11 Mar 2013: SEQ: More Efficiencies for More Fare Relief

[ozbob]

Media release 11th March 2013



SEQ: More Efficiencies for More Fare Relief

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 applauded the recent SEQ Bus Network Redesign and is keen to see the drive for further public transport efficiencies and thus fare reductions continue.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The government's commitment to reinvest saving from a more efficient public transport network into fares and extended services has the full support of RAIL Back on Track."

"The current bus network is clearly unsustainable. It is operationally unsustainable because adding more and more buses to the system is causing huge congestion and delays in the city centre and roads.   It is financially unsustainable  because we cannot keep paying ever increasing fares, amongst the world's highest, and also some of the world's highest taxpayer subsidies for services."

"Speeding up buses and separating buses from general traffic congestion actually saves money and increases revenue collected by TransLink because passengers value speed and reliability. Every minute that a bus is delayed in traffic congestion because single occupant vehicles are prioritised, is passenger fare revenue lost and taxpayer subsidy money wasted on more fuel, more greenhouse gas emissions, more money on extra labour and extra buses that could all be avoided. In fact, such delays should be costed as a hidden subsidy to motorists."

"With the Go Frequent Network set to delivery 26 High Frequency Bus routes separating these bus routes from general traffic becomes even more important."

RAIL Back On Track calls for a package of initiatives to deliver a even more efficient public transport network including:

1. Painted lines at all busway stations (Cultural Centre already has this) to help buses getting in the way of each other, causing delays. This can be done overnight, very cheaply.

2. Transit lanes on all major arterial roads. The absence of a transit lane on the new northern busway is a major disappointment as full buses jump off the busway and then plunge straight into grinding congestion on Gympie Road. Total waste of time, fuel, labour and funds. Coronation 'congestion' drive, Sir Fred Schonell Drive, Ipswich Road along with other Brisbane arterial roads are obvious ones.

3. Space out bus stops - extremely close bus stop spacing means that buses are constantly stopping absolutely everywhere all the time while cars whiz by, BUZ 199, 196 and Sandgate road amongst others fall into this category. Proper, wider stop spacing increases speed which both reduces operating cost and increases passenger numbers.

4. All door boarding should be introduced on the BUZ network and at busway stations. Using all doors will cut boarding times and speed up services. More transit officers on buses will also assist.

5. Traffic light priority for BUZ services. You can prioritise cars or you can prioritise buses but by definition, you can't prioritise both. Save money and give buses priority!

6. Remove paper ticketing.

"Fixing public transport does not necessarily need to cost billions of dollars, require endless mountains of studies and feasibility investigations, or decades of waiting for 'big ticket' infrastructure to fix. Cheap, practical and obvious solutions can be implemented NOW."

Contact:

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

References:

1. 2 Jul 2012: SEQ: Cut expensive fiesta of concrete - use bus lanes! http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8679.0

2. San franciso: all-door boarding on buses! http://www.humantransit.org/2012/07/in-san-francisco-passengers-will-be-able-to-board-through-any-door-of-any-city-bus-as-they-have-long-been-able-to-do-on-ligh.html

3. 24 Jun 2012: SEQ: Time for paper to go? http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8603.0

[ozbob]

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