peak hours.
While more than three-quarters said they would use rail more often if there were better connecting services to Indooroopilly rail station.
Dr Flegg said the fact the recent upgrade of that station did not better integrate bus and rail was a disappointment.
"It's most glaringly obvious that that sort of integration works," he said.

So much for "Brisbane commuters don't want to transfer"
Maybe it is because they have to walk so far and there is no interchange to do it.

Strong support on this forum as well for an Interchange at this location. From our own survey done half way through last year 80% + as well, same results as Dr Flegg really
---> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4109.0

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

16th February 2011

Greetings,

What a bizarre response from Translink.  Cr Simmonds well understands the problem and solution by the looks of things.

Have a read of this as well --> http://westside-news.whereilive.com.au/news/story/survey-supports-bus-rail/  So does Dr Flegg.

Westside News 16th Feb 2011 page 12



Ramping up rail frequency and then not using it for the public benefit just beggars belief.

Authorities appear to be quite happy to let commuters rot in bus stagnation on Coronation Drive.

Time for the broom.

Best wishes

Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[#Metro]

It seems that Indooroopilly Station has been plagued with problems.
Wasn't this the station that had sewerage or something leaking in the subway at one time?

People are trying to drive their car there in desparation to do transfer -->
http://westside-news.whereilive.com.au/news/story/park-n-ride-for-indooroopilly-train-station-ruled-out/

Then there was this gap problem
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland-rail-fails-to-mind-the-gap-at-indooroopilly-train-station/story-e6freon6-1225858076538

Then there was more calls for park and ride
http://westside-news.whereilive.com.au/news/story/crammed-in-at-indooroopilly-station/

Public Transport Alliance convenor Michael Yeates said while it might seem obvious for politicians to suggest that there is a need for more commuter car parks, it would only generate more traffic, making the traffic and parking problem worse.
Mr Yeates said better bus connectivity much closer to the station was necessary.

The fundamental problem behind calls for more park and ride is a desire for access to the station. There is a gap between the passenger's front door of their house and the door of the train they want to catch. That gap needs to be filled- and can be filled with walk up patronage, bicycles or car, but the best way to fill the gap is to fill it with buses.

[Stillwater]

What I am finding increasingly frustrating is the gaping void between what all the state government, Translink and QR diocuments say should be the case, including rhetoric about 'best practice', forward planning, integration etc, and the actual reality commuters are confronted with daily.

[Fares_Fair]

gaping void ?.... more like a chasm deeper than the Pacific's Marianas Trench.
It is indeed galling SW.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[#Metro]

Gotcha!
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5184.0 <--- Gazza

[#Metro]

The redevelopment of Indooroopilly Shopping Centre and extension is a now or never opportunity to build a proper bus interchange here that will allow routing of buses to go past the train station.


http://www.indooroopillyshopping.com.au/pdf/pdf_indo_development.pdf


"Integrated transport and land use" hmm.. Is this site & new development integrated properly with PT?

What I am finding increasingly frustrating is the gaping void between what all the state government, Translink and QR diocuments say should be the case, including rhetoric about 'best practice', forward planning, integration etc, and the actual reality commuters are confronted with daily.

[Stillwater]

There are those buzz words that you must have in any development application ... integration, connectivity; synergy is another good one ... and throw in energy efficiency.  Maybe that could be achieved by whacking a windmill on top of the shopping centre.

Lend Lease says it will "integrate the shopping centre with the surrounding neighbourhood in response to Indooroopilly's changing character as a modern urban centre".  Does a modern urban centre not have 'connectivity' at a combined bus-rail interchange?

Wait, there is mention of connectivity ... "the proposed pedestrian link and road to the east of the centre will provide new connectivity through the precinct."

Ahh, so the 'connectivity element' is the pedestrian or commuter hiking it on shank's pony between bus stop and station.

At least you can admire the mondo grass as you undertake the walk, for we are told:  "The development proposes new landscaping to soften the building's form and enhance
the pedestrian experience."

Nonsense words for nonsense concepts.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

17th February 2011

Good Morning,

And just to reconfirm why the broom is needed in transport planning land, consider this article from today's Courier Mail.  A transport bureaucracy that cannot even manage to properly feed a high frequency rail service on the Ipswich line from Darra to CBD,  needs to step aside and allow planners that have a true integrated transport vision get on with the job.

From the Courier Mail click here!

Brisbane's traffic the most stressful in Australia, says IBM study

Brisbane's traffic the most stressful in Australia, says IBM study

     * by Robyn Ironside
     * From: The Courier-Mail
     * February 17, 2011 12:00AM

BRISBANE traffic has been rated the most stressful in the country as a result of poor planning, aggressive drivers and an over-reliance on private cars.

An IBM study of 1556 drivers found 90 per cent of Brisbane motorists felt increasingly stressed by traffic compared with 81 per cent in Adelaide, 78 per cent in Melbourne and 74 per cent in Sydney.

Worldwide, the cities assessed as having the most painful commute, when combined with other factors, were Beijing and Mexico City, followed by Johannesburg, Moscow and New Delhi.

Brisbane ranked 13th, behind Sydney in 10th place.

IBM's Smarter Transportation Industry expert John Hawkins said Brisbane drivers were in a "very stressed environment".

"You've only got a few main arterials and you've got the Port of Brisbane and the airport located off one of them," Mr Hawkins said.

"With the huge growth we've had in Brisbane, that's a huge impact on the ability of people to move around."

Mr Hawkins said Queensland could not build its way out of congestion, but must turn to smart technology.

"The Gateway Bridge going to free-flow tolling is a good example of that, saving commuters on average 13 or 14 minutes of peak travel time," he said.

Griffith University urban planning expert Dr Matt Burke said there was no doubt the daily commute had got worse in Brisbane and projects like the Gateway Bridge duplication, new busways and Clem7 tunnel had done little to help.

"For white-collar workers, all the housing is out there in the suburbs but most of the jobs are in the city centre or its immediate frame, which leads to immense tidal flows of traffic across every mode," he said.

The cities with the least "commuter pain", such as Stockholm and Berlin, had decentralised workforces.

"A lot of their employment is in suburban hubs, closer to people's homes."

Dr Burke said government was slowly decentralising but more work was needed.

"The Office Workplace Relocation Program run by the Department of Public Works is a decentralisation program that's moved some workers out of the City to Ipswich such as the Office of Fair Trading," Dr Burke said.

"But moving workers to Green Square in Fortitude Valley and South Bank isn't really outside the city frame.

"We should be looking at middle and outer suburban locations that are well serviced by public transport, like Chermside, Mount Gravatt and Springfield."

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said public transport was crucial to improving commutes.

"That's why we're undertaking the country's biggest transport infrastructure spend," she said.

She added that other "congestion busting" measures being projected included hi-tech traffic management centres and variable speed limit signs.

A fleet of traffic response units including heavy vehicle recovery units, high visibility electronic message boards and email and SMS alerts for busy motorists were also available.

But Opposition transport spokeswoman Fiona Simpson said the Government had failed the test on transport planning.

"Labor has not built or planned for improved roads and transport infrastructure to keep pace with the growing population of Queensland," she said.

Have a happy commute!

Cheers
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track
=============================================

[ozbob]

Some possible solutions for Indooroopilly --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5184.msg44353#msg44353

[ozbob]

"We should be looking at middle and outer suburban locations that are well serviced by public transport, like Chermside, Mount Gravatt and Springfield."

Springfield might be well served in the years to come if the rail line is built, and a rocket rail bus now from Springfield to Richlands is a no brainer, to all except both ends of the George St ....

[somebody]

From the Westside News 16th February 2011 page 12

Road-rail call leaves TransLink unmoved




Disappointing response to say the least, particularly in view of this as well --> http://westside-news.whereilive.com.au/news/story/survey-supports-bus-rail/

Who is TransLink actually for??  The public or more stupid route 88's?  

Pretty much about the response I expected.

Ramping up rail frequency and then not using it for the public benefit just beggars belief.

My thinking would be that we should target them as separate upgrades.  I know you don't agree with me though.