Brisbane: Bus Electric Rapid Transit (' Brisbane Metro ')

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane Metro cost could blow out by $100m

Ratepayers could be slugged for millions in order to deliver the Brisbane Metro, with costs expected to balloon further after the State Government laid down new conditions for the project days before entering caretaker mode.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the State Government has given its approval to the Metro project provided "key conditions" were met – including certain platforms being redesigned and the wages of government staff working on the project reimbursed.

Sources told The Courier-Mail the bill for those expansions would fall on council and could amount to upwards of $100 million, with the exact figure yet to be determined.

The new conditions include expanded platforms at the Buranda station, the addition of a bus layover at Griffith University station as well as improved customer information facilities at King George Square and the Cultural Centre stations.

Other conditions included Go Between Bridge toll relief for South Brisbane residents after the Victoria Bridge is closed to vehicles next year and the creation of a new community park in South Brisbane.

"A further condition imposed by the State Government was that Council reimburse the wages of Transport and Mains Roads employees working with Metro," Brisbane City Council Public and Active Transport Chair Ryan Murphy said.

It follows some 17 months of delays due to the State Government's demands for the redesign of the Cultural Centre station in June last year.

Council data obtained by The Courier-Mail shows the cost of those delays to be an estimated $64 million.

"This estimate factors in the State ordered redesign of the Cultural Centre Station, as well as changes to EBA labour rates and State waste levy impacts," Mr Murphy said.

"After 500 meetings, Labor finally signed off on Brisbane's Metro approval, just days out from entering caretaker mode ahead of their election campaign."

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the conditions were crucial to making the project "right" and involved reinstating elements that had been altered by Council.

"Without the changes the Metro would have actually slowed down buses on the busway," he said.

"These elements were cut out of the Metro plans by Brisbane City Council in 2020 when they proposed to delay undergrounding of the Cultural Centre Station."

Mr Murphy said council would continue negotiations "to ensure the best outcome for ratepayers".

"We can never get back the year of delay, the 500 meetings or the $64 million, but thankfully we can now get on this critical, much-needed project," he said.

The Metro project – which ballooned by $300 million to an expected cost of $1.24 billion in the year's Council budget – is slated to improve public transport outcomes for the city and create more than 2500 jobs.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane Metro budget blowout costs ratepayers $64 million

Delays to Brisbane Metro have cost ratepayers $64 million, as the council blames the state government's slow processes for stalling a project that has already blown its budget by $300 million.

The project hit a wall in June last year, when lord mayor Adrian Schrinner came out swinging against the state government, blaming it for additional costs and delays.

But it was all smiles by June this year, when a peace deal was reached that removed the sticky topic of the $1.2 billion transport project's centrepiece station — a proposal to put all buses and metro vehicles underground at the Cultural Centre in South Brisbane.

With the council and state agreeing to postpone the planned underground station in favour of smaller changes to the existing above-ground station at the south end of the Victoria Bridge, progress was suddenly back on the table.

But on Tuesday, the council's public and active transport committee heard the year-long delay had cost the council $64 million, and will likely cost more.

"We've been project-ready for about a year, so we've had about a year's delay," Brisbane Metro project director Stephen Hammer told councillors.

"That's extra people, extra time, design effort, tender costs, all those types of things.

"... That has required, in particular, quite a financial burden on construction companies for the cost of disposing of waste."

The council and state have now signed several agreements to begin work, requiring a "collaborative process" to design the Cultural Centre station, and the council to install shade structures on Victoria Bridge. A park at 125 Grey Street, next to the train station, will also be installed under the agreement.

South Brisbane residents will also have free tolls on the Go Between Bridge during construction.

The council will also be required to develop more strategies to manage fare evasion. The metro vehicles are expected to have all-door boarding with tap-on card readers, which Mr Hammer said "potentially" created an increased risk of fare evasion.

"We are also required to reimburse the cost of [Transport and Main Roads'] interactions with Brisbane City Council as part of delivering the project," he said.

"So a cost reimbursement will be put in place for that, and an agreed process for network planning and service changes, which is quite a significant part of the project."

Public transport committee chairman Ryan Murphy told Brisbane Times the "onerous" state-imposed condition required the council to reimburse the wages of TMR employees working with the Metro project.

A full figure for those employee costs is not yet available, but the new requirements from TMR will need to go before the council again in the future for approval.

Cr Murphy also questioned the timing of the state government's sign-off on the Metro approvals, days before election caretaker mode began.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the Metro project covered a "significant portion of inner Brisbane, so getting the design of public spaces around it right is critical too".

"Many of the changes requested by the state were to reinstate elements at King George Square, Buranda and Griffith University stations," he said.

"These elements were cut out of the Metro plans by Brisbane City Council in 2020 when they proposed to delay undergrounding of the Cultural Centre station.

"These elements needed to be reinstated to stop the busway clogging up when the longer metro vehicles go into service."

Mr Bailey said the council was "warned" not to go to tender in 2019 without the state's approvals, but those issues had been resolved.

In the committee, opposition leader Jared Cassidy asked how much of the final transport network would be underground as originally proposed.

Mr Hammer said the Adelaide Street tunnel would bring about 300 metres of underground travel to Metro, while about 200 metres of planned underground tunnel at the Cultural Centre would not go ahead.

Cr Murphy suggested the Brisbane Metro project was never specifically about putting buses underground, but rather about "addressing a strategic transport infrastructure concern".

" ... Public transport committee chairman Ryan Murphy told Brisbane Times the "onerous" state-imposed condition required the council to reimburse the wages of TMR employees working with the Metro project. ... "   

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1318668426567544832

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1318671985530920960

[verbatim9]

The article seems to suggest they are no longer going to provide platform ticketing validation. It will be all done onboard like buses and the Trams in Vic and SA

[ozbob]

The project has developed into a giant cluster-fuk!

This diabolical mess is more evidence why a proper public transport authority is needed. 

Until then, expect more mediocrity and half baked outcomes.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Residents of three suburbs to get 30 free trips across bridge during Metro work

"Residents of three inner-city suburbs will be given a toll rebate for the Go-Between Bridge equivalent to about 30 trips when construction begins on Brisbane Metro in South Brisbane next year. ... "

[AnonymouslyBad]

^ Bit of a pointless exercise - it's going to be permanently closed anyway!

Politics at its finest I suppose. 

[ozbob]

^  very. 

Imposed on BCC by the State Government as a condition of the Metro proceeding.   Sounds like something the former member for South Brisbane might have had something to do with.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/couriermail/status/1334014546227261440

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/10NewsFirstQLD/status/1336572522066808836

[verbatim9]

Today Saturday December 19 Victoria Bridge Looking SW

[verbatim9]

^^Another month and it will be closed to general car traffic

[AnonymouslyBad]

It's good they're just going ahead and closing it permanently.

:bi

I hope they properly widen the footpath as well.

[verbatim9]

:bi

I hope they properly widen the footpath as well.

The proposed new cycling path on the East side of the bridge to be completed by mid 2021.---> Inner City Bike Paths

[verbatim9]

There has been marketing ads from Brisbane City Council on Facebook for future 2021 projects.  They are marketing the Brisbane Metro as 'Award winning'? What awards have been awarded to the project if any. Its hardly got off the ground and still in the very early stages.

Seems premature to me to award something that doesn't exist at present or hasn't proven award worthy.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner Facebook--->https://www.facebook.com/Brisbane.LordMayor/videos/1046049459250320

[ozbob]

^ good point!  I am unsure if the ' Brisbane Metro ' has won any awards just yet 
( from the 1 minute 30 seconds mark ).

Edit:  Found an award!

... With an outstanding selection of project finalists, the judges selected the Nillumbik Shire Council's Hybrid Solar & Battery Off-Grid Community Stadium & Relief Centre project as joint winner with Brisbane City Council's Metro Charging station. ...

From: https://www.miragenews.com/innovative-project-wins-award-at-national-climate-awards-2020/

[#Metro]

How can you award something for something that doesn't exist/isn't installed yet?

[ozbob]

How can you award something for something that doesn't exist/isn't installed yet?

Here are some more details.

Cities Power Partnership

MEDIA RELEASE: Councils crowned climate leaders at national awards
October 29, 2020

> https://citiespowerpartnership.org.au/2020/10/29/media-release-councils-crowned-climate-leaders-at-national-awards-2/

... Metropolitan Innovation Award
Joint Winner: Nillumbik Shire (VIC) – Hybrid solar and battery off-grid Community Stadium & Relief Centre
Joint Winner: Brisbane City Council (QLD) – Brisbane Metro Charging Strategy ..

Appears the award was for a  'strategy'  ...

====

https://twitter.com/CPP_Au/status/1321728729240858625

[ozbob]

Well there you go hey?

[verbatim9]

It like giving an award to a new car on the market without even testing it, or awarding a wine without even tasting it.

[#Metro]

Let's make up our own awards! 

Some for good ones and some for the Gong/wooden spoon... like the CHOICE Shonky Awards.

I vote route 198 for the gong award. Could also get the public involved - best and worst bus routes in Brisbane.

Shonky awards https://www.choice.com.au/shonky-awards

[#Metro]

Totally against an award for something not even paid for and proven operational yet.

They are giving awards for an idea?

Where is our award for new bus network proposal? 🚌

What if it doesn't work or major problems with the technology emerge?

Is the battery lithium? What if it catches on fire 🔥 after the first few charges, how will the award seem then?

[MTPCo]

It is symptomatic of the long decline of the transport discipline from scientific method to popularity contest. No longer is it sufficient to be driven by evidence and provide useful public infrastructure, it is now about Hollywood-style awards shows and spin. They mean nothing, but it is a great example of incestuous back-slapping by the 'in crowd', those who would never dare to criticise a project but are only too happy to shout from the rooftops that a TBM has been named after a luminary.

Example: https://infrastructuremagazine.com.au/2020/12/09/2020-infrastructure-project-of-the-year-announced/

There's no real problem with the overall winner, but it's worthwhile looking at the "independent panel", and the winners and finalists of some of the other categories.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1348281841191587844

[ozbob]

InQld --> Lord Mayor reveals major city changes under Brisbane Metro plan

.. Schrinner today released images showing how the council plans to widen footpaths and cycleways on Adelaide St, Victoria Bridge and around the Cultural Centre as part of the project. ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/10NewsFirstQLD/status/1352128021067546624

[ozbob]

Brisbane Metro fly through - January 2021

[verbatim9]

Looks good. Just hope all that traffic can flow smoothly through the Grey St intersection without queues.

[aldonius]

Still better than the current situation (thanks to fewer traffic phases), so I think it'll work fine for another decade or so. Then it'll be Tunnel Time (t.m.)

[verbatim9]

Still better than the current situation (thanks to fewer traffic phases), so I think it'll work fine for another decade or so. Then it'll be Tunnel Time (t.m.)

It looks like they will extend the tunnel from Adelaide Street to Grey or Melbourne Street where a new underground station could also be located. The new station will have to be fairly deep though. But that shouldn't be a problem, as many deep stations operate well throughout the world.

In regards to traffic light phasing who will have the priority? There is still a potential for queuing. The proposed operation of how many vehicles per hour going through the intersection, has not been released as yet.

[timh]

It looks like they will extend the tunnel from Adelaide Street to Grey or Melbourne Street where a new underground station could also be located. The new station will have to be fairly deep though. But that shouldn't be a problem, as many deep stations operate well throughout the world.

I don't know where you're getting that idea from. That would make the Victoria Bridge traffic closure completely redundant. If an underground CC station is ever built, it would look very much like the original Metro design

[verbatim9]

It looks like they will extend the tunnel from Adelaide Street to Grey or Melbourne Street where a new underground station could also be located. The new station will have to be fairly deep though. But that shouldn't be a problem, as many deep stations operate well throughout the world.

I don't know where you're getting that idea from. That would make the Victoria Bridge traffic closure completely redundant. If an underground CC station is ever built, it would look very much like the original Metro design

Buses, cyclists and pedestrian would still use Vic bridge A high capacity metro would not be suited to the current model by 2030.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane Metro CBD tunnelling to start this year

Construction on a tunnel under Adelaide Street for the $1.2 billion Brisbane Metro is expected to begin in late 2021.

The tunnel will allow the metro's electric vehicles travel along Adelaide Street, through to King George Square bus station, while avoiding above-ground buses, pedestrians and general traffic. ...

[nathandavid88]

It looks like they will extend the tunnel from Adelaide Street to Grey or Melbourne Street where a new underground station could also be located. The new station will have to be fairly deep though. But that shouldn't be a problem, as many deep stations operate well throughout the world.

The Adelaide Street Tunnel is not going to be positioned deep enough for that. It will be no deeper underground that the existing busway.

In regards to traffic light phasing who will have the priority? There is still a potential for queuing. The proposed operation of how many vehicles per hour going through the intersection, has not been released as yet.

That's immaterial to aldonius' comment. He's referring to the fact that the three sets of traffic lights buses pass between the Victoria Bridge and Adelaide Street will be reduced to a single set for Brisbane Metro and two for buses. As the majority of traffic through the remaining traffic lights at the Victoria Bridge and North Quay/William Street will be buses, it will just be a case of sifting the buses in different directions, and allowing for pedestrians crossing.

The lights at Grey Street will still be as issue of course. There will be some queuing there while it remains.

[Gazza]

They should switch the positioning of the pedestrian and bike lane crossings at the grey st intersection to allow for a dutch style arrangement.



https://cyclingtips.com/2019/11/melbourne-is-getting-its-first-dutch-style-protected-intersection-for-cyclists/

[verbatim9]

Looks good. There are creative solutions out there

[verbatim9]

Can anyone confirm off hand if off board ticket validation has been scrapped in favour of onboard ticket validation? I am pretty sure this has occured when they decided on the surface Cultural Centre  station. Concerns were raised about fare evasion etc.... Hence it was better to have onboard validation.

[SurfRail]

Wouldn't surprise me if they have decided the back-end is too complicated to make work.  The current system definitely can't cope with somebody touching on onboard and touching off offboard, and how much do we want to wager that they cheaped out with Cubic for the new system?

[achiruel]

From a usability POV, offboard validation should only be used (IMO) if it applies to all vehicles using the busway. Last thing we need is a situation where someone touches on a validator for Metro but a bus comes along first and then they get hit with a fixed fare.