Ministerial statement: CoastConnect corridor to slash travel times

[Sunbus610]

Traffic congestion fears (Maroochydore CBD)
30 May 11 @ 06:00am by Sherine Conyers
Maroochy Journal

The new Maroochydore CBD faced massive congestion if the needs of motorists were ignored, Maroochydore MP Fiona Simpson warned.

Ms Simpson said that while she appreciated the need for a strong public transport focus, cars and car parks could not be overlooked.

"There are places in the region where a lot of people don't live within 400m of a bus stop," she told the Journal.

"Yes, there is a place for rapid and frequent bus services but you can't ignore the fact there are still going to be people who will use cars.

"It's about park and rides in the region and car corridors that link with rapid transport services."

Councillor Debbie Blumel said she agreed the move towards public transport should be transitional and criticised Councillor Vivien Griffin's Integrated Transport Strategy.

Cr Blumel was concerned about the reduction of parking requirements on private developments given the wait on proposed transport infrastructure initiatives, and the amount of drivers still preferring to use a private vehicle in favour of public transport.

"I have expressed my concerns about the reduction in the number of car parks required on new developments in the Maroochy CBD," she said.

Urban Development Institute of Australia Sunshine Coast branch president Frazer Deane said he supported the push towards public transport and the reduction in carparks.

"The only way to make public transport work is to make cars difficult to drive," he said. "If you keep putting in car parks people will keep driving."

Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works has denied claims it plans to construct a car park in Maroochydore to cater for staff working for the government agencies housed in the new State Government building in First Ave.

>>> Full article in the MAROOCHY JOURNAL newspaper

[#Metro]

Yes. Something needs to be done about cars.

Though it looks like LNP Policy may start to have a car-flavour to it.

[Stillwater]

This is real amateur hour, when it comes to the LNP and transport.  Ms Simpson's colleague, Jarod Bleijie says he no longer supports the CoastConnect rapid bus corridor http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/05/30/proposed-road-plan-coastconnect-nicklin-way/

That will put more cars on the road and force more people to transfer to their car to access the new Maroochydore CBD.  Then Fiona Simpson says she is concerned about cars drivers wanting the access Maroochydore and park there.

No wonder Campbell Newman wanted SC members of parliament to shut up so they could not answer a question about where they might spend $1 billion fixing up the coast's public transport woes!  The LNP transport policy, if it eventuates, will be an interesting read.   

[#Metro]

Hmmm... I wonder how that program to fund Queenslanders to exit the state is going? [sarcasm] 

Between 2007 and 2031, the Sunshine Coast's population is expected to increase by up to 84%
requiring the construction of approximately 98,500 dwellings. Furthermore, the tourism industry
is expected to continue to play an integral part in the local economy, with the region attracting
more than eight million visitors during 2007; 63% of whom were domestic day visitors.

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/40281b1b-514b-4401-b3cd-9f470513d607/pdfcdimpfinalvol2appendixe.pdf

Without coastconnect, roads will choke as congestion forces traffic speeds to drop to LOS E and LOS F (gridlock), see p24

With the introduction of CoastConnect, the public transport mode share across the network will
increase from 2.2% to 3.3%.
On the project corridor there are higher shifts towards public transport. For example at
Aerodrome Road north of Maud Street in Maroochydore, public transport mode share compared
to 2006 has increased from 5% to 10%. At Alexandra Parade north of Buderim Street, public
transport mode share increased from 12% to 17% from 2006 to 2016.
Travel time results for the route 600 bus service with the CoastConnect Project between
Caloundra and Maroochydore indicate that there are potential savings of 20% to 30% across
the morning peak period compared to the 'Do nothing' cases.

[Stillwater]

The 600 and 620 route buses can be 20-30 minutes off the scheduled running times at peak tourism season because of the existing traffic congestion.  Imagine how many more people would catch them if they ran on time year-round.  CoastConnect would achieve that -- and ensure connections with other buses on the network.  But Mr Bleijie doesn't want it and Ms Simpson worries about the consequences of his decision.   

[Arnz]

This is real amateur hour, when it comes to the LNP and transport.  Ms Simpson's colleague, Jarod Bleijie says he no longer supports the CoastConnect rapid bus corridor http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/05/30/proposed-road-plan-coastconnect-nicklin-way/

That will put more cars on the road and force more people to transfer to their car to access the new Maroochydore CBD.  Then Fiona Simpson says she is concerned about cars drivers wanting the access Maroochydore and park there.

No wonder Campbell Newman wanted SC members of parliament to shut up so they could not answer a question about where they might spend $1 billion fixing up the coast's public transport woes!  The LNP transport policy, if it eventuates, will be an interesting read.  

With the exception of a few, it seems most LNP members have no idea what to do with Transport, (if any Transport policy at all).  A number of bus commuters I've spoken to lately think the LNP is only "piggy banking" on the ALP's misfortunes and hoping to get in through the 'back door'.

[Arnz]

Not sure how many routes you are considering trunk, but are you confining to the 600+620?  These routes may be well patronised, but you need more to get a high PT take up.

616 is a large trip generator despite the 30 min frequency (6am till 9pm).  University and Buderim to Maroochydore via Alexandra Headlands Beach.  Quite a number of Uni Students catch this service regularly, as well as Buderim residents.  Some services are overcrowded at various parts of the day.   I could argue for this to be trunk as well.

610 from Nambour to Kawana via Sunshine Plaza is "trunk" during the weekdays, however the weekend frequency lets them down (drops from half-hourly to hourly).

[somebody]

With the exception of a few, it seems most LNP members have no idea what to do with Transport, (if any Transport policy at all).  A number of bus commuters I've spoken to lately think the LNP is only "piggy banking" on the ALP's misfortunes and hoping to get in through the 'back door'.

Misfortunes?

Err no.  Mismanagement.

The question remains though, will the libs be any better?