11 Apr 2012: SEQ: A single public transport planning authority is needed.

[ozbob]

Media release 11th April 2012

SEQ:  A single public transport planning authority is needed.

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers  wholeheartedly agrees with Public Transport consultant Peter Quicks (Courier Mail, 11th of April) assessment of the state of public transport management and planning in SEQ (1).

Gavin Seipelt Brisbane West Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The fact is, 93% of trips here in south east Queensland don't use public transport and the system recovers only around a quarter of its costs. This is damning and suggests there is a large disconnect between the type of services provided, and what the travelling public actually wants."

"The provision of public transport should not be politicised at all, but in particular the split in responsibility for buses between Brisbane City Council and the State Government leads to both seemingly beating their own drum and meeting their own political interests."

"What is needed is for public transport to be run in a manner like the Public Transport Authority in Western Australia. A single body that controls the buses, trains and ferries, network planning, timetabling and so forth, with operators merely running services as they are told, and with planners able to work free of political interference."

"This split responsibility is why we have many bus routes competing with trains, and very few rail stations in the BCC area with dedicated feeder services.

"It's why many bus routes seem to be designed and operated based upon arbitrary council boundaries, rather than passenger needs.

"It's why niche services like the Maroon CityGlider are getting priority funding over the rest of the network which still has poor operating hours and frequency in many areas.

"It's why non Brisbane transport bus operators are not allowed to use King George Square and Queen Street Bus stations.

"It's why CityCycle is not integrated with GoCard.

"It's why the State and BCC failed to come to an agreement on basic things like ensuring Legacy Way was built with a bus connection to the Inner Northern Busway (2).

"It's why the Eleanor Schonell Bridge is not used by all bus operators.

"It's time to make public transport first choice!"

References:

1. City's public transport will never improve while run by opposing sides Couriermail 11th April 2012 pages 18-19

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7798.0

Contacts:

Gavin Seipelt
Brisbane West Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail 11th April 2012 pages 18-19

City's public transport will never improve while run by opposing sides

[johnnigh]

Great release, Gavin, Bob,
Well done!
John

[ozbob]

Media release 11th April 2012 re-released 3rd May 2012

SEQ:  A single public transport planning authority is needed.

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers  wholeheartedly agrees with Public Transport consultant Peter Quicks (Courier Mail, 11th of April) assessment of the state of public transport management and planning in SEQ (1).

Gavin Seipelt Brisbane West Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The fact is, 93% of trips here in south east Queensland don't use public transport and the system recovers only around a quarter of its costs. This is damning and suggests there is a large disconnect between the type of services provided, and what the travelling public actually wants."

"The provision of public transport should not be politicised at all, but in particular the split in responsibility for buses between Brisbane City Council and the State Government leads to both seemingly beating their own drum and meeting their own political interests."

"What is needed is for public transport to be run in a manner like the Public Transport Authority in Western Australia. A single body that controls the buses, trains and ferries, network planning, timetabling and so forth, with operators merely running services as they are told, and with planners able to work free of political interference."

"This split responsibility is why we have many bus routes competing with trains, and very few rail stations in the BCC area with dedicated feeder services.

"It's why many bus routes seem to be designed and operated based upon arbitrary council boundaries, rather than passenger needs.

"It's why niche services like the Maroon CityGlider are getting priority funding over the rest of the network which still has poor operating hours and frequency in many areas.

"It's why non Brisbane transport bus operators are not allowed to use King George Square and Queen Street Bus stations.

"It's why CityCycle is not integrated with GoCard.

"It's why the State and BCC failed to come to an agreement on basic things like ensuring Legacy Way was built with a bus connection to the Inner Northern Busway (2).

"It's why the Eleanor Schonell Bridge is not used by all bus operators.

"It's time to make public transport first choice!"

References:

1. City's public transport will never improve while run by opposing sides Couriermail 11th April 2012 pages 18-19

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7798.0

Contacts:

Gavin Seipelt
Brisbane West Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org