30 May 2012: SEQ: Scrap Maroon CityGlider 'Waste on Wheels'

[ozbob]

Media release 30 May 2012

SEQ: Scrap Maroon CityGlider 'Waste on Wheels'

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 has highlighted the pending introduction of the Maroon CityGlider.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"It is clear from our analysis that the Maroon CityGlider has little to do with rational public transport planning. The big, hidden losers in this equation are the residents of Bulimba, the Centenary Suburbs and the Northwestern suburbs, all of which have local resident petitions for more bus services to their public transport 'no go' zones. These residents should be outraged, because funds that could have been spent in their local area are now being spent on Government waste and duplication."

"Suncorp Stadium is already served by the high frequency 385 BUZ and the Ipswich Rail line which has trains every 15 minutes. Caxton Street is directly connected to Roma Street busway and train stations with services every few minutes. During game periods, extra trains and buses are put on anyway. Meanwhile, the people of Bulimba languish with one and a half hour waits for their bus on weekends. A Bulimba-Glider would be far more appropriate."

"Woolloongabba is served by the high frequency BUZ 100 Inala and BUZ 200 Carindale services as well as other busway services. Logan Road has access to the 174, 175, 200, 203 and 204 services that combine to provide a high frequency service along this road. Meanwhile, the people of the Centenary suburbs languish with 9 different bus services that have so many variations that it is confusing and as they all come at low frequencies or are peak hour only, so none of them are useful!"

"Stones Corner has a brand new $465 million dollar busway station that is served by the high frequency BUZ 222 Carindale, 209 UQ Lakes and also has access to the 203, 204, 174 and 175 services that provide high frequency service there already. Across the road from this busway station is another busway station (Buranda) and on top of that is a train station! Can you see what we are tying to get at here? Hello? Meanwhile, the people of the Northwest put up with slow, hourly services."

"Of course the Maroon CityGlider duplicates existing high frequency bus services and doesn't fit properly and integrate into the rest of the network. That's because Brisbane City Council did the network planning for it, when it really should have been TransLink, which was set up in 2004 to do this job. No other operator has such powers to invent their own services - so why should the BCC? In all likelihood any passengers that catch this new service will be cannibalised from duplicated existing high frequency service - in other words, no significant impact or shift from cars.  Another thing is that road closures when major events are on will mean the 'Maroon Cityglider' is of limited utility and will contribute further to the road congestion mess!"

"Don't get us wrong. We like public transport, but it needs to go where it will be most useful; in suburbs such as Bulimba, Centenary and the Northwest. Not on waste."

"Councillor Matic queried ' .. what are they complaining about? ... ' (1). This is what we are complaining about Councillor, stupid and wasteful transport planning when the rest of Brisbane needs improved services! Clear Councillor?"

Contact:

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

References:

1. Maroon CityGlider through South Brisbane labelled a political stunt
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8125.msg99122#msg99122

2. Transferring" can be good for you, and good for your city
http://www.humantransit.org/2009/04/why-transferring-is-good-for-you-and-good-for-your-city.html

To complete your trip in a world-class transit system, you may have to make a connection, or "transfer" as Americans say.  That is, you may have to get off one transit vehicle and onto another.  You probably don't like doing this, but if you demand no-transfer service, as many people do, you may be demanding a mediocre network for your city.

There are several reasons for this, but let's start with the most selfish one: your travel time.

Asking people to "transfer" is politically unpopular, so the Direct Service option is the politically safe solution, but if we want to maximize mobility with our fixed budget, we should prefer the Connective option.  Consider how long a typical trip takes in each scenario, from the standpoint of a person whose needs to leave or arrive at a particular time.

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