Queens Wharf Bus Changes

[Gazza]

Surfrail, the 60 and 61 are still old format.

The 50 and 40 are new format though!

Highlight is the new 599 map.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane buses: Services rerouted in the CBD and timetable changes for 208 buses

Almost 50 bus routes are set to be redirected through Brisbane's CBD from next month to allow for construction to start on the $3 billion Queen's Wharf Brisbane project.

And more than 200 Brisbane Transport buses will have their timetables changed to reflect "current running times".

As part of the changes in the CBD, 45 Brisbane Transport services and four services operated by Clarks Logan City Bus Service, Mt Gravatt Bus Service and Park Ridge Transit will be re-routed through the city, with some arriving or departing from new stops in Brisbane's CBD

The changes will be rolled out on Monday, December 12, with TransLink officers working across the network from November 28 to advise customers.

State Development Minister Anthony Lynham said the Queensland government and Brisbane City Council had worked together for more than 18 months to design a plan for buses to operate around road closures and construction.

A large section of William St will be closed for six years to allow construction of Queen's Wharf.

"While the project will transform our CBD, the temporary closure of William St and permanent closure of Queens Wharf Road will affect bus routes," Dr Lynham said.

Meanwhile, TransLink has been working with Brisbane Transport to shake-up the bus network timetable across the city to better reflect actual running times.

Under the new timetable, also to be rolled out on December 12, 208 of Brisbane Transport's 235 bus timetables have been updated.

The timetable review was foreshadowed in August, with a council meeting told some Brisbane buses were taking 25 minutes longer to complete their routes than timetables allowed, resulting in the Queensland government underpaying the council $5.2 million a year.

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the changes would not affect service frequency.

"For more people, timetables will shift by less than six minutes, with a small number changing by up to 15 minutes," Mr Hinchliffe said.

A new comparative journey planning tool will be available on the TransLink website so commuters can view their journeys pre and post-changes and compare their journeys side by side.

To cover the cost of implementing the timetable changes, the Queensland government will fork out an extra $6.7 million to Brisbane City Council on top of its annual contribution.

The government currently delivers $297.53 million annually to the council to run bus services, representing 78 per cent of the total cost.

Brisbane Transport is negotiating a new contract with TransLink as the current arrangement expires in 2017, and the new timetable will form part of negotiations.

Queens Wharf Road and William Street are due to close on Sunday, January 1, 2017 so construction of the Queen's Wharf precinct can begin.

It came after sustained disruption to Queensland Rail services in recent weeks following a driver shortage, including an interim timetable and a new, reduced timetable.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane bus: Brisbane CBD bus routes changing

ALMOST 50 bus routes will be changed next month before construction starts on the $3 billion Queen's Wharf project.

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said 49 bus services would be rerouted through the city from December 12, with some arriving or departing from new stops in Brisbane's CBD.

"Teams of TransLink Customer Liaison Officers will be working across the Brisbane CBD network from Monday 28 November, providing face-to-face help and journey planning advice to customers in the lead up to 12 December," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"Affected services will use alternative stops in the CBD, with most expected to be a short walk from existing locations.

"These changes will not affect service frequency and for most people, timetables will shift by less than six minutes, with a small number changing by up to 15 minutes."

Queens Wharf Road and William Street are due to close on January 1 but the new routes and stops will be introduced early to ensure passengers become familiar with the changes.

Mr Hinchliffe said the State Government would give an extra $6.7 million to the Brisbane City Council to cover the cost of the changes.

Passengers can view new stop locations by visiting www.translink.com.au, downloading the My TransLink app or phoning 13 12 30.
Full list of buses that will be rerouted through Brisbane's CBD

Brisbane Transport

50, 105, 107, 108, 112, 113, 121, 131, 134, 155, 156, 161, 171, 172, 178, 181, 186, 202, 340, 363, 376, 382, 383, 411, 415, 416, 417, 433, 445, 471, P119, P137, P141, P142, P151, P157, P176, P179, P201, P205, P217, P343, P457, P458, P459

Clarks Logan City Bus Service

555

Mt Gravatt Bus Service

261, 299

Park Ridge Transit

P546

[ozbob]

Moving around the deck chairs to some degree ...

Forced to make some changes, change not for real network improvement, change to cope with the Queens Wharf project effects only in the main.

We really need an under capacity metro.  This will help ...

[STB]

Noticed that they seemed to have put on additional route 30s on (last one currently is at 6:06pm, last one in the new timetable is at 6:57pm - and sorely needed too, the 6:06pm one is always chockers!).  I wonder if any other sneaky additional services have been put on?

[ozbob]

16 November 2016

JOINT STATEMENT
Minister for State Development and Minister for Natural Resources and Mines
The Honourable Anthony Lynham

Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe

Bus alterations to support Queen's Wharf development

From Monday 12 December, 49 bus routes will be redirected through Brisbane's CBD to allow construction work to start on the $3 billion Queen's Wharf Brisbane project.

Minister for State Development Anthony Lynham said the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council had been working together for more than 18 months to design a plan for buses to operate around road closures and construction.

"Queen's Wharf Brisbane will create thousands of jobs and business opportunities across the state," Mr Lynham said.

"While the project will transform our CBD, the temporary closure of William Street and permanent closure of Queens Wharf Road will affect bus routes."

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe said as part of the changes 45 Brisbane Transport services and four services operated by Clarks Logan City Bus Service, Mt Gravatt Bus Serviceand Park Ridge Transit will be rerouted through the city, with some arriving or departing from new stops in Brisbane's CBD.

"Teams of TransLink Customer Liaison Officers will be working across the Brisbane CBD network from Monday 28 November, providing face-to-face help and journey planning advice to customers in the lead up to 12 December," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"Affected services will use alternative stops in the CBD, with most expected to be a short walk from existing locations."

TransLink has worked with Brisbane Transport to revise and update bus network timetables across Brisbane to better reflect current running times and changed road conditions – with 208 of Brisbane Transport's 235 bus timetables updated.

"These changes will not affect service frequency and for most people, timetables will shift by less than six minutes, with a small number changing by up to 15 minutes," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"To cover the cost of implementing the timetable changes, the Queensland Government will also provide an additional $6.7 million to Brisbane City Council on top of our annual contribution."

The Queensland Government currently delivers $297.53 million annually to Brisbane City Council towards the cost of running bus services, representing 78 percent of the total cost.

While Queens Wharf Road and William Street are due to close on Sunday, 1 January next year, the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council agreed the bus changes will come into effect next month to give travellers time to become familiar with the changes.

A new comparative journey planning tool is now available on the TransLink website to allow customers to view their journeys pre and post-changes and compare the journeys side by side.

Public transport passengers can now view new stop locations and plan their journey by visiting www.translink.com.au, downloading the My TransLink app or phoning 13 12 30, anytime.

Full list of buses that will be rerouted through Brisbane's CBD:

Operator Service

Brisbane Transport
   
50, 105, 107, 108, 112, 113, 121, 131, 134, 155, 156, 161, 171, 172, 178, 181, 186, 202, 340, 363,

376, 382, 383, 411, 415, 416, 417, 433, 445, 471, P119, P137, P141, P142, P151, P157, P176, P179,

P201, P205, P217, P343, P457, P458, P459

Clarks Logan City Bus Service
   
555

Mt Gravatt Bus Service
   
261, 299

Park Ridge Transit
   
P546

[ozbob]

About 46 more buses will be using Victoria Bridge each morning and afternoon peak.

I give credit to Cr Schrinner, he did try to get the State Government to see sense about sorting Victoria Bridge.  The State is really lacking in courage to do the right thing for the community.  Own selfish petty politics is put first.

The bus-jam is only going to get worse by a large margin sadly.

[ozbob]

Bus jam will get worse, @AnnastaciaMP @StirlHinchliffe fail to sort Vic Bridge, #railfail now #busfail !!
> https://t.co/RRlH73jUF3#qldpol pic.twitter.com/nq7XTUYyH0

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 21, 2016

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

22nd November 2016

Rail fail now serious bus issues looming for Brisbane CBD

Good Morning,

Despite the best attempts of Cr Adrian Schrinner, and ourselves the State Government has failed to listen to reason and allow the conversion of Victoria Bridge to a ' green ' bridge (1).

Due to the bus changes associated with the construction of Queens Wharf Brisbane project around 46 more buses will be added to the already existing bus-jam and congestion to the Cultural Centre and Victoria Bridge part of the bus routes into and out of the CBD, in each AM and PM peaks.



Bus-jam on Victoria Bridge

The existing problems are only going to compound and worsen the public transport misery.

The Palaszczuk Labor Government is stamping itself as one that is unable to deliver satisfactory public transport outcomes for our community sadly.

You have all been warned of the looming bus network collapse.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Reference:

1. Brisbane:  Convert Victoria Bridge to a ' green ' bridge
https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12438.0

[#Metro]

^^ I guess the Transport Minister will definitely not see this memo! 

[ozbob]

Media: ' Rail fail now serious bus issues looming for Brisbane CBD '
> https://t.co/iMKlcys0Pd#qldpol #bnepol@StirlHinchliffe @Schrinner pic.twitter.com/41uXngFrpB

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 21, 2016

[ozbob]

The closure of Queens Wharf Rd & William St will see almost 50 extra buses sent across Vic. Bridge each peak. Time to make it bus only!

— Adrian Schrinner (@Schrinner) November 22, 2016

[ozbob]

Time to make Victoria Bridge an even Greener Bridge! https://t.co/WgXRiWNNL7

— Adrian Schrinner (@Schrinner) November 22, 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.

— Adrian Schrinner (@Schrinner) September 27, 2016

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

24th November 2016

RAIL Back On Track backs Cr Schrinner's call for an 'even greener Victoria Bridge'

RAIL Back On Track strongly supports Cr Schrinner's call for converting Victoria Bridge to a ' green ' bridge, that is buses, bicycles and pedestrians only particularly at peak times.

With the bus route changes imposed by the construction of Queens Wharf, the bus capacity of the Victoria Bridge will be stretched beyond breaking point.

We believe that the ultimate solution to the 'busjam' is root-and-branch network reform, eventually in conjunction with Cross River Rail.
However, a fix will be needed in a matter of weeks, not years.

Therefore, the only available solution is run buses in the general-traffic lanes of the bridge.

This is not a new concept for Brisbane. Indeed it now has tri-partisan support at the Council level (judging by the various proposals from the March election). As people in cars make up less than 10% of the total [2], we believe it is entirely justifiable.

In peak hour, the lanes should be entirely given over to buses, but outside of peak hour, especially late at night, they could remain as general-traffic.

It's time to green the Victoria Bridge!

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

References:

[1]  https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/801204920519012352

[2]  https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/780561195438747648

[3]  9 Sep 2016: Brisbane: Convert Victoria Bridge to a ' green ' bridge
https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12438.0

[ozbob]

Latest: RAIL Back On Track backs @Schrinner call for an 'even greener Victoria Bridge '
> https://t.co/uaAK2v6bG7#qldpol@StirlHinchliffe pic.twitter.com/kye9UBX7Cm

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 23, 2016

[BrizCommuter]

Queens Wharf Bus Changes - Opportunity Lost.
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2016/11/queens-wharf-bus-changes-opportunity.html

[ozbob]

 ^ thanks!

BrizCommuter:
Queens Wharf Bus Changes - Opportunity Lost
> https://t.co/pGXgMP8yqN#qldpol@StirlHinchliffe @Schrinner @AnnastaciaMP pic.twitter.com/T1YBa8728t

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) November 24, 2016

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Petition: Convert Brisbane's Victoria Bridge into a 'green bridge'

>> https://www.change.org/p/annastacia-palaszczuk-convert-brisbane-s-victoria-bridge-into-a-green-bridge

In May 2016, Brisbane City Council put forward a proposal to convert Victoria Bridge into a dedicated 'green bridge' which would:

    provide a significant increase in public transport capacity and increased service levels
    reduce CBD traffic pressures and congestion.

This proposal was not supported by the Queensland Government and did not proceed.

With major CBD traffic diversions and bus route changes occuring from 12 December 2016, as a result of the State Government's Queens Wharf Brisbane casino and resort development, almost 50 extra buses will need to use Victoria Bridge during both the morning and afternoon peaks.

This petition calls on the Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to urgently support Council's plan to prioritise public and active transport by converting Victoria Bridge to a dedicated 'green bridge'.

Background

The Victoria Bridge is one of the key public transport links across the Brisbane River and is absolutely critical to the city's transport network.

Each weekday during peak periods, around 200 buses per hour use the bridge - a bus every 15-20 seconds.

In addition to buses, the bridge also has an important role in carrying pedestrians and cyclists (more than 22,000 per day).

The two existing dedicated bus lanes simply don't provide enough capacity to cater for this massive number of buses.

Every day, long queues of buses on the bridge mean passengers face significant inconvenice and delays and this is 'bus jam' is only going to get worse.

CBD traffic changes associated with the Queens Wharf Brisbane development mean almost 50 extra buses will need to use the bridge during both the morning and afternoon peaks.

It's time make Victoria Bridge a true 'green bridge' by getting cars off the bridge and providing more capacity for sustainable and efficient forms of transport.

At present, only around 8,800 cars use the bridge each day and many of these are carrying only one person. In contrast, each standard bus can carry 40-60 people (or up to 100 people for articulated 'banana buses').

Across Brisbane around two thirds of all public transport trips are carried on buses and providing more bus capacity on the Victoria Bridge will improve a key bottleneck in the public transport network.

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

http://www.grahamquirk.com.au/council-campaigns-to-relieve-cbd-bus-congestion/

Council campaigns to relieve CBD bus congestion

Deputy Mayor, Public and Active Transport Chairman, Cr Adrian Schrinner has today launched a campaign to relieve bus delays, by making the Victoria Bridge a bus, pedestrian and cyclist only bridge.

Cr Schrinner has released a petition, calling on the State Government to approve the closure of the Victoria Bridge to private motor vehicles, allowing two additional lanes to be used for buses.

"The Victoria Bridge is a major choke point for buses coming in and out of the CBD and is operating above capacity, with delays during morning and afternoon peak hours," Cr Schrinner said.

"From next week this will only worsen with almost 50 bus routes changing due to the Queens Wharf development, resulting in additional buses being diverted over the Victoria Bridge during already busy peak periods.

"During peak periods, approximately 200 buses an hour already use the bridge, one bus every 15-20 seconds.

"The existing two lanes used for buses do not have the capacity for this high number of buses and the bridge has become a bottleneck, particularly in morning and evening peak periods."

Cr Schrinner said that while Council was proposing a long-term solution for the bus congestion issue through the Brisbane Metro, a short term fix was also required.

"The Victoria Bridge needs to be addressed immediately and it can easily be alleviated by being converted to a dedicated green bridge with exclusive bus, cyclist and pedestrian use," he said.

"Council is calling on the Queensland Government to urgently support a plan to prioritise public and active transport by converting Victoria Bridge to a dedicated green bridge.

"This change can only be made with the State Government's approval, which is why we're calling on the Premier to support this important proposal."

Cr Schrinner said that the majority of trips across the Victoria Bridge were taken by bus.

"Just 8,800 cars use the Victoria Bridge each day, compared with 22,000 pedestrians and many more bus passengers," he said.

A petition to make Victoria Bridge a "green bridge" is available at change.org (http://bit.ly/2g3JSOY), from today.

[Ends]

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> 'Make Victoria Bridge a Green Bridge' Brisbane City Council

Brisbane 's Victoria Bridge may become a green-bridge only - scrapping cars - as Brisbane City Council on Tuesday night launched a major campaign to have the Queensland Government approve the change.

From Monday an extra 50 buses an hour will be added to the 200 buses an hour that already crawl across the Victoria Bridge in peak hour, because of road closures linked to the new casino.

Victoria Bridge has only two lanes dedicated to buses, with cars using the other two lanes.

The major changes to Brisbane's bus routes begin on Monday, December 12 when the major road closures in Brisbane's CBD will let work start on the multi-billion dollar casino resort complex in Brisbane's Queens Wharf Precinct, between George and William Street.

"This means major changes to Brisbane's public transport network, in particular the bus network," Cr Shrinner said.

"There will be various traffic diversions and road closures," he said.

"And this has necessitated significant changes to Brisbane's bus network."

Brisbane City Council in May asked the Queensland Government to close the Victoria Bridge to cars, but the Queensland Government said no.

The ccouncil owns and manages Victoria Bridge, but the state government manages the bus station at the Queensland Performing Arts Complex on the South Brisbane side of the Victoria Bridge.

Council's deputy mayor and the city's public transport committee chairman, Cr Adrian Schrinner, on Tuesday launched a petition to close the Victoria Bridge to private cars and trucks, and use the two lanes instead for extra buses.

"Today I am launching a petition to the Premier to reconsider her decision, to reconsider the state governments' decision on Victoria Bridge," he said.

"And I am delighted to say we have bipartisan support. We have heard Labor councillor Jared Cassidy and (Opposition Leader) Peter Cumming stand up and agree that Victoria Bridge should be a green bridge.

Greens councillor Jonathan Sri also supported the move to make Victoria Bridge a green bridge.

"So Council is united on this decision," Cr Shrinner said.

"We need to the state government to reconsider their position and come to the table and work out how to make this bridge a more effective use of infrastructure."

Victoria Bridge's bus problems were first identified by Fairfax Media in 2011 when the idea to ban cars was first raised by planning experts.

Cr Schrinner said the road changes triggered by casino roadworks will mean an extra 50 buses travelling across the Victoria Bridge in the peak period each day.

"At the moment we are seeing about 200 buses per hour going across the Victoria Bridge," Cr Shrinner said.

"Now that's a bus every 15 to 20 seconds," he said.

"That is a lot of buses and that is going to be even busier - with an extra 46 buses to be precise – going across the Victoria Bridge from next Monday."

Cr Schrinner said it was time to remove cars from Victoria Bridge and dedicate the two lanes used by cars to buses.

"We've all experienced the congestion, we've all seen it with our own eyes, the queues of buses lined  up across the bridge," he said.

He said Brisbane City Council asked the Queensland Government to rule out cars from the bridge in May 2016.

"Unfortunately, despite an initial positive response from the state government, we then got a response back which was 'No'," Cr Shrinner said.

"I believe that as of next Monday - and certainly going  into the early parts of next year - it will become very clear why this bridge needs to be a green bridge.

"People can see it now, but it will be further obvious when the bus delays are exacerbated from next Monday."

Cr Schrinner said that while council was proposing a long-term solution for the bus congestion issue through the Brisbane Metro, a short-term fix was also required.

Now 8800 cars use the Victoria Bridge each day compared with 22,000 pedestrians and several thousand buses.

The petition to make Victoria Bridge a "green bridge" is available at change.org (http://bit.ly/2g3JSOY), from Tuesday.

[#Metro]

This is really a nonsensical and perverse decision by Queensland Government.

8800 cars x 1.2 occupancy = 10 560 passengers/day.

The SEB through cultural centre probably handles that in about one hour and a bit in the am and pm peaks. That's 10-15x of what is being transported in cars.

Who knows what the true motivation of this actually is or who benefits. Is Jackie Trad trying to court the pro-car vote in South Brisbane? It is madness.

It is just another nail in the Red Team coffin for the Seat of South Brisbane. They already managed to increase the height of the West Village tower apartments, now they are trapped on the wrong side of the argument on the Victoria Bridge conversion. That whole area will just be gobbled up by The Greens come next election.

What are they trying to prove here?

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

7th December 2016

Another nail in the Palaszczuk Government political coffin !

Good Morning,

Brisbane's Deputy Mayor Cr Adrian Schrinner has launched a petition.

Petition: Convert Brisbane's Victoria Bridge into a 'green bridge'

>> https://www.change.org/p/annastacia-palaszczuk-convert-brisbane-s-victoria-bridge-into-a-green-bridge

There is already very significant bus-congestion (bus-jam) on Victoria Bridge and with the necessary bus changes from next week to accommodate the Queens Wharf Brisbane project it will get worse.

BCC and ourselves have been lobbying for sometime to get the necessary changes. There is tri-partisan support  with BCC.  It is only the Palaszczuk State Government that stands in the way of this absolutely necessary bus and active transport network improvement.

This is another excellent demonstration of what is wrong with public transport administration in Queensland. Bloated bureaucracies in silos of petty incompetence and at the mercy of the erratic will of crass politics.

The failure to support the conversion of Victoria Bridge is just another nail in the political coffin of the Palaszczuk Government.

Have a good day, and a good election!

Best wishes
Robert

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

Reference:

Media release 23 November 2011
SEQ: Cultural Centre Bus Congestion Capacity Crisis - solutions? https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7130.0

[ Attached: https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=12341.msg184140#msg184140 ]

[ozbob]

Latest media: ' Another nail in the Palaszczuk Government political coffin ! '
> https://t.co/Jdueuh1WPg#qldpol@AnnastaciaMP @Schrinner pic.twitter.com/VvHYllxLhB

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) December 6, 2016

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Brisbane traffic: Plan to ban cars from Victoria Bridge

MOTORISTS may soon find their road over the river blocked with Brisbane City Council pushing for Victoria Bridge to go green.

Deputy Mayor, Public and Active Transport chairman Adrian Schrinner launched the campaign to change the bridge to be a bus, pedestrian and cyclist only bridge.

There is hope that banning motorists would allow for two additional lanes for buses and relieve delays.

During peak times about 200 buses use the bridge every hour - one bus every 15-20 seconds.

"The Victoria Bridge is a major choke point for buses coming in and out of the CBD and is operating above capacity, with delays during morning and afternoon peak hours," Cr Schrinner said.

"From next week this will only worsen with almost 50 bus routes changing due to the Queens Wharf development, resulting in additional buses being diverted over the Victoria Bridge during already busy peak periods.

About 8,800 cars use Victoria Bridge each day compared with 22,000 pedestrians.

Cr Schrinner said Brisbane Metro was the long-term solution for the congestion but a short term fix was also required.

"The Victoria Bridge needs to be addressed immediately and it can easily be alleviated by being converted to a dedicated green bridge with exclusive bus, cyclist and pedestrian use," he said.

Council is calling on the State Government to support the plan and prioritise the conversion of Victoria Birdge to a dedicated green bridge.

"This change can only be made with the State Government's approval, which is why we're calling on the Premier to support this important proposal," Cr Schrinner said.

[ozbob]

The Palaszczuk Government has lost it.  #Railfail and now #busfail.   They are dead in the water.

Transport Minister Hinchliffe is completely out his depth now.  As we suggested when #railfail hit, a single portfolio Minister was needed to focus and drive the resolutions.  They are now signing their political death warrants.

[#Metro]

Even the RACQ now supports Victoria Bridge conversion. The RACQ!
https://twitter.com/RACQOfficial/status/806296541367443456

#ByeAnnastacia
#ByeJacki

[ozbob]

Even the RACQ now supports Victoria Bridge conversion. The RACQ!
https://twitter.com/RACQOfficial/status/806296541367443456

#ByeAnnastacia
#ByeJacki

[ozbob]

We support a 'green' Victoria Bridge. It could lead to less #Bne CBD congestion in the long-term. https://t.co/Z9E99Omc3M @Schrinner pic.twitter.com/5CRkG5oyh6

— RACQ (@RACQOfficial) December 7, 2016

[ozbob]

22 November 2011 << O_O
Ban Cars From Victoria Bridge In Brisbane, Transport Experts Say
> https://t.co/VoqSZtOlWK#qldpol@Schrinner pic.twitter.com/UZwJJDCqbW

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) December 7, 2016

[ozbob]

A campaign is underway to ban cars from the Victoria Bridge in Brisbane. @KateLJones7 #7News https://t.co/5ZmRkZZFhG

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) December 7, 2016

[urbanplanr]

To be a truly effective solution, the closure should be all the way to the Melbourne Street portal.

[verbatim9]

Just a suggestion as the bridge congestion is mainly a peak problem, could the extra two lanes on the bridge be bus only between 6am-10am and 2pm-7pm Mon-Fri. There are modern signalling technology to make it possible similar to tidal flow lights? The bus station platform Southbank side could be retrofitted to an island platform at minimal cost. (But also happy with it being a full-time Green Bridge).

[Marshal]

Agreed that it seems silly not to completely close the road right to Grey Street. You could convert the space into a new bus platform or at least use it for through services. Without that, you don't really achieve much beyond stopping the queue getting to far back. It'd still be the same number of busses stuck in bus traffic.

I wonder what ramifications this has for the metro project? (would this be better said on the metro thread?). I mean, assuming its going ahead as planned, they'll be shutting the bridge down to convert 2 lanes to metro right when the Queens Wharf development is being built, which negates the temporary benefits you might have gained. Either way, done right, this could go a long way to solve the congestion altogether, which begs the question, what the point of a metro specifically to solve that congestion when this green bridge conversion and an upgrade to the CC station would probably do the job quite well

[James]

I imagine what would happen is that the 60/192/196/199 would all use the new lanes, in addition to a few terminating services (perhaps) taking roughly 30bph (or more, depending on what services terminate there) out of the existing station.

Hopefully, these changes would mean that you could eliminate the through phase from the traffic lights heading in to the Melbourne St portal, increasing the throughput of that intersection. You probably wouldn't need to eliminate cars from Melbourne St after Grey St, because it'd just be through traffic after this. Allowing through access would also be important for some of the businesses and pubs in the area - The Fox being one which immediately springs to mind.

[verbatim9]

Would the bridge be open to Taxis and Uber as well as buses? That's why I think a part time Green Bridge would be the best option? In Melbourne they have peak part time Tramways

[ozbob]

I have been supplied with this comment by the Minister.

Minister for Transport and the Commonwealth Games, Stirling Hinchliffe:

I am open to further discussion with Brisbane City Council, although closing a river crossing to motorists is a significant decision that should not be rushed into without extensive consultation with the community.

Any proposal from Brisbane City Council to remove cars from Victoria Bridge will require a comprehensive implementation plan from council for managing the upgrades that will be needed to the surrounding local road network, traffic signalling and access to the South-East Busway's Melbourne Street portal.

There will be changes to Brisbane's bus network from Monday 12 December to allow work to begin on the Queen's Wharf Project. I have written to the Deputy Mayor to ask Brisbane Transport use alternative routes to Victoria Bridge for empty buses returning to the depot during peak periods.

Brisbane Transport and TransLink have been working together to minimise any disruptions caused by these changes.

[ozbob]

^ BCC has comprehensive plans.  This is just more circular stuff designed to put off making any real decision, and protect political species at the cost of the community good IMHO.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Transport Minister open to green Victoria Bridge discussion

The idea of turning Brisbane's Victoria Bridge into a green bridge for the exclusive use of buses, cyclists and pedestrians only had "some merit", according to Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe.

The RACQ also said the idea was "viable" if traffic could be persuaded to instead use the William Jolly Bridge and move around the Cultural Centre precinct at South Brisbane.

Brisbane City Council launched a campaign on Tuesday night to persuade the Queensland government to agree with the council's plans to remove cars from the Victoria Bridge.

Mr Hinchliffe said the biggest issue was to first learn exactly what the community wanted.

"So I am making it clear – and I have always made it clear in my conversations with the deputy mayor (Adrian Schrinner) – that we are not adverse to the issue," he said.

"But it is something that needs to be very strongly engaged with the community."

Mr Hinchliffe said he wanted the council to prepare a report that would show where private vehicles could travel if the Victoria Bridge was off limits.

He said he would be annoyed if the plan "funnelled traffic" on to the nearby Go Between Bridge, which slugged motorists with a toll.

The council must also take steps to remove the "significant number" of buses dead running - simply returning to a depot without carrying passengers - on Victoria Bridge.

The Victoria Bridge carried 100,000 bus passengers, 22,000 pedestrians and cyclists, and 8800 cars every day. It has two lanes for general traffic and two for buses.

Timetable changes on Monday will see 246 buses per hour in both the morning peak hour and the afternoon peak hour, up from 240.

Road changes and closures in George and William streets will take effect from Monday and will change 50 bus routes and add more buses to the already congested lines of buses from city across the bridge to the bus stops at QPAC at Melbourne Street.

RACQ spokeswoman Renee Smith said the idea was "viable" if traffic could be detoured effectively to the nearby William Jolly Bridge.

"For a 'green' Victoria Bridge to work, BCC needs to improve directional signage around the Cultural Centre, William Jolly Bridge and Roma Street corridors without motorists being forced onto the tolled Go Between Bridge," she said.

"BCC must also review traffic signals between Brisbane's CBD and the Cultural Centre to ensure congestion is managed and alternative routes operate efficiently."

Ms Smith said the RACQ supported the council's proposal because a car-free Victoria Bridge could lead to less congestion in the long-term.

Mr Hinchliffe said the council needed to be aware there would be considerable cost in "physically shifting" the Melbourne Street bus stop and that commuters would need to be consulted before any steps to close the bridge to cars "were entertained, let alone adopted".

Ms Palaszczuk wrote to Lord Mayor Graham Quirk in July and said the Department of Transport and Main Roads would study the traffic network impacts of closing the Victoria Bridge.

"At this stage we do not see a compelling case for the closure of Victoria Bridge to general traffic," she said.

"The state, therefore cannot support the proposed closure of the Victoria Bridge to general traffic."

After launching the petition to Ms Palaszczuk to ask her to review her earlier objection, Cr Schrinner told reporters on Wednesday he believed the Queensland government will change its mind.

"I think they will come around," he said.

"I think it will apparent to them when the traffic changes come into effect next week and become quite apparent  early next year."

One hundred and fifty people had signed the change.org online petition by 5pm Wednesday.