BCC Morningside byelection 20 Jan 2018

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Commuters told to cross the river to escape congestion

Commuters who sit in traffic for up to an hour for a nine-kilometre trip are being told to cross the river into another suburb to escape the congestion.

The congestion for Bulimba peninsula residents travelling to the city has been a talking point in the lead up to the Morningside byelection, with each political party having their own congestion-busting solution.

While the individual ideas from The Greens, Labor and the LNP differ, they all involve crossing the river to inner-city Teneriffe.

On a typical weekday morning, hundreds of residents travel to the Bulimba ferry terminal, but few are wanting to take the 25-minute CityCat trip to the city, instead deciding to take a short trip across the river on the CityCat or cross-river ferry to Teneriffe.

Passengers then catch the high-frequency CityGlider bus from outside the ferry terminal into the city, which is about a 13-minute trip.

Residents are seeking out public transport solutions as Hawthorne, Riding and Wynnum roads have bumper-to-bumper traffic during morning peak-hour.

Labor candidate Kara Cook proposed, as part of her election campaign, making the cross-river ferry a free service.

"The response from residents to our 'Free Bulimba Ferry' petition has been overwhelming," she said.

"Over the past couple of months, we've gathered more than 500 signatures.

"That's clear evidence that a free ferry would get people out of their cars and onto public transport – which is a great result for all local residents."

LNP candidate Melina Morgan committed, if elected, to delivering a "Bulimba Bullet" service, which would be an express bus service departing Teneriffe to the city that would be timed with the arrival of the cross-river ferry.

Ms Morgan said commuters would be charged as normal for the services, and that it was an additional service to run alongside the Blue CityGlider.

Greens candidate Rolf Kuelsen congestion solution was to construct a green bridge connecting Bulimba to Teneriffe.

In May, the RACQ proposed 12 congestion-busting bridges and tunnels for Brisbane, which included a bridge connecting Bulimba and Teneriffe.

The RACQ report said the proposed bridge would be single road lane in each direction with a bike path on one side and footpath on the other, catering for pedestrians, bike riders and buses only.

At the time, the Brisbane City Council did not support buses using the bridge but was supportive of a pedestrian and cycle bridge in principle.

Morningside ward residents will be able to cast their vote for their preferred candidate at polling booths on Saturday.

Booths will open at 8am and close at 6pm.
Polling booth locations:

    Balmoral State High School, 259 Thynne Road, Morningside
    St Johns Anglican Church Hall, 171 Oxford Street, Bulimba
    Bulimba State School, 271 Oxford Street, Bulimba
    School of Arts Hall, Corner Old Cleveland Road and Wiles Street, Camp Hill
    Oliver Plunket Centre, 17 Beauvardia Street, Cannon Hill
    Morningside State School, Pashen Street, Morningside
    Uniting Church Hall, Corner Bennetts Road and McIlwraith Avenue, Norman Park
    Norman Park State School, 53 Hipwood Street, Norman Park
    Seven Hills State School, 152 D'Arcy Road, Seven Hills

[James]

A "free ferry" between Bulimba and Teneriffe would make no difference to most commuters, as they would already pay a one-zone fare to travel on the CityGlider or 199, making the ferry a free transfer.

A lot of inner-city connections are "free" thanks to this.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ECQInfo/status/954492324767154176

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/954758112686129153