Greens: Green CityGlider & KSD Bikeway

[aldonius]

http://itsyourbrisbane.com/commitments/ksd-real-solution/

Green CityGlider: Enoggera station to Doomben station via Ashgrove, Kelvin Grove, RBWH, Newstead & Portside

[nathandavid88]

Enoggera to Doomben? 

[aldonius]

I think there's a definite need for an inner northern crosstown running that Ashgrove-Herston-Newstead stretch.

Less enthused about what happens either side of it, or the Glider-ness, but hey, I just draw the maps.

There definitely needs to be a service upgrade along KSD, but that should probably just be a 300 BUZ.

[#Metro]

Let's look at the existing network http://tiny.cc/checkyourbus and the RBOT New Bus Network http://tiny.cc/newnetwork to compare.

A key warning from our network reorganisation is that routes cannot be planned individually and then assembled together. Ideas that make sense by themselves (at a local level) may be nonsensical when combined with other routes into a wider network.

I think The Greens proposal would have a better appeal if they simply cut the route in the middle and created a 300 BUZ and Enoggera-CBD BUZ route, both going to the CBD. Enoggera via Waterworks Road to the CBD via Red Hill does not have a BUZ on it.

With bus reform, this two BUZ route option to the CBD would be cheaper than this route because you would only have to 'top up' the existing 300 KSD bus and amalgamate Waterworks Rd services to get two BUZ routes.

Sorry, but I think they should have gone with a direct-to-CBD option here. Unless they plan also to upgrade the existing 300 to a BUZ (just add evening and weekend services in the gaps - very easy and cheap to do).

There is a place for cross towns and CBD trunk lines, in this case two CBD trunk lines would have been far better IMHO.

A missed opportunity I think.

I will probs award this one a neutral score on the scorecard. Also missed Toombul, a major termination point in that local area.

[#Metro]

I also think The Greens should be introducing 150 pax superbuses on high load routes such as 66, 412, CentenaryGlider etc. They could be electric / gas / biodiesel if they want. The papers haven't picked up either bus idea, but picked up the solar bus so my feeling is that a very modest level of technology added would get it in the paper.

Rod Harding is getting blasted over the rubber tyre metro. The metro cannot be driven on a road without a rail to guide it and it is also likely to be much quieter than a steel wheel metro.

People have raised concerns about housing resumptions, construction noise with the LRT and the LRT is likely to have noise impacts as well (ding ding sounds, metallic wheel squeal etc).

Perhaps West Enders are more noise sensitive. I know years ago whoever was living next to the Ferry Terminal put in complaints to BCC about bus engine noise, sign went up getting drivers to shut down engine after a few minutes. Similar thing seen at the New Farm terminus for 196 - that has been moved a few times because of 'noise'.

[Jonno]

Enoggera to Doomben? 

It runs across 4 major truck routes.  The start and the end are important but not the sole purpose.

Bus and cycle lanes on KSD is the only way to go!!!!

[verbatim9]

Its a reasonable good route but instead of terminating at Doomben, DFO would be a  good Terminus for the route as it would connect with the 590 and the free T bus that runs every 20mins to the Air terminals from DFO.

Also I question how much is going to be compensated to the preferred tender for KSD? Most would prefer not to end up in a debacle payout worth a 100 million or more which happened in Melbourne recently.


LNP have also promised a Glider with a route yet to be announced!?


Because a payout of the preferred KSD tender is most likely in this case will give the Greens Glider from Enogerra to Doomben a big thumbs down, but points for trying.

[BrizCommuter]

BrizCommuter could have seriously done with this route until 18months ago !

Why is it terminating at Doomben though? Surely running along the length of Northshore Hamilton would be better?

Wardell St and Waterworks Rd (inbound of Ashgrove) could do with a more frequent bus services. There is poor rail interchange on this route - not quite achieved at Bowen Hills. 

[Golliwog]

Personally would have gone Ashgrove to Newmarket - Newmarket Rd though not the station, you could still connect to rail at Wilston/Windsor. But I guess once you come across from Bowen Hills to Herston, it'd be hard not to service the busway, though I'd also think about arguing for interchange to 66/Gympie Rd services. If you cut back the number of suburb to city routes and focused on trunks you could just bump up the 66.

[#Metro]

It runs across 4 major truck routes. 

I assume you meant trunk routes. It misses Bowen Hills station - that could have made up for the fact that it does not go to the CBD.

Why is it terminating at Doomben though? Surely running along the length of Northshore Hamilton would be better?

I guess that's where you catch the connecting horse from?

Wardell St and Waterworks Rd (inbound of Ashgrove) could do with a more frequent bus services. There is poor rail interchange on this route - not quite achieved at Bowen Hills.

Absolutely agree here. Ashgrove - CBD via Waterworks Rd could use a BUZ from Ennoggera or similar by amalgamating existing services.

Its a reasonable good route but instead of terminating at Doomben, DFO would be a  good Terminus

Sounds like an interesting idea.

LNP have also promised a Glider with a route yet to be announced!?

I haven't seen or head anything. Do you have a link??

[aldonius]

RE: routing east of Ashgrove. It was hard to show this on the map (squiggly bits don't have space for road names) but the routing is meant to be Waterworks/Musgrave -> Windsor  -> Prospect -> Kelvin Grove -> Blamey -> School -> L'Estrange -> Herston.

Not the best routing, but not the worst either.

As for Hamilton Northshore - if you still need a CBD-bound service it can go there.

[newbris]

The large catchment school for the whole area, Paddington, Red Hill, Ashgrove central, Kelvin Grove, Herston, Bowen Hills, Newstead, Teneriffe, New Farm is Kelvin Grove College.

This bus does a fair job of linking up many of those areas to the main school. Current links can be terrible with some having little choice but to use the old spoke and hub model of into the CBD and out again. It also obviously links the next door QUT, the urban village and the creative industries selective high school.

If they re-routed the Maroon Glider down Given Tce and Fernberg (past Rosalie, Park Road, Milton city cat) and across the bridge to West End we might have the makings of a complete inner orbital cross town system.

[Jonno]

It is better than anything the ALp or LNP are offering.  Perfect maybe not but it is based on correct principles!!

[verbatim9]

Its not going to happen,  LNP KSD will come into fruition. But the plus side gives Transport planners ideas of new bus routes in the future.

[#Metro]

Lol. LNP + KSD = LSD??   

[techblitz]

Why is it terminating at Doomben though? Surely running along the length of Northshore Hamilton would be better?

they probably have it to doomben because there will be more demand from that area to the local racecourse rd/porrtside dining/shopping hub than from northshore... they can easily just upgrade the citycat services to cover northshore....a trade-off yes....but i tihnk the wiser choice....

[#Metro]

There is another possibility. Many actually.

The Greens could have just extended the existing Blue CityGlider to Portside.

Run the Green CityGlider from Ashgrove to Tenneriffe CityCat terminal.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

27th February 2016

BCC 2016 Election: The Greens Lay Claim To Bus Reform Holy Grail!


Image: Citywide coverage of Hi-Frequency buses after bus reforms. Purple lines are 150 pax superbus lines.

Greetings,

The Greens and Lord Mayoral candidate Ben Pennings have claimed the Bus Reform Holy Grail, announcing two new solar-powered CityGliders to the Brisbane Bus Network for the upcoming 2016 Brisbane City Council (BCC) elections. Congratulations.

Bus reform is the simplest, cheapest and fastest way to get passengers back on public transport. Near cost neutral, Bus Reform can be delivered within two years. In particular, the proposed CentenaryGlider has massive demonstrated community support. The Centenary Suburbs have been an embarrassing 'black hole' area within the BCC bus network for too long, local residents will be very pleased to see it fixed.

In addition, a Green CityGlider has been proposed by The Greens along Kingsford Smith Drive, linking up to the Northern Busway at RBWH Herston.

We believe there are further opportunities for high frequency buses this election. Yeronga (Tennyson Ward) requires a Yeronga BUZ service. Simply extending the 196 from Fairfield Gardens along Kadumba street into Yeronga would do the trick for very low cost. Similarly, amalgamating services in the Bulimba (Morningside Ward) area to create a 230 BulimbaGlider service direct to the Brisbane CBD and linking into Morningside station would bring vastly improved bus service to this area for near-neutral cost.

Alternative Light Rail and Metro proposals by the larger parties are votebait and are highly likely to be cancelled soon after the election, in our opinion. It would take 10 years before either project were up and running. That means Brisbane would congest on itself for a decade before any relief was available! It's just not good enough.

Under BCC stewardship, a deficient Legacy Way tunnel was built. It only allows buses to run express to the CBD in the morning, but not in the afternoon. BCC refused to co-operate with the State Government, instructing its own staff not to attend meetings with TransLink staff on six separate occasions during the 2013 bus review. This led to major problems within the Brisbane bus network being left to fester for four years, and helped push fares up for passengers. It also means any co-operation for a proposal to build a metro on State Government controlled infrastructure or land is probably dead in the water.

Rod Harding's Light Rail is fatally flawed. It essentially puts steel wheels on the existing Blue CityGlider for $1.2 billion. It adds no new destinations to the network, wastefully duplicates existing rail, busway, citycat and green bridge infrastructure. The Light Rail's speed and service frequency will be no faster or frequent than the existing 66 bus to UQ Lakes. Patronage on the CityGlider would have to increase by five times to justify Light Rail capacities.

Fatally, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has not publicly confirmed that she would fund the $586 million contribution it would entail.

We look forward to more bus reform announcements from The Greens, and indeed all candidates and parties. A link to our New Bus Network proposal is below.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

References:

New Bus Network Proposal - Frequent Services

http://tiny.cc/newnetwork (New Network, All services)
http://tiny.cc/checkyourbus (Current Brisbane City Council Bus Network)

66 UQ Lakes - RBWH - Converted to superbus operation.

Hi 111 Eight Mile Plains - Merged with 160, Co-locate 555 in King George Square.
Hi 190 Blue CityGlider - Travel the full length of Montague Rd. Consider for Superbus conversion.
Hi 196 Yeronga - Extend current 196 into Yeronga via Kadumba St.
Hi 100 Inala Express - Alter route to travel via Moorooka
Hi 120 Garden City via Coopers Plains station - Bus altered to connect passengers into via Coopers Plains rail station
Hi 130 Sunnybank Hills - No change.
Hi 140 Browns Plains RSL - No change.
Hi 150 Browns Plains - No change.
Hi 175 Logan Road (Garden City) - Created by amalgamation with 174. Faster route via new Buranda busway routing.
Hi 180 Cavendish Rd (Garden City) - New routing connects to Coorparoo station. Less duplication.
Hi 185 Mansfield - Faster routing via Nursery Rd and busway.
Hi 199 West End- No change.
Hi 200 Carindale - New routing. Residents in Stanley Rd and Macrossan St Seven Hills get new access to Hi Frequency buses.
Hi 205 Carindale Heights - New Hi Frequency along the entire length of Cavendish Rd.
Hi 209 UQ Lakes - No change.
Hi 222 Carindale Interchange - Convert to superbus.
Hi 230 BulimbaGlider via Morningside Station. Amalgamate existing services in the area to create BulimbaGlider. Connect to Roma St/Morningside rail.
Hi 300 Toombul Interchange - New Hi frequency bus service through Hamilton and along Kingsford Smith Drive
Hi 330 Bracken Ridge - Passengers fed to rail at Zillmere. Continues to Chermside. Rail connection frees up buses for expanding Hi Frequency elsewhere in Brisbane.
Hi 333 Chermside Interchange - Convert to superbus.
Hi 340 Carseldine Rail - No change.
Hi 345 Aspley - No change.
Hi 359 Albany Creek - New Hi Frequency service to Albany Creek.
Hi 374 Maroon Glider - Serving Bardon.
Hi 375 Stafford - Upgraded to Hi Frequency service.
Hi 380 The Gap via Ashgrove - Amalgamate low-frequency routes in area to create new Hi Frequency service.
Hi 385 The Gap via Paddington - No change.
Hi 400 CentenaryGlider (Superbus) - Amalgamate low-frequency routes to create a new Hi Frequency service. Superbus.
Hi 412 St Lucia (Superbus) - Convert to superbus operation. Amalgamate 402 service.
Hi 444 Moggill - Feed rail at Indooroopilly. Connect to 400 CentenaryGlider Superbus.

Selected CityConnector Cross-Town services
902 Toombul via Carindale (CITYCONNECTOR) - Amalgamate Great Circle Line routes and 590 to create new Hi Frequency service.
911 UQ via Hawken Drive (CITYCONNECTOR) - Amalgamate Great Circle Line and 411 to create new Hi Frequency service.

[achiruel]

Not sold on the Green CityGlider. KSD Bikeway is a must though. Why this wasn't done a decade ago is beyond me!

[Jonno]

There is another possibility. Many actually.

The Greens could have just extended the existing Blue CityGlider to Portside.

Run the Green CityGlider from Ashgrove to Tenneriffe CityCat terminal.

Yrs A very good idea!

[James]

Not totally sold on GreenGlider - mainly because I think these areas would be much better served by direct BUZ services to the CBD instead.

But I am willing to give the service time - perhaps it will surprise. Giving Herston a frequent route is a plus, and finally getting a BUZ up into Hamilton is another good thing. Would rather see it serve Hamilton Northshore over Doomben in particular - Doomben is a nothing destination when the horses aren't running.

[achiruel]

Doomben is a nothing destination when the horses aren't running.

Except for the fact you can transfer to the train and 301 there, so it does have network benefits.

[techblitz]

running it to northshore is essentially a direct duplication of the ferry......passengers will just jump on the bus instead of using the ferry...reducing the northshore ferry patronage tenfold.....not rocket science......stop spacing/backtracking is a potential issue for residents in the center area of northshore but its around the 400-800m benchmark....and were talking a very scenic walk here with no steep elevations.....

Provided there is a properly accessible bus interchange added in at bretts wharf(quite possible) then i see no issue with people from northshore transferring onto the glider at bretts....northshore residents also have option to stay on the ferry & transfer onto the blue glider at tennerife.

For the doomben skeptics......

http://brc.com.au/brc/brc-announces-partner-for-850-million-eagle-farm-residential-precinct/

"The Eagle Farm Residential Precinct is the centre piece of a $1.2 billion Master Plan that will transform this historic area of land around Eagle Farm and Doomben racecourses," Mr Bell said.

[verbatim9]

running it to northshore is essentially a direct duplication of the ferry......passengers will just jump on the bus instead of using the ferry...reducing the northshore ferry patronage tenfold.....not rocket science......stop spacing/backtracking is a potential issue for residents in the center area of northshore but its around the 400-800m benchmark....and were talking a very scenic walk here with no steep elevations.....

Provided there is a properly accessible bus interchange added in at bretts wharf(quite possible) then i see no issue with people from northshore transferring onto the glider at bretts....northshore residents also have option to stay on the ferry & transfer onto the blue glider at tennerife.

For the doomben skeptics......

http://brc.com.au/brc/brc-announces-partner-for-850-million-eagle-farm-residential-precinct/

"The Eagle Farm Residential Precinct is the centre piece of a $1.2 billion Master Plan that will transform this historic area of land around Eagle Farm and Doomben racecourses," Mr Bell said.

DFO as a terminus for future Gliders and a stop at Doomben rail. Acts as an alternate route to the Airport and connection to the 590.

[BrizCommuter]

The BrizCommuter word on the Greenies CityGlider.
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/greenies-cityglider.html

[aldonius]

[quote="BrizCommuter]During the 2016 Brisbane City Council election campaign, BrizCommuter has been waiting for at least one side of politics to announce another "CityGlider" bus route. Surprisingly, The Greens have beaten the other parties to it.[/quote]

Wot, no CentenaryGlider?

[James]

Except for the fact you can transfer to the train and 301 there, so it does have network benefits.

Going from a bus running every 10-15 mins 18-24 hours a day into a train every half an hour which dies after 7pm and doesn't run on Sundays.... lol. 301 is similarly pathetic. It is nothing that a transfer to Route 300 along KSD wouldn't achieve. Very minimal network benefits going to Doomben vs. Northshore.

running it to northshore is essentially a direct duplication of the ferry......passengers will just jump on the bus instead of using the ferry...reducing the northshore ferry patronage tenfold.....not rocket science......stop spacing/backtracking is a potential issue for residents in the center area of northshore but its around the 400-800m benchmark....and were talking a very scenic walk here with no steep elevations.....

Provided there is a properly accessible bus interchange added in at bretts wharf(quite possible) then i see no issue with people from northshore transferring onto the glider at bretts....northshore residents also have option to stay on the ferry & transfer onto the blue glider at tennerife.

Not really, CityCat is an inadequate solution given the kind of development going up at Northshore Hamilton. How are people meant to get to RBWH? QUT KG? Double change, or spend half a lifetime waiting for the 393?

[techblitz]

How are people meant to get to RBWH? QUT KG? Double change, or spend half a lifetime waiting for the 393?

read the reponse properly....if a closer bus stop can be built at bretts wharf then northshorers just hop off the ferry and onto the green glider to get to rbwh,qut....and for a quicker trip to the city they just stay on the ferry till tennerife.....

CityCat is an inadequate solution given the kind of development going up at Northshore Hamilton.

then lets just be done with the ferry teminal @ northshore then......because it will be rendered useless...essentially only useful for getting from northshore to hawthorne

[James]

read the reponse properly....if a closer bus stop can be built at bretts wharf then northshorers just hop off the ferry and onto the green glider to get to rbwh,qut....and for a quicker trip to the city they just stay on the ferry till tennerife.....

So you're asking them to travel two stops on a trip that takes 9 minutes, then transfer, when a direct bus could do the trip in 5 minutes? Riiiiight.

then lets just be done with the ferry teminal @ northshore then......because it will be rendered useless...essentially only useful for getting from northshore to hawthorne

When you have a development which will house 10,000 people in high-density living, it is OK to have more than one mode serving the area. West End ferry terminal has two modes serving it. Though there is already a direct bus to both the City and UQ already there, the CityCat still does just fine too.

[techblitz]

^ for the actual point to point demand between northshore and qut/rbwh....yes a 2 stop penalty is quite suffiicient to stop patronage being flogged from northshore terminal...and bretts wharf for that matter...whats to stop everyone just getting the green glider to newstead and transferring onto the blue?

theres clear downsides to sending a green glider to northshore...

1.we still have the 300 service which would need attention....green glider to doomben would clearly reduce reliance on the 300.....

2.low patronage for northshore/bretts wharf terminals as everyone just uses the green/blue gliders..

3.
would also interfere with a potential citycat xpress implementation...you will have the express citycats and the gliders both competing for the cbd bound traffic....absolutely retarded.....


your only argument is that it will be easier for residents to access a close bus stop...which is ironic since you consistently hammer granny down at inala because she doesnt want to walk the 800m to her new stop and then transfer at the train station to get wherever.......double standards yet again....

when the precint nears its quota of 10-15k.....only then should a HF bus be looked at.....because the patronage loss from ferry will be minimal......better off sending the glider to doomben in the immediate future......which by the way also has that massive development on the cards.....

[Gazza]

How does a Glider flog patronage any worse than the 412 versus the ferry terminals at Guyatt Park, Regatta and Milton?

[achiruel]

I'm not sure that most regular commuters between Northshore and the CBD would prefer a CityCat over a bus; it's a pretty long trip. However, it does have significant advantages for accessing destinations on the opposite side of the river (e.g. Bulimba) and could also be used to travel to Morningside and thence the Cleveland line via connection with the 235, 238 or future BulimbaGlider ( )

[James]

^ for the actual point to point demand between northshore and qut/rbwh....yes a 2 stop penalty is quite suffiicient to stop patronage being flogged from northshore terminal...and bretts wharf for that matter...whats to stop everyone just getting the green glider to newstead and transferring onto the blue?

theres clear downsides to sending a green glider to northshore...

1.we still have the 300 service which would need attention....green glider to doomben would clearly reduce reliance on the 300.....

2.low patronage for northshore/bretts wharf terminals as everyone just uses the green/blue gliders..

3.
would also interfere with a potential citycat xpress implementation...you will have the express citycats and the gliders both competing for the cbd bound traffic....absolutely retarded.....


your only argument is that it will be easier for residents to access a close bus stop...which is ironic since you consistently hammer granny down at inala because she doesnt want to walk the 800m to her new stop and then transfer at the train station to get wherever.......double standards yet again....

when the precint nears its quota of 10-15k.....only then should a HF bus be looked at.....because the patronage loss from ferry will be minimal......better off sending the glider to doomben in the immediate future......which by the way also has that massive development on the cards.....

Why not start with a HF bus service now? Adjusting the service in 5 years' time will only bring pain and frustration. The need for an upgraded 300 will exist regardless of whether you send the bus to Doomben or Hamilton.

Re: 100 BUZ - chalk and cheese. For starters, Inala is in Zone 5 with low density, Hamilton in Zone 2/3 with high density.

[techblitz]

Why not start with a HF bus service now?

into an area that wont be fully completed for 10-20 years? 

Adjusting the service in 5 years' time will only bring pain and frustration.

oh diddums....this isnt about the sensitive feelings of transport planners etc...its about ensuring that a green glider introduced within 1-2 yrs will have guaranteed better patronage as opposed to substandard patronage by being directed to the "in construction" ghostown of northshore.......which i will remind you once again...already has a ferry terminal which will need patronage....

The need for an upgraded 300 will exist regardless of whether you send the bus to Doomben or Hamilton.

if you work other routes around the glider then there is no issue......oops but silly me...forgot we must consider the excessive workload on those transport planners...

Putting on a buz 300 and a green glider in the short-term is easy but reckless.. you need to think of the costs and the actual patronage usage for the next 5 yrs.........if you were pushing your argument in 10-20 yrs i would have no choice but to agree....however in the short term...pennings & harding have made the correct decision by sending it to doomben......

There are now 2 parties that have backed the green glider......ask yourself why didnt the greens jump in and say that it should go to northshore? thought so......

[HappyTrainGuy]

BUZ EVERYTHING!!! We need the waste and higher public transport fares.

Sincerely.
MBRC Resident

[achiruel]

TBH, I'm rather skeptical about the Green glider needing that much frequency. BUZ like frequency maybe, but not Glider.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

6th March 2016

Call to scrutinise Kingsford Smith Drive 'Car Rapid Transit'

Good Morning,

It is no surprise to us that Team Quirk's signature Kingsford Smith Drive (KSD) upgrade project is an expensive white elephant.  There are far higher priorities, and it seems the citizens of Brisbane are starting to realise that.

See the Sunday Mail--> Graham Quirk's $650m Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade gets lukewarm response from voters

Even the RACQ considers the KSD upgrade funds could be spent better elsewhere.

Both the ALP and Greens have far more mature and future visions for Brisbane than the present LNP administration, clearly.

The failure to properly enable Legacy Way for buses as promised is a signature failure of the present LNP Council Administration. Can they really be trusted with respect to KSD?

For interest this is what we said in 2011 about the KSD  ....  still relevant (below).

Little wonder it is not only the wheels on the rubber tyre ' pie in the sky ' Metro  that are falling off the Team Quirk bus it is?

Best wishes
Robert

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

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

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5743.0

Media release 6 April 2011

SEQ: Call to scrutinise Kingsford Smith Drive 'Car Rapid Transit'

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters calls on Infrastructure Australia to scrutinise Kingsford Smith Drive Car Rapid Transit. Other cost-effective solutions including public transport-only options should be considered.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back on Track notes that 'Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade is now back on the agenda' (1,2).

"All options presented for capacity expansion on Kingsford Smith Drive so far have focused solely on Car Rapid Transit – the fast movement of single occupant vehicles. The cost of the most expensive option is an eye watering $3.2 BILLION dollars, equivalent to three Gold Coast Light Rail projects, with money to spare!"

"The modal choice of Car Rapid Transit needs to be independently scrutinised by Infrastructure Australia against Bus Rapid Transit (BUZ in peak hour T2 lanes), Rail Rapid Transit (Doomben Line upgrade), more frequent ferries and de-congestion pricing, all of which are are likely to cost a lot less than $3.2 BILLION."

"There has already been a duplication of the Gateway Motorway, while a tunnel will connect to Brisbane Airport as part of the Airport Link Car Rapid Transit project. It seems that the real purpose of this Kingsford Smith Drive road upgrade project is to relieve congestion encouraged by people rat-running off the so-called 'Inner City (Congested) Bypass (ICB) to access the Gateway Motorway and avoid tolls. It would be prudent to wait to see the effects of the Airport Link tunnel before spending billions."

"RAIL Back on Track has written extensively on the simplicity of upgrading the Doomben railway line as providing increased transport capacity in this area (3,4,5). Public transport upgrades can proceed separately from, and independent to, any road upgrade for Kingsford Smith Drive. Public transport upgrades and road upgrades are logically separate projects and it is not necessary for improvements to public transport to come mandatorily pre-packaged with road upgrades. We would like to see decent 'public transport only' options. The Doomben line duplication was planned and initial works done in the 1950s. In light of increasing congestion, it's completion is surely due now, not in 20 years time if the community is lucky."

"RAIL Back on Track again calls for the total abandonment of 'balanced transport' and a shift to 'rebalanced transport' based around walking, cycling, buses, ferries and rail. Incentives for public transport must be combined with disincentives for driving because any other combination is self-defeating. 'Car Rapid Transit' is a low capacity, high-pollution, expensive-to-construct, high-toll mode inappropriate for mass transit purposes. Looming peak oil crises are going to precipitate a transport crisis of major proportions. Now is the time to properly prepare."

"The unblocking of the Sunshine Coast rail line for example (which is at capacity) could do more for national freight objectives and passenger transport than more redundant expensive road projects."

"RAIL Back on Track also does not understand why, after boasting about making a $300 million dollar saving on Legacy Way, $50 million dollars could not be found for a bus interconnection to the busway to allow Council's own buses to use the Legacy Way (Northern Link Tunnel) (6). Another 'non-core' promise or just badly managed obfuscation? Either way, it is certainly reflective of the appalling transport planning generally in south-east Queensland, and why the 'locals' cannot be trusted as they are obsessed with car rapid transit!"

Contact:

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

References:

1.Kingsford Smith Drive back on agenda
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/kingsford-smith-drive-back-on-agenda-20110404-1ctha.html

2. Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/plans-projects/transport-projects/Kingsford-Smith-Drive-Upgrade/index.htm

3. SEQ: Car Rapid Transit money better spent on Real Rapid Transit
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5492.0

4. SEQ:  Doomben Line upgrade required
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5469.0

5. SEQ: "Car rapid transit" is NOT the only option for Kingsford Smith Drive
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5166.0

6. Express bus mooted for western suburbs
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/express-bus-mooted-for-western-suburbs-20100920-15jmr.html

[James]

into an area that wont be fully completed for 10-20 years? 

The Doomben area won't become high density for another 5-10 years anyway. And sure, it isn't "fully completed", but there's still heaps happening there - Portside precinct for one. The service wouldn't be totally inaccessible to people near Doomben station by running to Hamilton either.

if you work other routes around the glider then there is no issue......oops but silly me...forgot we must consider the excessive workload on those transport planners...

Putting on a buz 300 and a green glider in the short-term is easy but reckless.. you need to think of the costs and the actual patronage usage for the next 5 yrs.........if you were pushing your argument in 10-20 yrs i would have no choice but to agree....however in the short term...pennings & harding have made the correct decision by sending it to doomben......

There are now 2 parties that have backed the green glider......ask yourself why didnt the greens jump in and say that it should go to northshore? thought so......

Quite frankly, I wouldn't trust any politician to plan our bus network, and Harding is just jumping on the bandwagon.

[aldonius]

Harding me-too'd the green glider? I saw nothing of that, but I'm certainly amused.

I can tell you all right now that everything between Portside & Hamilton is still industrial estate.

[BrizCommuter]

I don't think this 'car rapid transit' phrase will work too well. Most readers of the release would be left scratching their heads.