Eastern & Northern Transit Ways

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14th February 2020

Northern Transit Way, a part time failure ..

RAIL Back on Track, a web based community group which advocates better public transport has slammed the announcement by Transport Minister Mark Bailey that the new $53 Million Northern Transitway will only operate in the morning and afternoon peaks (1).
If we are to increase the use of public transport in Brisbane, we need to make it a top choice 7 days a week, and stop acting that it's only peak hour travellers that matter.

RAIL Back on Track is losing hope for Brisbane's long term commitment to improving public transport if we can't even set aside a mere 2.3km for 24 hour bus lanes.

Northside travellers are being dudded.

We've gone from a promise of a dedicated busway tunnel from the CBD to Chermside, to a partially built busway with gaps, to bus lanes, and now to bus lanes which only operate part time.

At the end of the day, Gympie Road is one of Brisbane's most important transport corridors, there are only so many lanes on Gympie road, there's not the space to keep widening it, so should be using the limited space the most efficiently.

This means bus lanes, not wasting lanes on parking.

Quite frankly, parking should be accommodated on the land of the business owners that need customer parking.

Failure to provide bus priority on main roads means that buses will be condemned to be slower than driving and public transport use will not significantly improve.

It is a shame that politics has once again trumped proper transport policy.

Contact:

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


1. Planned Northern Transitway bus lane hours scaled back
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/planned-northern-transitway-bus-lane-hours-scaled-back-20200214-p540tn.html

====


Facebook ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1228151729033625600

[nathandavid88]

Business leaders aren't happy either, saying the scale back doesn't go far enough...

Business leaders slam Labor's revised Northern Transitway

State Labor has announced a revision to a controversial transitway plan for Brisbane's northside, leaving business leaders seething, saying they should have been consulted first, adding that it doesn't go far enough to save their livelihood.

BUSINESS leaders have slammed the revised controversial Northern Transitway saying it lacks clarity and that banning parking on both sides of Gympie Rd during peak hour was overkill.

The Labor Government has watered down its $53 million project from a 24/7 Northern Transitway (NT) to a morning (6am-9am) and afternoon (3-6pm) weekday priority busway along a 2.3km section of Gympie Rd.

The revised plans include another set of traffic lights between Kitchener and Rode Rd while on-street parking will be banned 100m either side of bus stops and intersections, according to a statement released today by Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey.

Consign-A-Car owner Yvette Cottrill said she was disappointed that they heard about the changes second hand and many questions remained unanswered.

She said the clearway along Gympie Rd should be directional in line with peak hour traffic flows and the banning of parking either side of intersections and bus stops would hit businesses hard.

"There is a real lack of clarity about banning parking either side of intersections and bus stops," Ms Cottrill said.

"That means banning parking for more than a kilometre or almost half of the section they are creating which is not going to be great for businesses at all."

Kedron newsagent Peter Lincoln, who has been working with Ms Cottrill to fight the NT in its previously proposed format, said the government had banned parking along Gympie Rd by stealth.

"It's basically the same thing when you add up banning morning and afternoon parking and all the 100m sections either side of bus stops and intersections," Mr Lincoln said.

"They've done it covertly and they haven't taken into consideration how this will affect businesses."

The NT is effectively a 24/7 express bus lane that limousines, taxis and cyclists can use, from Sadlier St, Kedron to Hamilton Rd, Chermside. It includes banning of right-hand turns and reducing the lane widths by up half a metre.

The threat of losing on-road parking has EmbroidMe owner Daryl Ragen, who has been in the same store for 13 years, on tenterhooks.

Mr Ragen is now on a month-to-month lease because of the uncertainty surrounding the updated NT Plans and whether parking outside of his Gympie Rd store will be removed.

"If we lose parking then I have to move, that's it," Mr Ragen said.

"Then you have costs associated with the move and you lose business because people see the store is closed and think you've gone out of business. It's going to really hurt us."

Mr Bailey said two bus stops slated for removal near Strathmore Street and Castle Street in Kedron would remain.

"We held a series of community information sessions last year and received 185 pieces of individual feedback on the proposed Northern Transitway plan," Mr Bailey said.

"The main issues raised by the community were the removal of the bus stops and on-street parking.

Under the revised plan, traffic lights will be installed at the Gympie Road-Boothby Street intersection, including a right-turn lane and U-turn.

'No parking' areas near bus stops and intersections on Gympie Road will be extended by up to 100 metres to improve priority access for buses."

Five intersections will be converted to left-in and left-out only access to improve safety and traffic flow on Gympie Road – a proposal retained from the original plan.

The banning of non-signalised right-hand turns is likely to result in property values affected streets would suffer, according to real estate experts.

The LNP has vowed it stop the project if it wins the State election in October while Ms Hammond said the LNP council also opposed the project.

She said the State Government's priority should be addressing the congestion at the corner of Hamilton Rd and Gympie Rd where Westfield Chermside is located.

"As a councillor you look after your Ward despite what is happening at state level," Ms Hammond said.

"The real congestion point is Hamilton and Gympie Roads intersection, the State's priority should be spending the $53 million on fixing this choke point".

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/business-leaders-slam-labors-revised-northern-transitway/news-story/d35b5ce67b1211581e6dd3104934a24a

[Paul B]

Was there this level of Nimby'ism when Garden City's underground station was built? (I wasn't living in Bris at the time)
If this was really about finding the cheapest band-aid option then surely a bus-only right turn for buses entering Chermside at Gympie rd/Bouchard St would be an idea?

[Cazza]

Let's be real here. Why should the 10,000s of commuters using Gympie Rd everyday be held back by a handful of NIMBYs trying to use a sob story to tug at the heart strings of people and make a huge fuss just to get their way? I'm sorry mate, but no one really cares about the fact you're on a month to month lease supposedly because you are uncertain of the future. That's the risk of business (and becoming a franchisee which I would assume he has done considering the business model).

We can't protect every single business otherwise our economy would become so inefficient and nothing would progress. And if your business is of such high quality and you have a solid point of difference, then for the majority of your customers, it would not matter if you lost a few car spaces out the front- they will still come.

So please, I speak on behalf of 99.99% of Brisbane northside residents here when I say "shut up and please let progress happen".

[timh]

Let's be real here. Why should the 10,000s of commuters using Gympie Rd everyday be held back by a handful of NIMBYs trying to use a sob story to tug at the heart strings of people and make a huge fuss just to get their way? I'm sorry mate, but no one really cares about the fact you're on a month to month lease supposedly because you are uncertain of the future. That's the risk of business (and becoming a franchisee which I would assume he has done considering the business model).

We can't protect every single business otherwise our economy would become so inefficient and nothing would progress. And if your business is of such high quality and you have a solid point of difference, then for the majority of your customers, it would not matter if you lost a few car spaces out the front- they will still come.

So please, I speak on behalf of 99.99% of Brisbane northside residents here when I say "shut up and please let progress happen".

Well said!!!!

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2020/2/14/community-drives-changes-to-gympie-road-bus-plan

Media Statements

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Friday, February 14, 2020

Community drives changes to Gympie Road bus plan

The Palaszczuk Government has backed community calls to keep bus stops and on-street parking in its plan to cut bus travel times on Gympie Road.

The Northern Transitway proposed to remove on-street parking on Gympie Road between Sadlier Street and Hamilton Road for 24/7 bus lanes.

The bus lanes are expected to cut up to six minutes off bus travel times for about 5000 passengers during the weekday peak.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said bus lane hours in both directions would be pegged back to weekday peak periods only, between 6am-9am and 3pm-6pm.

He said two bus stops slated for removal near Strathmore Street and Castle Street in Kedron would also stay.

"We held a series of community information sessions last year and received 185 pieces of individual feedback on the proposed Northern Transitway plan," Mr Bailey said.

"The main issues raised by the community were the removal of the bus stops and on-street parking.

"The changes mean commuters will still enjoy quicker travel during the high demand peak periods, while Gympie Road businesses will keep on-street parking for their customers for large parts of the day and all day on weekends."

Under the revised plan, traffic lights will be installed at the Gympie Road-Boothby Street intersection, including a right-turn lane and U-turn.

'No parking' areas near bus stops and intersections on Gympie Road will be extended by up to 100 metres to improve priority access for buses.

Five intersections will be converted to left-in and left-out only access to improve safety and traffic flow on Gympie Road – a proposal retained from the original plan.

Emergency vehicles will also be able to use the bus lanes.

Member for Stafford Dr Anthony Lynham said he was pleased TMR's project team had accounted for the community's views in their final plan.

"Cutting travel times for thousands of northside commuters was a commitment the Palaszczuk Government went to the 2017 election with," Dr Lynham said.

"This plan still delivers on that commitment, but it also shows we listen to locals when we plan these projects.

"The parking and bus stops issues were repeatedly raised with me by residents at meetings and in phone calls and emails, so I'm glad those aspects have been considered and compromises reached.

"Deb Frecklington and the LNP claim they want to bust congestion but they've already promised to cut this project.

"If they cut the transitway, what's their plan to deal with northside congestion?

"About 70,000 motorists drive that stretch of Gympie Road every day, and the RACQ regularly lists it as one of the worst spots for nose to tail crashes because of the congestion.

"The LNP will cut it and we'll waste more years with no action while Gympie Road get worse.

"We're ready to start construction on the transitway this year."

Tenders for the project are expected to be released next month, with the project supporting almost 90 jobs during construction.

For more information about the Northern Transitway project, visit tmr.qld.gov.au and search for 'Northern Transitway'.

ENDS

[ozbob]

" half baked .. " 

We do it so well in banana-land ...

[Paul B]

Does that mean a vote for LNP is a vote for a fully-fledged busway? 

[ozbob]

Does that mean a vote for LNP is a vote for a fully-fledged busway? 

That would be the logical response by the LNP to snooker the ALP ... 

[techblitz]

He said two bus stops slated for removal near Strathmore Street and Castle Street in Kedron would also stay.

That new coles has amplified crossway road traffic hugely where those two sts intersect on gympie rd.....further delaying already delayed buses......weekends are particularly atrocious...

[#Metro]

This is a classic loss aversion response.

How many minutes were foregone by keeping parking etc? It's a major road, parking can be sorted elsewhere.

In cognitive psychology and decision theory, loss aversion refers to people's tendency to prefer avoiding losses to acquiring equivalent gains: it is better to not lose $5 than to find $5.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loss_aversion

[Old Northern Road]

Does that mean a vote for LNP is a vote for a fully-fledged busway? 

If it is then it is another reason not to vote for the LNP

[timh]

Does that mean a vote for LNP is a vote for a fully-fledged busway? 

If it is then it is another reason not to vote for the LNP

Why do you not want a fully fledged busway???

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Gazza]

I wouldn't mind a busway, but darn its an expensive option

[Paul B]

I can't see them doing a busway,  but a busway station at Chermside shops would be nice. 

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 17th February 2020 page 13

Northern Transitway, a part-time failure

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1229114612924071936

[James]

This is such a disappointment. The Northern Transitway was meant to operate like a busway - a highly visible, 24/7 corridor with only one stopping pattern, buses separated from traffic and priority signalling, providing significant 'bang for buck' given the low capital expenditure.

Having it operate in peak hour only means out of peak, buses are pulling in and out of traffic, increasing travel times and decreasing safety. Oh to have a Labor government with a spine. Can we get Daniel Andrews up here and let him run the state please?

He said two bus stops slated for removal near Strathmore Street and Castle Street in Kedron would also stay.

So we're going to have two stops in each direction only 400m from each other? Wasn't this project meant to be a good opportunity for stop rationalisation? Not saying this stop should go - in fact perhaps this stop should become the new express stop and the Kitchener Road stop removed. A supermarket tends to be a more frequent trip generator than a cemetery.

That would be the logical response by the LNP to snooker the ALP ... 

Agree - I can see the ads now. "Don't get conned by Bailey's Half-Baked Busway - Only the LNP will deliver a busway to Chermside." No pressure to deliver as they haven't been in government for most of the past 30 years.

[ozbob]

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/petition-details?id=3305

Queensland Parliament

Eastern Transitway  E-petition

TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House that in 2017 the South East Queensland Council of Mayors identified the Top Ten Most Critical Infrastructure Projects in South East Queensland. The Eastern Busway to Capalaba (a dedicated corridor that separates buses from general traffic) was designated #5 in this list. However in November 2017 (immediately prior to the last State Election) the Palaszczuk Government promised the electorate they would deliver the Eastern Transitway, which is a 5-intersection, watered-down version of the full Eastern Busway. As yet, the promise to deliver the lesser Eastern Transitway has not been honoured. The residents of the Redlands continue to suffer gridlocked traffic conditions on a daily basis. Since 2008, when Anna Bligh announced the Busway designer, population growth in the Redlands alone has increased by more than 15% (over 20,000 people). Some 12 years later, the Eastern Busway project remains stalled at Coorparoo.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to acknowledge the immense difficulties faced by residents of Redlands coast and the eastern suburbs of Brisbane as a result of the failure to deliver either the Eastern Transitway or the Eastern Busway. As the community deserves fast, frequent and reliable public transport, we furthermore request the House identify this Eastern Transitway project as being overdue, and to prioritise it's delivery in order to ease congestion for residents of Redlands coast and the eastern suburbs of Brisbane.

[ozbob]

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2020/413-2020.pdf

Question on Notice No. 413

Asked on Tuesday 19 May 2020

DR M ROBINSON ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M
BAILEY)

QUESTION:

With reference to the government's commitment to upgrading 5 intersections on the Eastern
Busway in this term of Parliament—
Will the Minister advise the status of this project given construction has not yet begun, and when
will construction be completed for this election promise?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Oodgeroo for the question.

I note that the Member for Oodgeroo represented the electorate of Cleveland in the previous LNP
Government. I also note that while the previous government was in office, it did not invest in
crucial congestion-busting projects like the Eastern Transitway. Instead they cut $600 million from
transport infrastructure in Queensland.

In contrast to the previous government, the Palaszczuk Government is investing in the delivery
of the Eastern Transitway. This cost-effective solution will improve priority for public transport
along Old Cleveland Road, from Coorparoo to Carindale, and aims to extend the benefits of the
operating sections of the Eastern Busway.

To reduce impacts to the community during construction, the project will be delivered using a
staged approach, with Stage 1 being prioritised. Stage 1 is located on Old Cleveland Road
between Carindale Street and Narracott Street.

Community consultation to nearby Stage 1 residents and businesses began in late 2019, with
wider community consultation on the Stage 1 draft design to be released in the coming weeks.
Start of construction on Stage 1 is scheduled to begin over the coming months, with completion
estimated in 2021, subject to Brisbane City Council (BCC) approvals.

As Old Cleveland Road is a BCC-controlled road, the Department of Transport and Main Roads
is working closely with BCC during the design and delivery phases of this project.

[ozbob]

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/petition-details?id=3305

Queensland Parliament

Eastern Transitway  E-petition

TO: The Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

Queensland residents draws to the attention of the House that in 2017 the South East Queensland Council of Mayors identified the Top Ten Most Critical Infrastructure Projects in South East Queensland. The Eastern Busway to Capalaba (a dedicated corridor that separates buses from general traffic) was designated #5 in this list. However in November 2017 (immediately prior to the last State Election) the Palaszczuk Government promised the electorate they would deliver the Eastern Transitway, which is a 5-intersection, watered-down version of the full Eastern Busway. As yet, the promise to deliver the lesser Eastern Transitway has not been honoured. The residents of the Redlands continue to suffer gridlocked traffic conditions on a daily basis. Since 2008, when Anna Bligh announced the Busway designer, population growth in the Redlands alone has increased by more than 15% (over 20,000 people). Some 12 years later, the Eastern Busway project remains stalled at Coorparoo.

Your petitioners, therefore, request the House to acknowledge the immense difficulties faced by residents of Redlands coast and the eastern suburbs of Brisbane as a result of the failure to deliver either the Eastern Transitway or the Eastern Busway. As the community deserves fast, frequent and reliable public transport, we furthermore request the House identify this Eastern Transitway project as being overdue, and to prioritise it's delivery in order to ease congestion for residents of Redlands coast and the eastern suburbs of Brisbane.

^ response

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/apps/E-Petitions/Home/DownloadResponse/a6519af1-0272-4e87-837f-cec1bae5b755

I refer to petition number 3305-20 lodged with the Legislative Assembly by
Dr Mark Robinson MP, Member for Oodgeroo on 19 May 2020 about the Eastern transitway.
I note that the Member for Oodgeroo represented the electorate of Cleveland in the previous
LNP Government. I also note that, while the previous Government was in office, it did not invest
in crucial congestion busting projects like the Eastern Transitway. Instead it cut $600 million
from transport infrastructure in Queensland.

In contrast to the previous Government, the Palaszczuk Government is investing in the delivery
of the Eastern Transitway. This cost-effective solution will improve priority for public transport
along Old Cleveland Road, from Coorparoo to Carindale, and aims to extend the benefits of
the operating sections of the Eastern Busway.

The Eastern Transitway project will be delivered using a staged approach to maximise the
public transport benefits, while minimising community impact. Stage 1 will focus on the Creek
Road intersection and extend along Old Cleveland Road to Narracott Street. Stage 1
construction is scheduled to commence in the coming months, with completion estimated in
2021, subject to Brisbane City Council approvals.

Consultation with the community in the vicinity of Stage 1 began in late 2019, with further
information on the design to be made available in the coming weeks. Community members
can be kept up-to-date on the Eastern Transitway, or participate in the two-week community
consultation, via the project's web page at www.tmr.qld.gov.au and click (1) 'Projects',
(2) 'Projects by name – E', then (3) 'Eastern Transitway'. Feedback is also welcome and can
be submitted to the project team by email at metropolitanregion@tmr.qld.gov.au.

The Queensland Government continues to protect the busway corridor between Coorparoo,
Carindale and Capalaba to support future bus network enhancements. The Department of
Transport and Main Roads monitors passenger transport demand and service reliability
along the Old Cleveland Road corridor between Redlands and Brisbane to inform future
investment priorities.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Yours sincerely
MARK BAILEY MP
Minister for Transport and Main Roads

[achiruel]

Does that mean a vote for LNP is a vote for a fully-fledged busway? 

The chances of the LNP building a full busway are less than me winning the lottery. Say what you will about their performance in other states, but the Qld conservatives HATE public transport with a passion.

[Gazza]

I note that the Member for Oodgeroo represented the electorate of Cleveland in the previous
LNP Government. I also note that, while the previous Government was in office, it did not invest
in crucial congestion busting projects like the Eastern Transitway.

So because citizens Oodgeroo missed out on infrastructure in 2015, they should keep missing out in 2020?

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> State Government open Eastern Transitway upgrade for community consultation

A $30 million state government project to tackle congestion in Brisbane's east is finally here, three years after it was announced.

Works will start on the first stage of the Eastern Transitway, which was announced by Labor during the 2017 State Election, in November.

The transitway was created as an interim solution to the stalled Eastern Busway project to provide bus priority lanes on Old Cleveland Rd between Carindale and Coorparoo to reduce bus travel times and increase patronage.

Stage one of the project will see targeted bus and active transport upgrades along Old Cleveland Rd between Carindale and Narracott streets.

State Member for Capalaba Don Brown said would improve travel times for drivers and the 8000 commuters and 430 bus services who travel along the road during peak periods.

"Thousands of people take the bus to and from the city every day," Mr Brown said.

"As our community grows, the proposed design will provide separate lanes for buses and cars, allowing for freer-flowing traffic and better reliability on our buses.

"Not only is there a benefit for commuters, by separating the traffic you'll also ensure buses don't block other vehicles while stopping to pick up commuters.

"We've also expanded the scope and funding of the project to make the road safer for bikers too, with a new, 3m-wide, shared path, and on-road, bike-lane improvements."

But residents of Brisbane east and Redlands will have the chance to provide feedback on the upgrade first with an online survey now available until July 12 for people to have their say.

State Member for Chatsworth and Shadow Minister for Transport and Main Roads Steve Minnikin said the project was supposed to be finished this month according to Labor's 2017 election commitment.

"It's now three years late and all of a sudden it has become a 'priority' for lazy local Labor MPs," he said.

"The Eastern Transitway has been stuck in the slow lane for too long and is another broken promise from Labor."

State Member for Greenslopes Joe Kelly said when works start, the project would create close to 50 jobs.

"Our community wants more incentives to take public transport," he said.

"Projects like this, the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail and $371 million smart ticketing project are part of the Palaszczuk Government's commitment to creating more transport infrastructure for Queenslanders."

To have your say or for more information visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au and search Eastern Transitway.

^ lazy journalism

Eastern Transitway

https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/E/Eastern-Transitway

[timh]

Couriermail Quest --> State Government open Eastern Transitway upgrade for community consultation

A $30 million state government project to tackle congestion in Brisbane's east is finally here, three years after it was announced.

Works will start on the first stage of the Eastern Transitway, which was announced by Labor during the 2017 State Election, in November.

The transitway was created as an interim solution to the stalled Eastern Busway project to provide bus priority lanes on Old Cleveland Rd between Carindale and Coorparoo to reduce bus travel times and increase patronage.

Stage one of the project will see targeted bus and active transport upgrades along Old Cleveland Rd between Carindale and Narracott streets.

State Member for Capalaba Don Brown said would improve travel times for drivers and the 8000 commuters and 430 bus services who travel along the road during peak periods.

"Thousands of people take the bus to and from the city every day," Mr Brown said.

"As our community grows, the proposed design will provide separate lanes for buses and cars, allowing for freer-flowing traffic and better reliability on our buses.

"Not only is there a benefit for commuters, by separating the traffic you'll also ensure buses don't block other vehicles while stopping to pick up commuters.

"We've also expanded the scope and funding of the project to make the road safer for bikers too, with a new, 3m-wide, shared path, and on-road, bike-lane improvements."

But residents of Brisbane east and Redlands will have the chance to provide feedback on the upgrade first with an online survey now available until July 12 for people to have their say.

State Member for Chatsworth and Shadow Minister for Transport and Main Roads Steve Minnikin said the project was supposed to be finished this month according to Labor's 2017 election commitment.

"It's now three years late and all of a sudden it has become a 'priority' for lazy local Labor MPs," he said.

"The Eastern Transitway has been stuck in the slow lane for too long and is another broken promise from Labor."

State Member for Greenslopes Joe Kelly said when works start, the project would create close to 50 jobs.

"Our community wants more incentives to take public transport," he said.

"Projects like this, the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail and $371 million smart ticketing project are part of the Palaszczuk Government's commitment to creating more transport infrastructure for Queenslanders."

To have your say or for more information visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au and search Eastern Transitway.

^ lazy journalism

Eastern Transitway

https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/E/Eastern-Transitway

Wow, a route map that goes for about a kilometre. Good job TMR. Took you three years huh?

My feedback: bite the bullet, build the busway.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Gazza]

I can fully understand not building the tunnels around coorparoo etc, but the section around Carindale has no excuse not to be a flyover and inline bus station as per the original plans.
This would save so much time compared to looping in and out of the interchange

[timh]

I can fully understand not building the tunnels around coorparoo etc, but the section around Carindale has no excuse not to be a flyover and inline bus station as per the original plans.
This would save so much time compared to looping in and out of the interchange

Yeah I can sympathise there. Those tunnelled sections would be incredibly expensive so if you wanted to stage the project, you could build those at a later time. But there's whole sections of the original busway design that actually wouldn't be too difficult to implement, like the Carindale bit as you've said. If they ever decide to do anything beyond Carindale though (not really needed right now), since it's mostly median running they may as well just build it like that properly the first time.

[SurfRail]

This is an utter waste of time.  It doesn't even traverse a particularly busy stretch of road relative to the much more congested stretches inbound of Bennetts Road and Leicester Street.

[Gazza]

But there's whole sections of the original busway design that actually wouldn't be too difficult to implement

Basically, there's 16km remaining to build.

8km of that is from Scrub Rd to Capalaba and yeah theres some bridges, but it's reasonably greenfield, and in the scheme of things could have actually been the cheapest part if you wanted to look like you were doing something, especially if you did an enormous P&R at Chandler.

1.4km from Scrub Rd to Carindale id say would be ok , I would have said just building it on the southern side of the road would have sufficed, similar to what you see at Carrara.

2.2km to Orwell st through Carina should be built as per original plans, no excuse.

That leaves a mere 3.5km "missing link" to langlands park.

TLDR you could build 11.6km of the design as proper busway without too much problem IMO.

[ozbob]

In 2012–13, Infrastructure Australia recommended that the Brisbane TransitWays – Northern and Eastern initiative be moved from 'New Submission' status to 'Threshold' on the Infrastructure Priority List.

This project replaces Queensland's prior Eastern Busway project, and seeks to modify existing road space to provide new bus lanes in the northern and eastern corridors of Brisbane.

Brisbane Transit Ways Project Brief

https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-06/QLD_Brisbane_TransitWays_Brief_0.pdf

[timh]

But there's whole sections of the original busway design that actually wouldn't be too difficult to implement

Basically, there's 16km remaining to build.

8km of that is from Scrub Rd to Capalaba and yeah theres some bridges, but it's reasonably greenfield, and in the scheme of things could have actually been the cheapest part if you wanted to look like you were doing something, especially if you did an enormous P&R at Chandler.

1.4km from Scrub Rd to Carindale id say would be ok , I would have said just building it on the southern side of the road would have sufficed, similar to what you see at Carrara.

2.2km to Orwell st through Carina should be built as per original plans, no excuse.

That leaves a mere 3.5km "missing link" to langlands park.

TLDR you could build 11.6km of the design as proper busway without too much problem IMO.

If you wanted to do that section between Scrub Road and Carindale the way you stated, I'd still want full busway-style stations though, not just on-road stops.
And yes the sections that cover the tramway are also very doable.
The problem with the sections beyond Carindale is that arguably the current traffic doesn't justify the need for a separate bus ROW.
BUT

All that being said, I think one thing that is not mentioned enough when it comes to the building of these busways is the notion of building high-quality mass transit to induce demand. Sure the journey times on a lot of the Eastern busway sections (should they be constructed) may only be marginally better than just running in on-road buslanes, but having a dedicated corridor with flashy high quality stations, highly legible routes etc. makes people more inclined to use it.

Something about that could be added to your proposed statement in the other thread if you like (I'm sure you can word it better than me though)

[JimmyP]

Why does Queensland/Australia insist on busways that have massive, expensive rail-style stations etc?
Take a look at the busways around Almere, Netherlands for an example. The busways are literally bus-only roads with normal bus stops and shelters. It's really all that is needed in most cases outside the city area where extra infrastructure like tunnels etc are required. So much simpler, easier and a hell of a lot cheaper!

[timh]

Why does Queensland/Australia insist on busways that have massive, expensive rail-style stations etc?
Take a look at the busways around Almere, Netherlands for an example. The busways are literally bus-only roads with normal bus stops and shelters. It's really all that is needed in most cases outside the city area where extra infrastructure like tunnels etc are required. So much simpler, easier and a hell of a lot cheaper!

Because of the reasons I said above. Essentially they SHOULD be treated like rail-style stations. The better facilities and increased visibility are part of creating the appeal to the passenger to get them to use it. The larger infrastructure also allows them to more easily brand and run these "metro" branded services with bi-artics etc.

Basically our busways are like mini-railways, and I think its for the better. The construction cost at the outlay may be more expensive but I think that you get very good passenger outcomes. There are other cities that have similar networks to ours, like Xiamen in China or Bogota in Colombia

[Gazza]

Why does Queensland/Australia insist on busways that have massive, expensive rail-style stations etc?
Take a look at the busways around Almere, Netherlands for an example. The busways are literally bus-only roads with normal bus stops and shelters. It's really all that is needed in most cases outside the city area where extra infrastructure like tunnels etc are required. So much simpler, easier and a hell of a lot cheaper!

The question is, why is the type of station mode specific? Why do heavy rail stations need such big structures?

That all said, I do think the busway stations are perhaps a little overbuilt and that design Of the lift shafts with a staircase wrapping around the outside, plus the big wide roofs is too expensive for what is needed.

Personally, i think the design seen at Dinmore and Alderley is an appropriate overbridge design.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

Eastern Transitway stage 1 plans a major disappointment

30th June 2020

RAIL Back On Track, a community group that supports public transport in SEQ have described the proposed Eastern Transitway Stage 1 plans as a major disappointment.

Progress on the Eastern busway/transitway has been agonizingly slow, and both sides of government have let down commuters.

The first section of the busway, 1 km stretch from Buranda to Langlands Park opened in August 2011.
Now, almost 9 years later we are finally seeing the earliest plans for next 1km stretch - painted bus lanes on the existing shoulder for a short distance around the Creek Road intersection.

With 17km to build all up, it's clear the progress is at a snails pace and this overly piecemeal approach is unacceptable for everyone.

Commuters were originally promised a fully grade separated high speed busway to Carindale and Capalaba running in tunnels and over bridges, unimpeded by traffic. This morphed to become a 'cheaper' and 'quicker' option of bus lanes on the road.
But even this cheaper faster option has not been delivered.

RAIL Back On Track questions if this approach is even the right one.
We accept the section from Langlands Park to Camp Hill will have challenges due to the tunneling required.

However, there is no excuse for Camp Hill to Carindale to not be built as a proper busway from day 1. There is a generous easement in the middle of Old Cleveland Road that can fit a busway and stations, and at Creek Road, there should be no problem in building a flyover for buses to smoothly bring commuters in to a new station located at the site of the current park and ride at Carindale.

Similarly, the section from the Gateway to Capalaba is all overground, and should have been built years ago.

The eastern suburbs of Brisbane have become a black hole when it comes to investment in public transport.
We understand that there are competing transport priorities across the state, but with a non existent busway, and no urgency on duplicating the Cleveland line, the east is clearly not a priority whatsoever.

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

References:

Eastern Transitway
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/E/Eastern-Transitway

Infrastructure Australia: Brisbane Transit Ways Project Brief 2012-13
https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-06/QLD_Brisbane_TransitWays_Brief_0.pdf

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1277811578222505985

[ozbob]

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[Gazza]

I just measured, the outbound lane is less than 400m long 

[verbatim9]

I just measured, the outbound lane is less than 400m long 

It's hardly worth talking about being only 400m long. The Government should of just waited until they could complete a few KMs of transitway. Like the Bikeway projects in the East only 500-750m long. Disappointing really.