19 Mar 2011: Time for bus action!

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

19th March 2011


Time for bus action!


Greetings,

Today we call for the implementation of 7 day a week operation for the Great Circle Line bus (see media release below).

We call for the immediate commencement of a rail-bus service from Springfield to Richlands (see media release below).

The failure to have in place a 'rocket' rail-bus service from Springfield to Richlands from day one of operation of Richlands railway is a monumental transport planning and service failure.  Little wonder that the latest TransLink Tracker shows bus patronage stalling.

The failure to address the real community's needs to have a 7 day a week service for the Great Circle Line bus (route 598/599) is alarming.  The largess of the route P88 bus (see media release below) would have been much better directed to improvements in the Great Circle Line bus and other western bus improvements.

It is time that TransLink reconsidered its approach.  The continued fixation on a radial bus system is leading to a breakdown in reliability and utility of the public transport network in south-east Queensland.

Best wishes
Robert

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

=====================

Media release 25 February 2011

SEQ: 15 minute frequency for the Great Circle Bus Line would serve The Prince Charles Hospital

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 applauds that the former Transport Minister saw the need for an improved service to Prince Charles Hospital (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"While sending the the Northern Busway through the hospital is an option, it is a long way off and not certain.  It also can be argued that such an alignment would be likely to be slower than an alignment along Gympie Rd.  The other issue is an alleged higher number of resumptions to go via The Prince Charles Hospital (2,3)."

"A poll of RAIL Back on Track members had an inconclusive result (4), but re-routing options on the city side of the routes weren't widely favoured.  The small number of seats promised also allows little room to add services.  Therefore RAIL Back on Track suggests that the Great Circle Bus Line should be given a 15 minute frequency through shopping hours (including Sundays) and shortly afterwards, with trips until the late evening.  This would provide a service to 4000 staff and 30 000 monthly visitors, to use the Minister's own figures.  It should not be necessary to wait a large number of years before a reasonable public transport service is provided."

"Improved service on the Great Circle Bus Line also allows for a number of other destinations not well served by other services, including Stuartholme Rd, Sherwood Rd, Wardell St and it is also the only public transport service over the Gateway Bridge.  It has also been suggested that it could also serve the Airport DFO now that access is improved.  Improving the Great Circle Line is also a requirement to implement the TransLink Network Plan (5)."

"There is also the alternative of a 325 BUZ, probably with updated stop locations around The Prince Charles Hospital, but maximum utility for the public would be gained by improving the Great Circle Bus Line."

References:

1.   http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/EPetitions_QLD/responses/1529-10.pdf

2.   http://www.couriermail.com.au/property/northern-busway-extension-leaves-homes-in-limbo/story-e6frequ6-1225927547240

3.   http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4474.0

4.   http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5150.0

5.   http://www.translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/network-plan-2010.pdf page 8

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

================================

Media release 25 January 2011

SEQ: Springfield-Richlands rocket rail-bus required

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 called for a direct, express rail-bus from Springfield to Richlands to be considered while the rail line is being built. (1)

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The opening of the Richlands rail station really showed how the community will get behind public transport when given good quality options. RAIL Back on Track has received feedback asking for a direct bus service from Springfield so that residents can transfer to rail."

"Once the proposed bus does its suburban run in Springfield it can go straight down the Centenary Highway and feed directly into Richlands rail station. Services could begin as a peak-hour service, and this could be gradually increased to an all day, high frequency service, possibly of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) standards and with a guaranteed connection to every train service."

"This could be similar to a system in Perth, Western Australia, where they have used BRT to feed passengers from Rockingham into the Mandurah rail line (2)."

"This will be a useful "stop-gap" measure while TransLink, Queensland Rail and the construction alliance deal with the construction and planning of the extension of the rail line into Springfield."

"Judging by the popularity of the Richlands rail line, RAIL Back on Track believes the Springfield railway line will be a great achievement for both Springfield and Queensland, and will be very popular. We also welcome the new interim timetable for this line which came into operation yesterday."

"As the success of public transport, particularly feeder bus routing, is highly influenced by speed, directness, layout and connectivity of the local road network, we hope that Springfield Land Corporation ensures that future roads are developed in accordance with the 'Be on the way' principle to allow easy, direct bus routing in the future (3)."

"It is time public transport in south-east Queensland became pro-active rather than reactive!"

References:

1. Bus link from Springfield to Richlands Station
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5226

2. Rockingham City Centre Transit System
http://www.pta.wa.gov.au/Projects/CompletedProjects/RockinghamCityCentreTransitSystem/tabid/81/Default.aspx

3. Queensland: Public Transport 101 - Be on the Way!
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4996.0

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

==============================

Media release 26 December 2010

SEQ: Route 88 bus absorbs money which could be spent on Centenary services

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 that the 88 bus route robs funding from upgrading other routes.  One such region is the Centenary suburbs, which has notorious traffic congestion at present.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The current routes which serve Jindalee and Riverhills, the 450, 453 and 454 should be considered for abolition, along with route P88 to pay for 2 new BUZ routes to Jindalee (1).  This is because the 450 and 453 routes excessively zig zag through Jindalee and makes public transport unattractive.  While abolishing the routes may not completely pay for two more BUZs, it goes close, and there would also be increased patronage and therefore fares from the BUZification (2)."

"The P88's SE Busway service could be provided in other ways."

"RAIL Back on Track still thinks that the route 100 is a high priority for being made a BUZ, however if  the Translink Transit Authority believes there is a need for an improved service in the west, at least it could make a useful service. Reaction to the 88 bus route is reportedly lukewarm (3,4). The Great Circle Bus route also needs improved frequency and 7 day services (5). Both of these options are a much better public investment than the flawed 88 bus route in our opinion."

"The failure of TransLink to properly consult the community when implementing major bus changes is partly responsible for the recent inappropriate bus changes (6)."

References:

1. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=207811834889795565086.000497f6c7dffbd8f313a&ll=-27.516341,152.958698&spn=0.130777,0.162392&t=h&z=13

2. BUZ = frequency and reliability- the winning formula, Alan Warren, Brisbane Transport
http://www.thredbo.itls.usyd.edu.au/downloads/thredbo10_papers/thredbo10-themeA-Warren.pdf

3. Westside news, 22/12/2010, p5: http://backontrack.org/docs/wsn/wsn_22dec10_p5.jpg

4. Discussion on Centenary Routes: http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4448.0

5. 13 September 2010 SEQ: Call for the Great Circle Bus to do a great weekend! http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4410.0

6. Public consultation thread http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5145.0

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Buyers flock to Springfield