9 May 2012: SEQ: Sir Fred Schonell Drive Congestion

[ozbob]

Media release 9th May 2012

SEQ: Sir Fred Schonell Drive Congestion

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 calls for action to be taken to address the frequent peak hour delays experienced by bus users along Sir Fred Schonell drive, and calls for peak direction T2 lanes to solve the problem.

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

"T2 Lanes sort the traffic, allowing bus travellers and carpoolers alike to escape traffic congestion, and have certainty in journey times."

"Given the number of 402 and 412 bus users making rail connections, and possible onward feeder bus connections, there can be real knock on effects of this slow bus leg to individuals' journeys."

"On evening of the 04/04/2012 we recorded a time of 26 minutes to make the 3km trip from UQ Chancellors Place to Toowong Station. A journey scheduled to take just 8 minutes. An average speed of under 7km/h can best be described as hellish, to the point where many have been witnessed ditching the bus early and walking the rest of the way. It is a lot quicker to ride a bicycle.  Delays like this are a common occurrence."

"At the busiest times of the day in peak direction, Sir Fred Schonell Drive sees a bus every 3 minutes, so the volume of bus users alone is certainly there to justify this move."

"If we don't make moves like T2 Lanes then the current quality of bus service being experienced along this important corridor is how it will remain permanently, congested and prone to ever increasing delays, and nobody wants that."

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 Quest click here!

Commuter anger at long slow crawl from St Lucia campus

Commuter anger at long slow crawl from St Lucia campus

    by: Vanessa Croll, Westside News
    From: Quest Newspapers
    May 22, 2012 8:56AM

A public transport lobby group is calling on council to implement T2 lanes on a major St Lucia road, notorious for major peak time congestion.

Rail Back on Track Brisbane West Region spokesman Gavin Seipelt said he travelled along Sir Fred Schonell Drive by bus to and from the University of Queensland and Toowong train station four times a week during peak times.

"Congestion is particularly bad heading away from the uni. A trip that should take eight minutes, consistently takes about 26 minutes," Mr Seipelt said.

"Given the number 402 and 412 bus users making rail connections, and possible onward feeder bus connections, there can be real knock-on effects.

"If we don't make moves like T2 lanes, then the current quality of bus service being experienced along this important corridor is how it will remain permanently, congested and prone to ever-increasing delays."RACQ senior traffic and safety engineer Greg Miszkowycz said preliminary studies were needed.

"We would like to see some background research on traffic volumes and vehicle occupancy rates to gain a better understanding on the users of the road currently," he said. "If it is taking significantly longer than it should to travel on the road, then there is an issue there but the solution will have to improve travel times for all traffic in the corridor, not just those using the transit lane."

Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner said the completion of the Legacy Way tunnel in 2014 would have flow-on benefit

Heavy traffic on Sir Fred Schonell Drive. Picture: Angie Simms Source: Quest Newspapers

RACQ, just doesn't get it ... 

[ozbob]

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