ALP - Brisbane trams: Labor’s light rail plan for city

[ozbob]

Sunday Mail --> Brisbane trams: Labor's light rail plan for city

TRAMS would return to Brisbane streets under a bold plan being ­investigated by Labor lord mayor candidate Rod Harding, more than four decades after the last tram reached its final stop.

The plan – which would involve creating new river crossings and cost close to $1 billion – would eventually link the CBD to South Bank, Fortitude Valley, Newstead, West End and the University of Queensland.

Mr Harding's ambitious idea is, so far, light on detail, with Labor saying the exact route and the impact it would have on streets and property would be determined by engineers at a later point.

"If Brisbane is going to maximise its potential, then we need to be a modern, future-focused and connected city," Mr Harding said. "I have an ambitious and exciting agenda to take Brisbane to that next level and light rail is a part of this agenda."

Options are still being investigated, but the likely stage one would connect Newstead, West End and UQ, via the city.

It is envisaged the major project would eventually grow to include Suncorp Stadium and the Gabba, the RBWH and the Mater and possibly areas such as Hamilton Northshore and the PA hospital.

Labor believes stage one, if it ends up involving an 8km route, would cost close to $700 million.

The Labor candidate said the project was vital for fostering a "new public transport culture".

"In the next 15 years, it's projected that an extra one million people will call Brisbane home. It is simply not sustainable to allow more and more cars to clog up our roads.

"My vision for Brisbane is one where more people actually choose to leave their cars at home, not dissimilar to many progressive global cities." Experts have already been engaged to work on the proposal and flesh out key details and challenges.

Mr Harding said the plan would likely not just benefit inner-city commuters, as the introduction of light rail would free up buses to be used to boost services in the suburbs.

"Right now, you can't blame people for choosing to use their car as there is simply not enough incentive," he said.

More > http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/brisbane-trams-labors-light-rail-plan-for-city/news-story/312459745b35730cc2fed35969c499de

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Editorial: What we need from our leaders is vision

FINALLY! Some vision from a Labor politician! Wannabe Brisbane lord mayor Rod Harding's plan for light rail in the inner suburbs – essentially the reintroduction of trams – might be light on detail, but at least it's something fresh.

After enduring almost a year of Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's do-little, risk-averse style of governing, voters will surely welcome Mr Harding's thinly outlined billion-dollar light rail dream – if only because of its novelty value.

Light rail projects have long been the go-to infrastructure pipe dream for headline-grabbing politicians. And while their viability has been the butt of many jokes (witness The Simpsons' monorail shyster Lyle Lanely's promise to put Springfield on the map alongside the other "great American cities of Brockway, Ogdenville and North Haverbrook"), the success of the recently opened Gold Coast light rail shows the impact a properly planned network can have both in terms of sentiment and usage.

Mr Harding's mud-mapped light rail plan is a long way from reality. But so, too, was 2004 Liberal lord mayoral candidate Campbell "Can-Do" Newman's $3.2 billion proposal for three new road tunnels and an additional bridge to ease cross-city traffic in Brisbane.

More --> http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/editorial-what-we-need-from-our-leaders-is-vision/news-story/ccccf65b3a29ab05acacf3da394797c7

[#Metro]

OMG 
I am SPEECHLESS. This would take 10 years minimum and cost a few billion! It is a pipedream, like HSR! We have tried this SO MANY TIMES. It is always rolled out just before the BCC elections, usually by the Greens. Let me guess, it requires State Gov't approval as well?

AAAAARGH!!

A basic system between Newstead - West End would be 50 million/km x 7 km = 350 million construct, possibly more if a bridge plus the CBD need to be dug up. 10 years start to finish. Service from CBD-UQ would be 6km x 50 million/km = 300 million to construct, and raises major engineering questions if it runs on the busway. I know Seattle has a combined bus/rail tunnel but there signalling is used to separate buses/trams.

Basically you are looking at a $1BN project vs Bus Reform which cost almost nothing and can be done immediately.

This isn't fresh thinking. This is what we had all through the 1990s, and is one of the reasons why PT is so bad -so much energy is going into chasing sexy pipedreams, the basics are being neglected.

[#Metro]

Editorial: What we need from our leaders is vision

No, we don't need vision. We already have too much vision - a paper mill of reports and animations that go nowhere.
What's needed is SERVICES NOW by reorganising what we have got already.

[ozbob]

Bus reform is still very much on the agenda.  I expect a lot more to come out about that.

Light rail is a political hook. The Couriermail has gone for it   

It is worth looking at again in view of the success on the Gold Coast and elsewhere.  Time will tell how the studies go. 

It will cost a lot of money to retrofit light rail to Brisbane that is for sure.

[ozbob]

For interest, a recent discussion thread on Brisbane Light Rail can be found here > http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11828.0

[James]

Sigh. Who wants to talk about real issues when you can talk about TRAMS!!!!!! TRAMS are lots of fun! You get to wheel out granny and her stories of how lovely the trams were in Brisbane (totally ignoring the practicality of retaining the tram network as it was), you get to put up flashy photos and talk about how we're going to become a "world clarse" city.

Bus network reform, changing bus routes and dealing with real issues SUCKS. People complain, there's no votes in it and it is too complex for your basic Courier Mail reader to understand. Who wants to talk about bus networks when you can talk about TRAMS!! Ding Ding!

The cost would be prohibitive and the street environments would make building anything but Class C ROW untenable. City street constraints, having to close many city-fringe streets like Boundary St and Montague Rd to cars or reduce traffic flow are two major issues. I see nothing wrong with the current bus network in the area.

[ozbob]

I think when it is looked at detail, costings and so forth, electric buses will be the go ...  particularly on inner high frequency routes and busways. Same results as proposed for light rail in this context but much cheaper to implement.

I expect rapid development in electric buses from here and in a few years it will be a very sensible move.  Some jurisdictions are already using significant numbers of electric buses.

[ozbob]

There is also the possibility of converting the Ferny Gove line and the Doomben lines to light rail with extension to Hamilton reach.

The conversion of both Port Melbourne and St Kilda branches for light rail in Melbourne looked very much pie in the sky once.  However the very fundamental point was that there was an already advanced street tram system easily interfaced.  Both the St Kilda and Port Melbourne conversions are an outstanding success for this reason.  In the case of Brisbane, without an existing system to build on the back of limits options considerably.  Should stage 1 as proposed in this policy plan happen, the possibility of extensions such as I have outlined are not entirely out of the question.

Foam is always cool on Sunday mornings hey?   

[ozbob]

 

Front page today's Sunday Mail ..

[#Metro]

There is also the possibility of converting the Ferny Gove line and the Doomben lines to light rail with extension to Hamilton reach.

The mind spins. At this rate, Maglev to Doomben Cruise ship terminal is a possibility.

[ozbob]

There are days (or it is 'daze' .. tic) that I adore Queensland.  Today is one of those days ... 

[ozbob]

For interest, from the archives  the BRIZtram thread

>> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4630.0

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/documents/about%20council/sept07_appendixes_brisbane_mass_transit_investigation_lmt.pdf

BRIZTRAM: proposed alignment  page 5 

=======

BRIZTRAM
In 1997 the Queensland State Government announced plans to develop a light rail system in
Brisbane to further revitalise inner Brisbane and deliver major benefits for business, tourism,
the community and the environment. The announcement corresponded with the Federal
Government's announcement of a 'federation fund' to provide start-up grants for successful
projects of regional or historical significance.
The proposal was submitted for start-up funding as a heritage project to revive Brisbane's
trams. To be eligible for these funds the proposal, named BRIZTRAM, needed to become
operational during 2001 and had to include an historical element. This was to be achieved by
refurbishing old Brisbane trams from the local tram museum and implementing a local
training program for tram refurbishment and maintenance. The proposal was supported by
the Federal Government and received a $65-million start-up grant.
The proposal was costed at approximately $250 million, would carry some 45,000
passengers per day, and would be built, owned and operated by a private consortium under
contract to the State Government. The project was to help the Integrated Regional Transport
Plan achieve its aggressive mode-share targets set some 5 years previously.
BRIZTRAM was promoted as both a sustainable transport solution and a historical tramway.

Community reaction to the proposal was mixed. Many residents supported the concept but a
degree of resident opposition emerged in the West End precinct where the proposal was
seen as destroying the local-village atmosphere of the West End. The BRIZTRAM proposal
also included a bridge across the river to the university which was strongly opposed by a
local group. The difficulty in co-locating a light rail alignment with a proposed busway in the
Cultural Centre precinct in the South Bank area also presented difficulties.
Additionally, the Brisbane City Council was not included in the proposal, and at that time
opposed any additional river crossings. When the incumbent State Government was
unseated in an election in 1998, the project was shelved.

Oh dear,  the West End has turned into a bus precinct.  Pity, what might have been ..

[verbatim9]

The 1st stage should go to Indooroopilly Shopping Centre not just terminate at UQ. It will create an alternative route to the city and take pressure off Moggill Road and Coronation Drive. I can see the 1st stage costing up to 2 Billion because of the tunnel components under Adelaide St and the River as well as The Cultural Precinct.

[#Metro]

The cost would be prohibitive and the street environments would make building anything but Class C ROW untenable. City street constraints, having to close many city-fringe streets like Boundary St and Montague Rd to cars or reduce traffic flow are two major issues. I see nothing wrong with the current bus network in the area.

I think you could fit a tram in but it would require either class C, or some demolitions. Demolitions are disruptive, but on the other hand that could be funded by development of West End around the main street - apartments, mixed use etc. The thing is, West End is a known protest suburb, and any kind of change it likely to trigger a strong response.

In class C, any tram would get caught up in congestion. It is not enough to point to the Gold Coast and say 'see, it works'. The Gold Coast has massive apartment towers immediately next to the alignment and people in West End are against that. If you compare the GC tram patronage to LRT in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, they are all significantly lower and comparable to a bus or the CityCat. The absence of feeder bus networks is the reason behind that.

LRT in a cut and cover or underground is possible, but then we are talking SUPER EXPENSIVE options ($200-$300 million/km) and major flood risk. If you are going to spend that much money, you may as well build the second stage of CRR which is the separation of the Springfield/Ips line to run under West End and into the CBD.

Buying 150 pax superbuses, much cheaper, much faster.

[verbatim9]

We need those new Articulated busses running now on the 777 route and along the SE bus way. A proposed light rail tunnel underneath Adelaide St if designed properly like the one in Seattle can accommodate both bus and Tram/LRT. Adelaide St then can be redesigned with wider footpaths a segregated bikeway and traffic calming. It could become a Piazza of cafes and boutique shops.

[ozbob]

Media release

Rod Harding --> ROD HARDING INVESTIGATES LIGHT RAIL FOR BRISBANE

Labor Lord Mayoral Candidate, Rod Harding, will next month release his comprehensive plan to tackle Brisbane's growing traffic congestion problem.

As part of this plan, Mr Harding today announced that light rail was one of the many innovative and exciting policy responses his team is considering to help tackle congestion and support Brisbane's future growth.

While no final decision has been made, Rod Harding said light rail was exactly the sort of bold and ambitious project that Brisbane deserved.

"I believe this election will be decided on which candidate has the best plan to tackle congestion now and into the future," said Mr Harding.

"Residents are telling me every day that Brisbane's traffic congestion has reached a flashpoint.

"We will only get Brisbane moving with new energy and new ideas.

"I believe a project like light rail would help to really energise Brisbane while also driving a new public transport culture in our city.

"If Brisbane is going to fully maximise its potential then we need to be a modern, future focussed and connected city.

"I have an ambitious and exciting agenda to take Brisbane to the next level and I believe light rail could very much be a part of this agenda.   

"To really tackle congestion we need to entice people out of their cars and onto affordable and efficient public transport.

Mr Harding said a project like light rail would also help support Brisbane's future growth.

"In the next 15 years it's projected that an extra one million people will call Brisbane home.

"It is simply not sustainable to allow more and more cars to clog up our roads.

"Being Lord Mayor requires more than being a nice bloke. It requires vision.

"After 30 years in City Hall Mr Quirk incapable of having a plan for Brisbane's future. 
"Unless new vision is injected into Brisbane's public transport system and planning processes, the consequence will be more people stuck in traffic on Brisbane's roads.

"Now is the right time for Brisbane to take some bold steps forward to support the future of our great city."

Labor's investigation of light rail follows a recent shift around Australia towards light rail.

Recent light rail projects and proposals include the successful Gold Coast Light Rail project, Sydney Light Rail, the Adelaide Light Rail proposal, and the ACT's Capital Metro project.

A future light rail project would support new transit-oriented developments (TODs) by providing connections to both transport nodes and also key activity centres such as the CBD, hospitals and tertiary institutions.

Funding would be sought from all levels of government, consistent with previous precedents set with projects such as the Gold Coast and ACT Light Rail projects.

Importantly, any light rail proposal from Labor would also include benefits for residents across Brisbane, with the extra bus capacity gained being diverted to allow for more frequent and reliable bus services in the suburbs.

Rod Harding's investigation of light rail is consistent with Labor's overarching plans to tackle congestion in Brisbane, having released a comprehensive Suburban Congestion Busting Plan earlier this year to fix congestion bottlenecks and deliver the new Eastern and Northern TransitWays.

[hU0N]

The cost would be prohibitive and the street environments would make building anything but Class C ROW untenable. City street constraints, having to close many city-fringe streets like Boundary St and Montague Rd to cars or reduce traffic flow are two major issues. I see nothing wrong with the current bus network in the area.

I think you could fit a tram in but it would require either class C, or some demolitions. Demolitions are disruptive, but on the other hand that could be funded by development of West End around the main street - apartments, mixed use etc. The thing is, West End is a known protest suburb, and any kind of change it likely to trigger a strong response.

In class C, any tram would get caught up in congestion. It is not enough to point to the Gold Coast and say 'see, it works'. The Gold Coast has massive apartment towers immediately next to the alignment and people in West End are against that. If you compare the GC tram patronage to LRT in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, they are all significantly lower and comparable to a bus or the CityCat. The absence of feeder bus networks is the reason behind that.

LRT in a cut and cover or underground is possible, but then we are talking SUPER EXPENSIVE options ($200-$300 million/km) and major flood risk. If you are going to spend that much money, you may as well build the second stage of CRR which is the separation of the Springfield/Ips line to run under West End and into the CBD.

Buying 150 pax superbuses, much cheaper, much faster.

You've nailed it there LD.

[#Metro]

This is the "get out" clause:

Funding would be sought from all levels of government, consistent with previous precedents set with projects such as the Gold Coast and ACT Light Rail projects.

We have been down this well-worn path many times before - three or four times already! 

Most of these institutions are already connected via the busway and rail networks. Concrete-first ideas are one of the reasons why the basics are so corrupted. This proposal will simply substitute rubber tyres for steel wheels and add PT in areas that are already saturated!!

It's almost as bad as Maroon CityGlider, with steel wheels, and a bigger price tag!

This proposal will do nothing for black hole areas such as The Centenary Suburbs, Yeronga, Bulimba, Albany Creek etc.

[hU0N]

The problem with the trams in the nineteen sixties was congestion had caused the speed and reliability of the network, which ran almost entirely on Class C ROW, to collapse. Meanwhile, the idea of closing lanes/roads to cars was deeply unpopular. Together these factors conspired to kill Brisbane's original network.

I'm not opposed to new ideas like Mr Harding's, but unless the detail answers two questions, I'm skeptical.

1) Will it solve the issues that hamstrung the old network, and how? This boils down to, will it run in Class B ROW, and where will this ROW come from? Unless there is a plausible plan for creating a class B ROW then all we are doing is reinstating a network that already failed in the sixties.

2) What would/could the money otherwise have been spent on? Class C is not value for money at any price, while Class B or A would be super expensive, and would otherwise buy a lot of new buses or a fair amount of new busway, or could even fund a nice little council contribution to CRR that would put pressure on federal and state governments to kick in the rest (a la MBRL or GCLR stage 2).

[hU0N]

More I think about it, the more I think our position should be:

"Congratulations to Mr Harding for thinking outside the box, but if he wants to put council money into a big sexy project that will really make a difference, he should put that money towards CRR. This is his best chance if making a difference, because significant council funding commitments have proved over the last twenty years to be the difference between success and failure for projects like CRR."

[ozbob]

Be nice.  BCC has contributed to road projects and level crossing grade separations.  Busways were funded and delivered by the state.

I don't think Harding or Pennings would be a position yet to commit funding for a project such as Cross River Rail, particularly as details are still not known, or the funding model that will be used is not known.

I am sure we will hear some new policies from Team Quirk before too long.

[verbatim9]

I know LNP want a tunnel underneath Adelaide st and River for busses.

[ozbob]

Yo.  With network reform and CRR not needed.

[ozbob]

A tweet, stirred into action ...   

==================

Twitter

Team Quirk ‏@Team_Quirk 51m

When it comes to dealing with traffic congestion, building infrastructure and modern public transport @Team_Quirk is #rightontrack

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Lord Mayor says Labor's Brisbane light rail plan is too expensive

The man who wants Cr Graham Quirk's job as Brisbane's lord mayor for the Labor Party has promised to investigate a "$1 billion plus" light-rail project – similar to Gold Coast's light rail - for Brisbane's CBD.

The first stage of Labor's future light rail – at this stage just an un-costed idea - would be to run somewhere between Newstead and West End.

However that is a similar route as the popular existing blue City Glider high frequency bus service.

And the man who already has the job – Lord Mayor Graham Quirk – describes Labor's idea as "an expensive solution to something that is not a problem."

Cr Quirk said the ideas suggested for investigation by Mr Harding would not improve the traffic capacity problem in the city because it would travel where the blue City Glider now ran.

He said the blue City Glider service between New Farm and West End, which connects to the University of Queensland ferry, carried over two million passenger a year.

"So what we are seeing is a very expensive solution to something that is not a problem," Cr Quirk said.

"The blue City Glider works perfectly well," he said.

Asked by journalists whether the idea was feasible, Cr Quirk said in 2007 the council found light rail was seven times more expensive than the City Glider bus service.

"We did a comparison between light rail and the blue City Glider," Cr Quirk said.

"And the blue City Glider is seven times cheaper to operate and set up and run that it would be for light rail,"he said.

"So it is just not a good use of public money," he said.

Rod Harding said he would release more details in a month as the Brisbane City Council election on March 19 gets closer.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said he would also release more details on his public transport ideas also in a month.

However Cr Quirk said Labor's proposed costs were "fanciful."

"They are undercooking what would be the real cost of a light rail network," he said.

Labor's eight-kilometre idea would have to make major changes to two inner-city bridges, Cr Quirk said.

"You are never-ever going to do that for $700 million," he said.

"It would be more like double that at the very least."

Cr Quirk said while he welcomed debate about public transport, Labor's proposed route along the City Glider route was a waste of money.

"To simply replicate a line which is already running very well is simply a waste of money," he said.

Mr Harding said his idea was to eventually grow the network to include Suncorp Stadium and the Gabba, the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and Mater hospitals, then Hamilton Northshore and the PA Hospital.

The Gold Coast has a similar high profile light-rail project – and has promises of money for the next stage – from both state and federal governments.

The Sunshine Coast has a draft route in place and is refining the route for light rail at the Caloundra-end of the Sunshine Coast.

A previous Queensland Government investigated the feasibility of light rail running through inner-city Brisbane and in 2007 Brisbane City Council examined the idea again and opted instead for the high-frequency "blue" City Glider bus services between New Farm and West End.

Mr Harding wants the "light rail/tram" issue investigated again for Brisbane.

Labor's unfunded, uncosted plan – with no state government nor federal government support or a suggested route - has been scoffed at as a "thought bubble" by his opponents.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the state government would look at the idea if a proposal was submitted.

"It's a great concept. It's one that I think we should have a closer look at. There has been no detailed proposal that has been put to the government," he said.

"I understand it may be a market-led proposal and it is something we might be keen to have a look at through the Building Queensland process."

However Cr Quirk said trams have been "investigated and investigated and investigated," he said.

"Three times in the 1990s we had investigations and reports into trams in Brisbane," he said.

"In 2007, Brisbane City Council undertook its own investigation into trams when we introduce the blue City Glider," he said.

"We have a perfectly good blue City Glider service which is functioning well and carried two million passengers a year," he said.

Cr Quirk said the city's planners originally estimated it would carry 600,000 passengers in its first year.

"But in its first year it carried 1.5 million passengers and this year it is doing over two million.

The Opposition dismissed the idea.

"I think what we have seen today by the Labor lord mayoral candidate has been a non-costed kite –flying exercise," Opposition Leader Lawrence Springborg said.

[ozbob]

Note:

" .... Rod Harding said he would release more details in a month as the Brisbane City Council election on March 19 gets closer.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said he would also release more details on his public transport ideas also in a month ... "

[ozbob]

Brisbane trams might be having a comeback..

#7News https://t.co/4a1Stay0mF

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) January 17, 2016

[verbatim9]

Ha Ha! The Green Tram speeding by the Mc Whirters building counter traffic as this is a Northbound one way. Maybe Rod 4 Bris and 7 have a plan to make Wichkam Street 2 way again? Who knows with transit ways on Gympie road and now this? It's election mayhem.

[BrizCommuter]

Another political "vote winning" plan thought out on the back of a paper napkin. It'll be a popular with anyone over 65.
We more urgently need bus reform and Cross River Rail. 
I laughed at Quirk's comments on the 9 news tonight - he of Cleveland Solution ridiculousness.

[#Metro]

This is just vote bait.

Same problems seen in Victoria. Every time an election comes around, suddenly it is 'Rail to Melbourne Airport', 'Rail to Doncaster', 'Rail to Avalon Airport', 'Rail to Rowville'.

After the elections, back in the basement they go.

My head hurts! Make it stop!! 

[#Metro]

"I understand it may be a market-led proposal and it is something we might be keen to have a look at through the Building Queensland process."

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/lord-mayor-says-labors-brisbane-light-rail-plan-is-too-expensive-20160117-gm7r60.html

The problem here for AP is that this proposal, if "market-led" would replace a publicly funded bus by a public operator (BCC) with a PRIVATE TRAM OPERATOR.

That's privatisation!

[longboi]

This is just vote bait.

Same problems seen in Victoria. Every time an election comes around, suddenly it is 'Rail to Melbourne Airport', 'Rail to Doncaster', 'Rail to Avalon Airport', 'Rail to Rowville'.

After the elections, back in the basement they go.

My head hurts! Make it stop!! 

Transitways for the suburbanites and light rail for the inner city elite - everyone wins a prize!

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane trams: Labor's light rail plan for city

LABOR'S Brisbane lord mayoral candidate Rod Harding has been urged to produce ­details of a light rail proposal ridiculed as "fanciful" by his opponent.

Mr Harding yesterday announced that he was investigating light rail as part of his plan to tackle Brisbane's traffic congestion woes.

He said no final decision had been made on a so-far ­un-costed project but he believed light rail would help "energise" Brisbane while "driving a new public transport culture in our city".

Urban Development Institute of Australia Queensland president Brett Gillan last night questioned how viable trams were in the city.

"Light rail works brilliantly on the Gold Coast and it makes a lot of sense to have it there as it has a linear distribution of people," he said.

"We have a more spread-out city (in Brisbane), and whether it works is to be (evaluated)." ...

[ozbob]

Another political "vote winning" plan thought out on the back of a paper napkin. It'll be a popular with anyone over 65.
We more urgently need bus reform and Cross River Rail. 
I laughed at Quirk's comments on the 9 news tonight - he of Cleveland Solution ridiculousness.

Concur, bus reform and real rail projects.

I laughed as well.  The ' Cleveland solution' was a  magnificent low point in kite flying absurdity.  Who knows what else remains to be flown hey?

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

18th January 2016

Kites and buses ... bus reform the priority

Greetings,

RAIL Back On Track welcomes contributions to the policy debate for transport options for Brisbane.  The suggestion of Light Rail for Brisbane by the ALP Candidate needs a lot more detail and research.

Previous studies have shown considerable initial capital cost and some difficulty in retro-fitting light rail in the Brisbane environment.

The most important issue for Brisbane is sorting out the bus network.  We have shown how this can be achieved.

Our new Bus Network would create Australia's best bus network in Brisbane, at virtually neutral cost, within 2 years.   Expensive infrastructure and concrete is not the only approach.

High-frequency CityGliders to Bulimba (230 BulimbaGlider) and The Centenary Suburbs (400 CentenaryGlider), along with upgraded BUZ service to other parts of the city form the central part of our proposal.

Virtually all Brisbane City Council wards stand to benefit from our new Brisbane Bus Network proposal, which can be found here http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

Lets get back on track and sort out what is really achievable - fixing the Brisbane bus network.

Best wishes

Robert

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

[#Metro]

I am not against LRT for the sake of being against LRT.
I am against this proposal because it is the wrong tool - using hammer to cut wood, or a saw to bang nails.

If I was Rod Harding, or any mayoral challenger, I would be mode non-specific and announce a rapid transit plan for the city, sans mode. I would actually have done some basic research and perhaps consulted a local transport academic or two. I would also make better use of the existing QR network to leverage an improved bus offering to the suburbs. BCC does not pay for QR services, so it is a bit of a freebie for them.

What this policy trip-up has exposed is that Harding hasn't done the research (or did it, and ignored what it said because it wasn't sexy) and his inexperience at running city affairs. It is a dangerous kite-flying exercise that will attract lightning which could fry the entire campaign because it reveals (a) extreme waste of public funds (b) gross inexperience with city affairs.

EXPERIENCE is the major point of difference between Graham Quirk and Rod Harding. Quirk has tonnes of it (30 years) and knows Brisbane inside out. Harding does not. Harding is trying to bring a sea-change to Brisbane, but vision is not enough, visions must be built on a foundation of respect for local conditions.

Now, there are places where LRT may have merit - even in Brisbane.

For example:
Bulimba to CBD via South Bank.
The Gap to CBD via Ashgrove and Red Hill (Waterworks Rd)
Albany Creek to CBD (as a replacement for the lack of QR heavy rail)
Moggill-(Bridge)-Centenary Suburbs-Indro-CBD via Coronation Drive
UQ Lakes to Carindale via Old Cleveland Rd (not going to CBD)

In these cases, the LRT would be more like a Seattle model, where trams act more like a regional rail system but have sections where they run on road medians to avoid the strict engineering requirements (and higher cost) of heavy rail. Now, that would be something of merit. Not this proposal to add more PT where there is already plentiful PT.

Nothing wrong with buses as a prelude on the above alignments - one could introduce superbuses as a stop-gap and then plan for LRT as a longer term solution.

Duplicating existing services or infrastructure is wanton waste and inefficiency. This approach is the reason why fares are so high in SEQ - isolated bus and rail systems operating in their own silos, duplicating each other.

[ozbob]

The 'Cleveland Solution' by Quirk et al and this latest effort by Harding et al, really does underline what is wrong with public transport planning and structure in Queensland.

Until BCC is brought under some sort of control, or simply relieved of public transport planning responsibilities, and we have a true public transport authority,  Brisbane is just getting a bigger joke than it already is sadly.  The thing that really upsets me, is the farce that is BCC and its PT serfdom, is now seriously effecting the rest of SEQ in terms of cuts and under service.  It is a deplorable situation, that successive governments have just blinked and ignored.  Well, I intend to hold them to account. Believe me ...

[ozbob]

Consider Legacy Way.  Some more inbound rocket buses from 25th January 2016 ...

A monumental fuk up if there ever was one from the public transport point of view.  CanDo inbound but not outbound buses.  The really relative small amount of investment to properly enable the tunnel for buses was just let go ... disgusting aberration of responsibilities to the community IMHO.

Brisbane media lacked the guts to take them on as well.

BCC, the State Governments, and the Federal Governments all conspired and squabbled for mediocrity.

Disgusting stuff.

And don't get me started on the naming to ' Defence ' wash the project by Newman et al ...

[ozbob]

612 ABC Brisbane --> Labor promises investigation into trams, whilst the LNP keeps its public transport powder dry

You haven't been able to catch a tram around Brisbane since the network was shut down in 1969. You can still see sections of the old tracks in a few spots around the city, but to actually catch a glimpse and climb aboard one of the old girls, you'd need to visit the Brisbane Tramway Museum in Ferny Grove.

But would bringing back the trams make Brisbane a better city? Labor's Lord Mayoral candidate Rod Harding thinks so and has promised their return if Labor wins control of City Hall in March.

(And if you think that's not likely - well, the same was said of Annatacia Palaszczuk before the last state election. If Labor does win control at the council election - this is the tram line being promised.)

Keep listening after Rod Harding for LNP Lord Mayor Cr Graham Quirk's response:

> http://blogs.abc.net.au/files/180116-light-rail-alp-lnp.mp3