Queens Wharf Bus Changes

[ozbob]

From another thread.

The 6 year closure of William and permanent closure of Queens Wharf Road is going to put more pressure on the Mater to CC section of the busway with blank running buses heading to the QSBS.
Just sit and observe the volume of buses using QWR in the afternoon peak and you will get an idea of the extra buses that the Busway will need to handle next year.

[Golliwog]

From another thread.

The 6 year closure of William and permanent closure of Queens Wharf Road is going to put more pressure on the Mater to CC section of the busway with blank running buses heading to the QSBS.
Just sit and observe the volume of buses using QWR in the afternoon peak and you will get an idea of the extra buses that the Busway will need to handle next year.

Couldn't you run them instead staying on the REX until Turbot St and run them through KGS? Think you'd need to re-phase the traffic lights there as there's not much space for buses waiting to turn right from Turbot to KGS before they back up and block Roma St/Turbot St.

Obviously would be an impact to buses on that stretch if you keep triggering those lights but be interested in the comparison with what would happen with that vs running more buses via CC...

[Otto]

From another thread.

The 6 year closure of William and permanent closure of Queens Wharf Road is going to put more pressure on the Mater to CC section of the busway with blank running buses heading to the QSBS.
Just sit and observe the volume of buses using QWR in the afternoon peak and you will get an idea of the extra buses that the Busway will need to handle next year.

Couldn't you run them instead staying on the REX until Turbot St and run them through KGS? Think you'd need to re-phase the traffic lights there as there's not much space for buses waiting to turn right from Turbot to KGS before they back up and block Roma St/Turbot St.

Obviously would be an impact to buses on that stretch if you keep triggering those lights but be interested in the comparison with what would happen with that vs running more buses via CC...

We already know the result of that courtesy of a recent unexpected peak hour closure of QSBS.  It just won't work. Not enough room on the hamburger turns to handle multiple buses entering from Turbot/Roma st entry.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

6th September 2016

Convert Victoria Bridge into a ' green ' bridge

Greetings,

We already have major bus congestion associated with the Cultural Centre bus station and Victoria Bridge.  This is only going to worsen considerably with road closures associated with Queens Wharf Brisbane project.  This means in effect that even more buses will be added to the existing bus jam on Victoria Bridge.  Network reform needs to proceed but we also need to bite the bullet and free up Victoria Bridge for buses, bicycles and pedestrians only.

BCC has made a request to make Victoria Bridge a green bridge but the State Government has refused this request.

We support BCC on this.  It is essential that the State Government re-think their decision.  We have looming transport chaos and clear thinking is required.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Media: Convert Victoria Bridge into a ' green ' bridgehttps://t.co/J9Cy7Sqo8H#qldpol@StirlHinchliffe @Team_Quirk pic.twitter.com/lnVOwESQzg

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) September 5, 2016

[Golliwog]

Couldn't you run them instead staying on the REX until Turbot St and run them through KGS? Think you'd need to re-phase the traffic lights there as there's not much space for buses waiting to turn right from Turbot to KGS before they back up and block Roma St/Turbot St.

Obviously would be an impact to buses on that stretch if you keep triggering those lights but be interested in the comparison with what would happen with that vs running more buses via CC...

We already know the result of that courtesy of a recent unexpected peak hour closure of QSBS.  It just won't work. Not enough room on the hamburger turns to handle multiple buses entering from Turbot/Roma st entry.

Yeah, thats why I was suggesting looking at the phasing of it. Get the lights to go all green at the same time so you can get a quick flow of buses into the busway in one hit then back to normal flow along the busway.

By all means, not saying that would actually work in reality, but it may be worth investigating as more buses via CC is a recipe for disaster. Half the reason that the peak hour closure of QSBS ends up with the sh*tshow at the donuts is I expect the set up of the traffic light phasing is based around the usual number of buses making those movements - i.e. not many buses at once so its a very quick turn cycle. Lengthen it so you could get 4 or 5 buses through in one go (and set up the Roma St lights so they have the right green light to allow the buses across from the Turbot St slip lane at the same time) and it would perform better than it has in the past wouldn't it?

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

8th September 2016

We Support Victoria Green Bridge Conversion!

Greetings,

RAIL Back on Track supports conversion of the Victoria Bridge to a Green Bridge (allow buses, bicycles and pedestrians only). To test the impacts on car traffic, we propose a controlled experiment. Brisbane City Council could block two car traffic lanes using barriers, leaving both lanes for exclusive bicycle use. Cycle parking could also be placed at the entrance of Stanley Street, near QPAC. An alternative entrance to the QPAC car park exists underneath the Queensland Museum, so we do not believe that will be a problem.

These changes can be introduced over a single weekend, at minimal cost. The beauty of this approach is that these changes are also easily and cheaply reversed.

During this trial, which we suggest should last about 4-6 months, Brisbane City Council should monitor car traffic, pedestrian and cyclist numbers. It should perform monitoring at two 'control' sites, for example, the Story Bridge, Bowen Bridge Road or Breakfast Creek Rd. This will allow council to rule out confounding influences.

Closing the Victoria Bridge to car traffic is not unprecedented: The Victoria Bridge is often closed for special events such as marches, parades, or fireworks. Figures from Brisbane City Council show three times more traffic uses the William Jolly Bridge (ca. 35,000 vehicles/day) than the Victoria Bridge (ca. 10,000 vehicles/day). Even the relatively new Go Between Bridge carries more traffic (14,000 vehicles/day).

West End and South Brisbane have Brisbane's highest cycling mode share at 10%. They also have Queensland's best public transport - there is no pressing need to have a car in these suburbs. Conversion has broad political support from both The Greens and the LNP.  It has our support also. Drivers have plenty of other options - the Go Between Bridge, the Captain Cook Bridge, and the toll-free William Jolly Bridge.

We support Brisbane City Council's request to convert the Victoria Bridge to a green bridge, and call on Deputy Premier Jackie Trad to approve this unique trial as a matter of urgency.

Best wishes
Robert

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

References:

Cycling in Queensland today - Department of Transport
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/-/media/Travelandtransport/Cycling/Strategy/QCS-2011-to-2021/07Pagesfrom01440MIPparta4.pdf?la=en

A tale of three toll roads: road network impact varies
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/a-tale-of-three-tolls-road-network-impact-varies-20120813-244ov.html

Convert Victoria Bridge into a ' green ' bridge
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12370.msg179320#msg179320

Ban cars from Victoria Bridge: experts
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/ban-cars-from-victoria-bridge-experts-20111121-1nrl5.html

Victoria Bridge our 'weakest link', say transport experts
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/victoria-bridge-our-weakest-link-say-transport-experts-20111127-1o1up.html

[ozbob]

Latest media: ' We Support Victoria Green Bridge Conversion! '
> https://t.co/pzvK6ubZo3#qldpol #bnepol urgent ... pic.twitter.com/OZInEehWUT

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) September 7, 2016

[ozbob]

Media release 9th September 2016

Brisbane:  Convert Victoria Bridge to a ' green ' bridge

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 called for the conversion of the Victoria Bridge to a green bridge.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back on Track supports conversion of the Victoria Bridge to a Green Bridge to allow buses, bicycles and pedestrians only.

"We already have major bus congestion associated with the Cultural Centre bus station and Victoria Bridge.  This is only going to worsen considerably with road closures associated with Queens Wharf Brisbane project.  This means in effect that even more buses will be added to the existing bus jam on Victoria Bridge.

"Network reform needs to proceed but we also need to bite the bullet and free up Victoria Bridge for buses, bicycles and pedestrians only.

"BCC has made a request to make Victoria Bridge a green bridge but the State Government has refused this request.

"We support BCC on this.  It is essential that the State Government re-think their decision.  We have looming transport chaos and clear thinking is required.

"To test the impacts on car traffic, we propose a controlled experiment. Brisbane City Council could block two car traffic lanes using barriers, leaving both lanes for exclusive bicycle use. Cycle parking could also be placed at the entrance of Stanley Street, near QPAC. An alternative entrance to the QPAC car park exists underneath the Queensland Museum, so we do not believe that will be a problem.

"These changes can be introduced over a single weekend, at minimal cost. The beauty of this approach is that these changes are also easily and cheaply reversed.

"During this trial, which we suggest should last about 4-6 months, Brisbane City Council should monitor car traffic, pedestrian and cyclist numbers. It should perform monitoring at two 'control' sites, for example, the Story Bridge, Bowen Bridge Road or Breakfast Creek Rd. This will allow council to rule out confounding influences.

"Closing the Victoria Bridge to car traffic is not unprecedented: The Victoria Bridge is often closed for special events such as marches, parades, or fireworks. Figures from Brisbane City Council show three times more traffic uses the William Jolly Bridge (ca. 35,000 vehicles/day) than the Victoria Bridge (ca. 10,000 vehicles/day). Even the relatively new Go Between Bridge carries more traffic (14,000 vehicles/day).

"West End and South Brisbane have Brisbane's highest cycling mode share at 10%. They also have Queensland's best public transport - there is no pressing need to have a car in these suburbs. Conversion has broad political support from both The Greens and the LNP.  It has our support also. Drivers have plenty of other options - the Go Between Bridge, the Captain Cook Bridge, and the toll-free William Jolly Bridge.

"We support Brisbane City Council's request to convert the Victoria Bridge to a green bridge, and call on Deputy Premier Jackie Trad to approve this unique trial as a matter of urgency."

References:

Cycling in Queensland today - Department of Transport
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/-/media/Travelandtransport/Cycling/Strategy/QCS-2011-to-2021/07Pagesfrom01440MIPparta4.pdf?la=en

A tale of three toll roads: road network impact varies
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/a-tale-of-three-tolls-road-network-impact-varies-20120813-244ov.html

Convert Victoria Bridge into a ' green ' bridge
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12370.msg179320#msg179320

Ban cars from Victoria Bridge: experts
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/ban-cars-from-victoria-bridge-experts-20111121-1nrl5.html

Victoria Bridge our 'weakest link', say transport experts
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/victoria-bridge-our-weakest-link-say-transport-experts-20111127-1o1up.html

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

THE @cbdbug offer support to @Robert_Dow call for Victoria Brdge to be made a green bridgehttps://t.co/wy1glDsUnZ pic.twitter.com/AKYTWo1PJT

— Brisbane CBD BUG (@cbdbug) September 9, 2016

[urbanplanr]

They also need to ban vehicles from using the Melbourne Street section between Grey Street and Merivale. Cars can and should be re routed away from that area using Merivale and Cordelia, using Glenelg and Ernest Streets. That way Cultural Station can be extended all the way down because that intersection on Grey and Melbourne isn't required anymore. More stops can be accommodated like KGS with dedicated stops for dedicated destinations, like KGS.

[aldonius]

I've yet to see a satisfactory explanation from anyone of how vehicular access to/from the Cultural Centre carparks is not going to fail three times as intensely as it does already, once the Melbourne St exit is closed off.

[urbanplanr]

Entry and exit to the Cultural Centre carparks via Peel Street, near the intersection with Grey Street? There needs to be some changes to the road there to accommodate vehicular flows more efficiently but I think it could be done a hell of a lot cheaper than having to come up some bizarre solution like BaT to take away congestion and queuing of buses on Victoria Bridge, and the whole mess at the Melbourne Street portal.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Green Victoria Bridge call backfires on Labor

Brisbane City Council's Labor opposition has called on the Quirk administration to explore removing cars from the Victoria Bridge, just two months after the state Labor government knocked back its request to do just that.

Opposition leader Peter Cumming said the $15.96 million allocated towards the Brisbane Metro business case in Lord Mayor Graham Quirk's 2016-17 budget would be better spent on a study into removing general traffic from the bridge that linked the CBD to South Brisbane.

"Any proposal to convert the Victoria Bridge must come with careful consideration of the possibility of it causing greater traffic congestion in the city and the south side," he said.

"Instead of spending $16 million on a business plan for a project that cannot and will not go ahead, Quirk should spend some of that money on a comprehensive traffic study to determine if the bridge conversion is viable.

"Labor councillors would like to see a detailed traffic analysis that takes into account the impact on all modes of transport and we should use some of the $16 million put aside for the business case to do that now.

"If the technical analysis shows a strong case for converting Victoria Bridge into a green bridge, in principal, we would support that."

But the council had already proposed converting the Victoria Bridge into a green bridge, at a cost of $8 million, as part of its preparations for the Queens Wharf Brisbane construction.

There was $19 million set aside in the council budget for preparatory work, $9 million of which – including the Victoria Bridge conversion – was scuppered by the state government.

In a letter to the council dated July 8, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk knocked back that proposal, saying her government "cannot support the proposed closure of Victoria Bridge to general traffic".

In a statement, Cr Quirk said the closure of William Street and Queens Wharf Road would have a major impact on traffic in the city and opening up an additional two bus lanes on the Victoria Bridge could have been of some assistance.

"The closure of these city streets has the potential to cause traffic chaos throughout the CBD but council prepared a detailed transport plan to reduce that congestion which included closing Victoria Bridge to general traffic," he said.

"The closure of William Street will also require the diversion of an additional 80 bus vehicles per hour in peak periods over Victoria Bridge which is already experiencing significant capacity challenges with 230 buses per hour in peak times."

Public transport advocate Robert Dow, from Rail: Back on Track, said the state government should rethink its position on Victoria Bridge.

"We already have major bus congestion associated with the Cultural Centre bus station and Victoria Bridge," he said.

"This is only going to worsen considerably with road closures associated with Queens Wharf Brisbane project.

"This means in effect that even more buses will be added to the existing bus jam on Victoria Bridge.

"Network reform needs to proceed but we also need to bite the bullet and free up Victoria Bridge for buses, bicycles and pedestrians only."

Comment was sought from Ms Palaszczuk.

There is a poll on this article at BT  .... have your say!   

[ozbob]

. @AnnastaciaMP @jackietrad @StirlHinchliffe @Team_Quirk @Schrinner @CrPeterCumming @TMRQld #qldpol
>> https://t.co/ihr566GeF2

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) September 9, 2016

[ozbob]

Well well.  Effectively we have ' tri-partisan ' support at the council level for this now.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

10th September 2016

Re: Brisbane: Convert Victoria Bridge to a ' green ' bridge

Good Morning,

We effectively have ' tri-partisan ' support within the Brisbane City Council for converting Victoria Bridge to a green bridge.  This is significant.  Thank you.

Brisbanetimes -->  Green Victoria Bridge call backfires on Labor

Time is running out, the State Government needs to allow this occur as soon as possible.  It is clearly the right thing to do.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ Attached: http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12438.0 ]

[ozbob]

Latest: Convert Victoria Bridge to a ' green ' bridge has ' tri-partisan' support https://t.co/pHbfQIpPyy#qldpol pic.twitter.com/xEJqNdu3ZB

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) September 9, 2016

[James]

One thing I'd like to see is if the Victoria Bridge goes "green", that the two new 'green' lanes are made available for taxis as well as buses. Otherwise you'd have the situation outside peaks where the bridge is only being used by a few services. In particular, late at night, the Victoria Bridge serves as a key route between South Brisbane, the CBD and Fortitude Valley nightlife precincts.

I'm not including rideshare services as there is no obvious license plate recognition for them, so it'd be hard to determine what is an isn't an Uber/GoCatch.

[ozbob]

If it ever happens I think taxis would be permitted.

Meanwhile ..

Brisbane: Convert Victoria Bridge to a ' green ' bridge
> https://t.co/bVVEduAwE6#qldpol@AnnastaciaMP @Team_Quirk pic.twitter.com/3nK9lCA3AD

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) September 10, 2016

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

11th September 2016

Re: Brisbane: Convert Victoria Bridge to a ' green ' bridge

Good Morning,

Can we really ' do nothing ' ?  The road closures associated with Queens Wharf Brisbane project are going to add to this mess.


http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/2/n/i/5/8/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.2p54b.png/1372600896337.jpg

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ Attached: http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12370.msg179654#msg179654 ]

[beauyboy]

OK I did up this of minimum cost upgrade to Culture, after the initial trial is done

[verbatim9]

Looks good when will the bridge be closed to cars? by Christmas?

[ozbob]

OK I did up this of minimum cost upgrade to Culture, after the initial trial is done

Thanks beauyboy. Nice work!

[ozbob]

Tri-partisan support for greening of Victoria Bridge @AnnastaciaMP
> https://t.co/pHbfQIpPyy#qldpol
It's time! pic.twitter.com/xZfX1io6He

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) September 11, 2016

[ozbob]

Cars carry less than 8% of all trips across Victoria Bridge. Time to make it a non-car Green Bridge?

— Cr Adrian Schrinner (@Schrinner) September 27, 2016

105,000 bus passengers, 21,500 pedestrians, 600+ cyclists use Victoria Bridge each day. Less than 11,000 people cross in cars each day.

— Cr Adrian Schrinner (@Schrinner) September 27, 2016

[ozbob]

Brisbane: Convert Victoria Bridge to a ' green ' bridge
> https://t.co/9BL7kmpDES#qldpol
It's time!! https://t.co/kWQKh1TXgs

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) September 27, 2016

[achiruel]

Would all four lanes be used for buses, or only three? It seems that although West End services have their own platform o/b amd therefore will require their own lane, they continue to share the i/b platform with other services. What I'm wondering is if there's any scope to convert one traffic lane into a bi-dir bicycle lane?

[SurfRail]

All you do is build a basic bus stop on the outbound lane near the elevator, and run the 60/192/196/199/202 through that stop outbound.  This helps limit congestion at the busway portal by separating out turning and through traffic completely.  No such issue inbound.

You don't even need to make it a green bridge for this to happen and it delivers most of the benefit.

[ozbob]

BCC has advanced plans for changing the Bridge etc.  Something has to happen the bus-jam is going to get a lot worse soon.

There is really only self-serving political interest blocking improvements.  Hopefully something will give soon.

[verbatim9]

Is the 340 going to do a U turn at King George Sq station then stop at platform 1 then out to Ann st and onto the expressway from there?

[Otto]

BT will start training drivers from Monday 17th on the new directions the affected bus routes will take.

[ozbob]

Good Morning Cr @Schrinner
Are we on the network reform bus yet?
Queens Wharf changes scare me ..#qldpol@StirlHinchliffe @TransLinkSEQ pic.twitter.com/f4lFZ94exl

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 7, 2016

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

10th November 2016

Letter of Concern

Bus Network Reliability and Other Issues

Dear Transport Minister,

RAIL Back On Track members are concerned about Brisbane's bus network. Feedback from the public also confirms our concerns.

Brisbane's bus network has the following issues:

- Large amounts of bus service duplication (waste)

- Competition with rail, rather than complimenting rail (inefficiency)

- 'Black hole' areas with poor service. Bulimba, Centenary, Yeronga, Northwestern suburbs are examples. (ineffectiveness)

- Poor bus service from the inner northwestern suburbs (Mitchelton, Ashgrove, Bardon, West Toowong) to UQ St Lucia (Chancellors Place)

- Lack of all door boarding on high frequency bus services

- Lack of a comprehensive bus review

- Granting Brisbane City Council a full 5 year contract with no conditions. They should only be offered a 2 year contract with with 3-year extension contingent on full implementation of a comprehensive, independent bus network review.

- Lack of progress on RAIL Back on Track's New Bus Network Proposal --> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

A particular concern is how the network will cope with road closures associated with Queens Wharf construction? The Cultural Centre busway is already over capacity. We fear that sending hundreds of additional bus services via Cultural Centre will cause a general meltdown as it is a critical choke point.

What are the arrangements for that?

RAIL Back on Track also does not understand the logic behind blocking the Victoria Bridge's conversion to a green bridge. Out of the Go Between Bridge, William Jolly Bridge, and Victoria Bridge, the Victoria Bridge is the least used by cars.

Minister, what will you do to address each of our points of concern raised above?

Yours sincerely,
Robert

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

References:

We Support Victoria Green Bridge Conversion! --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12370.msg179495#msg179495

[ozbob]

Latest media: ' Letter of Concern Bus Network Reliability and Other Issues '
> https://t.co/WKtVsst5Ff#qldpol@StirlHinchliffe @Schrinner pic.twitter.com/2EpBNo8VJC

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 9, 2016

[James]

New timetables have gone live for the changes associated with the Queens Wharf development. -> We're changing Brisbane bus services - replan your journey now!

Minor shifts to timetables, no additional services or logical changes to services. A few of the timings are going to annoy people. Some of the buses departing UQ are now scheduled to depart a few minutes earlier as part of re-timing, meaning they now co-ordinate terribly with class finish times, not that BT seem to care about customer amenity that much any more.

Also, in an interesting move, BT timetables now have the same format as other regions, and timetables have the new zones shown.

[SurfRail]

Thumbs up

- New format timetables for a consistent look regionwide (and they are easier to follow)
- Flagging the new fare zones

Neutral

- Stops are no longer shown in limited stops timetables.  Arguable this is not really a problem seeing that this is no different conceptually to how it works for all-stops services.

Thumbs down

- No changes to the network outside the CBD frame except for tiny things like stand changes at other interchanges
- No logical changes that could have been done (eg rationalising some corridors, terminating some routes away from the city like the 161).

[STB]

Wow!  I was taken aback to see the BT timetables 'TransLink-fied', also taken aback to see that they are going to be sending the Logan City routes via Adelaide St - that's something that TL wanted to do about 10 years ago when I was working with them, at the time BT/BCC obviously said no.

[nathandavid88]

Thumbs down

- No changes to the network outside the CBD frame except for tiny things like stand changes at other interchanges
- No logical changes that could have been done (eg rationalising some corridors, terminating some routes away from the city like the 161).

To be fair, Translink are probably best off changing as little as is required to make the services work without William Street and Queen's Wharf Road, especially on the back of the Queensland Rail issues. I'm sure the last thing they would want right now is to be doing a full bus network review while the trains are in their current state, and risk adding irate bus commuters to the ranks of the irate train commuters.

I am looking forward to being able to catch the 555 from Adelaide Street. It might actually be a more comfortable route during peak, as it will avoid the huge line of passengers that accumulates at the Edward Street stop. Obviously, the downside is that people who use the Edward Street stop outside of peak will need to hike down to Elizabeth Street to get the 555, but I don't see that affecting too many people.

[verbatim9]

Good job on the 340 inbound and out. It's good that it's still using KGSBS outbound 👍