471 Toowong (formerly to Mt Cootha)

[#Metro]

471 Toowong (formerly to Mt Cootha)

Proposal: Bend back the 471 to Toowong to allow connections at Toowong and for local residents to do shopping. Currently, if you live on Birdwood Tce or along the current route, you can't shop at Toowong! You have to go to the CBD or IGA Milton (which is tiny!). From the current route's design it is obvious that this is a Community Service Obligation route (CSO) so I have added Stuartholme School and Botanical Gardens as well. Stuartholme school is a boarding school (so likely demand after school, weekends etc, NOT like a normal school).

Although I was unsuccessful at finding out how many boarders there were I was surprised to uncover plans by the school to operate its own private bus network which must be tacit acknowledgement that the local bus network just isn't good enough. I had a peek at this and there are buses all over the shop proposed for 2013!

http://www.stuartholme.com/default.asp?contentID=797

Bus 1 - Bellbowrie, Brookfield, Kenmore, Figtree Pocket
Bus 2 - Jindalee, Mt Ommaney, Seventeen Mile Rocks, Oxley through to Indooroopilly, Toowong
Bus 3 - The Gap, Ferny Hills, Jinker Track, Newmarket, Grange, Kelvin Grove
Bus 4 - Albany Creek, Everton Park, Chermside, Clayfield, Milton Train Station connection

Note that these buses would probably be not necessary if the current GCL were operating better. Bus #1 would not be necessary if the current GCL was cut into discrete routes to allow anybody from Bus #1 catchment to perform connections at Toowong.
Bus #2 would not be necessary if Centenary BUZ existed and GCL was fixed
Bus #3 would not be necessary if the GCL was fixed
Same deal with bus #4...

Anyway, this aside..

Description: Split 471 into two routes - a new Mt. Coo-tha shuttle service operating at say 20-30 minute frequencies during the day, and a 471 terminating at Toowong (half hourly or hourly frequencies).

Shuttle
Service begins at Toowong turnaround, heads up Mt Coo-tha road, diverts to Stuartholme school turnaround and then to Botanical Gardens turnaround then to Mount Coo-tha. Distance = approx 7 km. Option: In theory, different fares could be charged on this service as almost all stops are tourist stops.

This shuttle will allow the GCL to be freed up to travel straight up Metroad 5 to Brookside...



New 471
Service begins in the CBD, uses INB at Roma Street, up Milton Road (no more Park Road as that is walking distance to train station plus Coro Drive buses PLUS it is getting a ferry terminal as well soon), up Baroona Road, along Haig to Birdwood Tce, Stuartholme School, Botanic Gardens, then terminating at Toowong Rail (connections). Option: An option exists to send the bus straight down metroad 5 however this will mean that some residents on the far west of Birdwood Tce would have to walk 500m + for an hourly or half hourly service.

[Golliwog]

Every school has a network of school buses, and I'd be hesitant to try and design the PT network to cater for all school trips, or even most. I remember FGSHS (my high school) had 3 or 4 different routes through Samford Valley and I think one even went as far as Dayboro? I know that during school times, the 397 and 398 are extended to start at the school, but they also run a few extra routes through Keperra and up near Everton Hills. The route maps aren't published online though.

That said, I get what you are trying to do which is fair enough. If the shuttle goes ahead, I don't think it should go to Stuartholme fulltime. Just when schools about to start and when it finishes.

[somebody]

I don't see the point of the Birdwood Tce from Toowong service.  It's too close to the Mt Coot-tha Rd service.  Not 100% sure what you are getting at with that actually.

[#Metro]

I don't see the point of the Birdwood Tce from Toowong service.  It's too close to the Mt Coot-tha Rd service.  Not 100% sure what you are getting at with that actually.

Thanks Simon, yes I did think of this and you're right that it would be nicer to have it go straight to Toowong down Metroad 5. Though it also depends on how frequently that branch to Stuartholme school will be operated - others have suggested a handful of am and pm school peak services only, and at other times just go direct to the botanical gardens and then up the mountain.

From the frequency and windiness of the 471 you can tell it has CSO intent in it, but yes, straight to Toowong is possible and probably desirable. So it is there as an option.

[SteelPan]

471 Toowong (formerly to Mt Cootha)

..... Stuartholme school is a boarding school (so likely demand after school, weekends etc, NOT like a normal school)....

I have no direct connection to Stuartholme school, but it is no more or less a "normal school" than any other school can be regarded as "normal", also, in addition to its boarding student population, it also has many day students and plans for future growth as I understand it.