Olympics 2032 - public transport

[ozbob]

Hello Sunshine Mag  Sep 2021

Slow Road to Fast Rail

With Brisbane being awarded the 2032 Olympic Games, fast Rail to Brisbane is needed more than ever, as Jennifer Swaine explains.

I first visited the Sunshine Coast in 1996 as my parents had decided the beautiful Sunshine Coast was where they wanted to retire. My husband and I were completely taken with the beauty of the region with its breathtaking beaches, magical hinterland, and many small bustling, bespoke villages, each within an easy drive of each other. I could not believe that this piece of paradise had somehow escaped my attention. ...

[verbatim9]

Brisbane Times---> Wheels turn for 2032 Olympics and Paralympics to be 'car-free Games.

The 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in south-east Queensland are already being planned as a "car-free" event, Brisbane's lord mayor Adrian Schrinner says.

"Even this far out we can quite clearly say that this will be a car-free Games when it comes to the venues," Cr Schrinner said on Friday.

"They will be added to the deal down the track and that will include things like faster rail, things like improved transport and road upgrades."

However, Cr Schrinner and Toowoomba mayor Paul Antonio – whose region is proposed to be connected by a future passenger Fast Rail – said faster train travel remained important.

"Faster rail is critical for the growth of our region and that is not just for the Games, Cr Schrinner said.

"We will always see faster rail as being an important part of this plan."

[Cazza]

Car free? These rail projects don't build themselves overnight. We can't even fix a broken bus network, let alone expect have Brisbane turn into this public transport haven for 2 weeks. Good luck getting spectators down to near Beaudesert for canoeing (?) without them wanting to use there cars. Our public transport network is built on park n rides, creating a "car-dependant" public transport network (in simple terms, unsustainable and undesirable).

We need a massive cultural shift from both our leaders and the general population to be able to pull anything like this off. Our leaders must lead with actions not words, work together between different levels of government and experts and show the rest of us how it's done.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Wheels turn for 2032 Olympics and Paralympics to be 'car-free Games' $

The 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in south-east Queensland are already being planned as a "car-free" event, Brisbane's lord mayor Adrian Schrinner says.

"Even this far out we can quite clearly say that this will be a car-free Games when it comes to the venues," Cr Schrinner said on Friday.

"People won't be driving and parking at the venues.

"That is not going to work. We need better public transport and better mobility to make sure we can ferry people to and from the Games.

"We will be learning from other cities to see how they have done it and how we can make it work here in south-east Queensland."

On Friday, the Council of Mayors (SEQ) issued an Olympic-size wake-up call to Games organisers to put politics aside and get transport projects moving. ...

A transport planning group is expected to be set up under the Brisbane Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, which will pass State Parliament by the end of the year. ...

[ozbob]

Let's Get Moving! SEQ Mayors urge action on transport and liveability in time for 2032

South East Queensland's Mayors have joined forces to call for urgent action on key transport and liveability projects in time for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympics Games.

https://seqmayors.qld.gov.au/news/lets-get-moving-seq-mayors-urge-action-on-transport-and-liveability-in-time-for-2032-20211104

[verbatim9]

Let's Get Moving! SEQ Mayors urge action on transport and liveability in time for 2032

South East Queensland's Mayors have joined forces to call for urgent action on key transport and liveability projects in time for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympics Games.

https://seqmayors.qld.gov.au/news/lets-get-moving-seq-mayors-urge-action-on-transport-and-liveability-in-time-for-2032-20211104

Sounds very similar to Let's get Wellington Moving.

[ozbob]

" ... A transport planning group is expected to be set up under the Brisbane Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, which will pass State Parliament by the end of the year. ... "


To be frank,  I think Olympics 2032 public transport will be much like the 2018 Commonwealth Games arrangements but more of it.

Buses, with restricted train timetables to support other lines. 

As far as major transport infrastructure improvements, I don't think there will be much in the end.

To be honest, I have not much confidence in the clowns that infiltrate Big Willy and like domains.   With good reason I might add.

[ozbob]

In the real world ... the challenge ....

[ozbob]

"Public transport games"

[kram0]

We won't even come close to doing what London did on the transport front, no one has the long term vision needed. 

[ozbob]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-08/qld-olympic-climate-positive-brisbane-2032-games-commitment/100598202

...  Brisbane has also proposed using a predominantly electric-powered Games fleet and will aim to have more than 90 per cent of athletes and spectators use public transport to attend events. ...

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/SEQMayors/status/1457476712233529344

[Cazza]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-08/qld-olympic-climate-positive-brisbane-2032-games-commitment/100598202

...  Brisbane has also proposed using a predominantly electric-powered Games fleet and will aim to have more than 90 per cent of athletes and spectators use public transport to attend events. ...

Gone from 100% car free to 90% in just a few days! It's not looking good guys.

Until we see serious investment put towards fast rail and significant network overhauls (heck, we can't even get bus lanes down some of our most congested corridors), it's really not looking positive.

We need strong leadership and cooperation. But what's going on with the Metro at the Cultural Centre between Council and State really just shows how far we have to come to get outcomes for the population, not just the election cycle.

[ozbob]

[timh]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-11-08/qld-olympic-climate-positive-brisbane-2032-games-commitment/100598202

...  Brisbane has also proposed using a predominantly electric-powered Games fleet and will aim to have more than 90 per cent of athletes and spectators use public transport to attend events. ...

Gone from 100% car free to 90% in just a few days! It's not looking good guys.

Until we see serious investment put towards fast rail and significant network overhauls (heck, we can't even get bus lanes down some of our most congested corridors), it's really not looking positive.

We need strong leadership and cooperation. But what's going on with the Metro at the Cultural Centre between Council and State really just shows how far we have to come to get outcomes for the population, not just the election cycle.

All of this talk by Schrinner in the last few days does come across as desperate yes....

I generally find Schrinner and BCC's public transport and urban planning policies to be ambitious and somewhat admirable on paper, but in execution it rarely works out the way it should.
Some examples include the shamozzle between BCC and State Gov with the Metro project as Cazza said.
-Also BCC constantly begging for more Busway infrastructure and the State Gov not delivering
-BCC wanting "Subtropical" architecture and green buildings in the city, which is admirable and very green on paper but developers often just use it as Greenwashing and generally only encourages more "luxury" developments
-Also BCC's tendency to approve developments in the inner city that go way above the planning allowances for building height, proximity to property boundary, etc.
-Also BCC sprouting about how important infill development is but then the recent move to disallow subdivisions in suburbs like Sunnybank, etc.
- Also BCC's weird theme park ideas for Victoria park
Etc. etc. etc. You get the idea.

If you gave Schrinner the money and power you may well see a lot more of these transport projects come to fruition, but as a mayor all he can do is cry poor.

I'm actually quite surprised you see him prattling on about Fast Rail for the Olympics when there's much greater low hanging fruit he should be tackling that actually fall within the BCC boundary.
Most notably, the Eastern Busway and Doomben rail Extensions.
Sleeman Sports complex is within the BCC boundary, is going to be a host of a huge number of Olympic Events, and is right on the Eastern Busway corridor and has a major busway station planned AT THE COMPLEX. Yet I don't hear Schrinner and SEQ Council of Mayors talking about it at all!
And Hamilton being the site of the Olympic village, again within BCC boundaries, with a gazetted rail corridor, you'd think would also be high priority, especially for moving athletes supposedly "Car free", but again, nothing from SEQ Council of Mayors.

I would also love to see some emphasis placed on running special event Train services to Boondall station for BEC. This is something I think they should have been doing for years, especially for concerts. When a show finishes there at like 11pm, there are hardly enough train services to make it an attractive option for patrons, so everyone just drives, creating huge gridlock getting out of there.
BEC is due to be an Olympic venue so you would hope there could be some catalyst for change here. I know the plan is to move most of the big touring shows to Brisbane Live, but due to the attractiveness of the truck freight movements in and out of Boondall (much easier than Roma Street), I still see a world where BEC is used for Touring shows in addition to Brisbane Live. Similar to how QSAC is still used for the occasional show despite Suncorp being the much nicer, more connected, and more centrally located option.

[Cazza]

Add BCC increasing the parking minimum for 2 bedroom multiple dwellings to 2 required car parking spaces (instead of 1) in 2019 to that list. Yet, dwelling houses and dual occupancy (you know, those built in lower density areas further away from key centres) are still only 1 car space for a 2 bedroom place. How do we create a less car dependant society if ridiculous parking minimums are increased for apartments which are encouraged to be built in central locations? They say one thing but do the complete opposite.

[Jonno]

BCC Planning (have a look at any Request for Further Information on a DA) seeks to reduce density to "fit into the surrounding detached housing" (even adjacent to a railway station), maximise car parking and frequently have extremely poor interface/interaction at the ground level.   Lots of developments have nothing but services and car parking on the ground floor and many have 2-3 levels of car parking above the ground floor making the casual observation of the street by the development neigh on impossible. 

The planning on the conversion of large institution sites also demonstration this "no impact to existing development" with the inward facing developments that ignore good TOD Planning principles.

The City Plan is stuck in the 1980's.

As for the road construction it is focused on prioritising cars and frequently forgets pedestrians, cyclists and even street trees.  The are over-engineered speed ways.

[ozbob]

Redland City Bulletin --> Redland City Mayor Karen Williams urges action on transport and liveability in time for 2032 Olympics

Mayor Karen Williams has today thrown her weight behind an effort to force urgent action on key transport projects in time for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

South East Queensland's mayors launched the Let's Get Moving! campaign in Brisbane today, in a quest to begin planning on major projects and have them completed in time for the Games.

Cr Williams said the campaign highlights the pressing need to get started on many Redlands projects needed to host the Olympics.

Redlands will host canoe slalom events for the 2032 Olympics at a whitewater centre to be built at Birkdale.

Cr Williams said the Council of Mayors started the bidding process for the 2032 Games to put a deadline on building the roads, bridges and rail the region would need for the next 20 years and beyond. ...

[verbatim9]

https://twitter.com/7NewsGoldCoast/status/1458338949127028739

[verbatim9]

^^Proposed fast cats and autonomous flying taxis to replace failed fast rail plans.

[verbatim9]

https://twitter.com/7NewsGoldCoast/status/1458338949127028739

^^Proposed fast cats and autonomous flying taxis to replace failed fast rail plans.

What a joke

[#Metro]

The mayor has made a radical proposal calling for a "fast cat" to link the Gold Coast and Brisbane via water. He believes it could take just 35 minutes and replace plans for a fast rail now unlikely before the 2032 Olympics.

I think RBOT might need to meet with GCCC re public transport  and someone needs to give him "The Book".

https://humantransit.org/book

[verbatim9]

The mayor has made a radical proposal calling for a "fast cat" to link the Gold Coast and Brisbane via water. He believes it could take just 35 minutes and replace plans for a fast rail now unlikely before the 2032 Olympics.

I think RBOT might need to meet with GCCC re public transport  and someone needs to give him "The Book".

https://humantransit.org/book

I was on the Gold coast last weekend. Everyone just drives compared with people catching public transport and cycling. Hence the emphasis on the second M1. (Coomera connection).

It's the layout, where businesses are located and urban sprawl of the coast which is the problem.

[SteelPan]

Between Dreamer Tate and Stone Age Bailey...Qld remains on the slow-train to nowhere!   

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsSC/status/1460523868221632512

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1461498396636639234

[ozbob]

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/93838

Woolloongabba Cross River Rail development to factor in Olympic legacy

19th November 2021

JOINT STATEMENT

Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and Minister Assisting the Premier on Olympics Infrastructure
The Honourable Dr Steven Miles

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Preparations for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games have taken another step forward with the planning arrangements around the future Woolloongabba Cross River Rail station and Games master planning activities to be linked.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development Steven Miles said the planning arrangements would deliver a super connected precinct and support the Gabba as the proposed main stadium when Queensland hosts the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"Most of the planning for the Priority Development Area (PDA) took place before Brisbane was confirmed as the host city for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games," Mr Miles said.

"Brisbane's bid was helped enormously because we are already building Cross River Rail and most of the venues are already built or will be temporary.

"But because the 2032 Games will serve as a catalyst for a long-needed redevelopment of The Gabba, it makes sense to put a new interim land use plan in place while significant work is undertaken to understand how it relates to the broader PDA.

"This smart planning will deliver a super connected games hub just two kilometres from the CBD, and support an upgrade of the Gabba to a capacity of around 50,000."

The existing interim land use plan (ILUP) for the Woolloongabba Cross River Rail Priority Development Area (PDA) will be replaced from next Wednesday, 24 November 2021.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey said the opportunity would see the economic and community outcomes maximised for East Brisbane locals and the state as whole.

"This is a terrific opportunity to deliver the new underground station at Woolloongabba while also determining how to ensure the 2032 Games leave a lasting legacy for Brisbane and Queensland," Mr Bailey said.

"Cross River Rail is a massive project that will completely transform the way people travel to and from Brisbane's inner city.

"Pumping more than $4 million a day into the economy, this critical project is helping drive Queensland's economic recovery from COVID-19 and was key to securing the Games.

"This new land use plan will include specific provisions for affordable and social housing, and co-designed public space outcomes – honouring the commitment made at last year's election.

"It protects and maintains our commitment to ensure the Gabba precinct includes 50 per cent open space as well as affordable housing for nurses, teachers and other frontline workers.

"The community will be able to have its say on the PDA next year when a proposed development scheme is released for public consultation."

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority, Economic Development Queensland, and other relevant agencies would work together on the planning for the Woolloongabba CRR PDA.

"We're writing a new chapter for the Gabba, the city and the state."

For more information about the Woolloongabba Cross River Rail PDA and interim land use plan, visit the EDQ or Cross River Rail websites.

ENDS

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> 32 Olympic projects to transform how you get around SEQ $

New railway lines, major road expansions, light rail and bridge upgrades are set to emerge across Brisbane and South East Queensland over the next decade under a bold push to make the region ready for the 2032 Olympics.

The Council of Mayors South East Queensland had identified its list of 32 projects it says all levels of government must commit to building before Brisbane's 2032 Olympic Games.

A dozen new or upgraded lanes would be added to the region's five major motorways, rail services would be expanded to Springfield and light rail investment would occur on the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

The 32 list, crafted from the Council of Mayors' major 2019 mass-movement study, would deliver a significant boost to the quality of South East Queensland infrastructure, Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said. ...


32 BY 2032: THE MAJOR PROJECTS COMING TO THE SOUTH EAST
Brisbane Metro
Centenary Motorway Upgrade Projects
Cross River Rail
Ipswich Motorway Upgrade Projects
Mount Lindesay Highway Upgrade Projects
North Coast Rail Line Duplications (Beerburrum to Nambour Project)
Pacific Motorway Upgrade Projects
Gateway Motorway Upgrade Projects
Multimodal Transport Corridor (Kawana Town Centre to Mooloolah River Interchange)
New Rail Stabling Facilities
Bruce Highway Upgrade Projects
Inter-regional Transport Corridor (Coomera Connector)
Norman Street Bridge (Ipswich)
Sunshine Motorway Upgrade Projects
Warrego Highway Upgrade Projects
Gold Coast Urban Rail Line Extension Project
North South Urban Arterial
Open Level Crossing removal project
Gold Coast Light Rail Extension
Ipswich to Springfield Rail line extension
Salisbury to Beaudesert Rail Line
Sunshine Coast Light Rail
Faster rail (Brisbane to Sunshine Coast)
Cleveland Rail Line Duplication
North West Transport Corridor (Rail and motorway from Bald Hills to Stafford Road)
Bus Rapid Transit Toowoomba to Ipswich
Logan Motorway Upgrade Projects
Faster Rail (Brisbane to Ipswich)

[ozbob]

^  if nothing else, this ' list ' shows how far behind we are in reality.

Gold Coast Urban Rail Line Extension Project 9
Open Level Crossing removal project 10
Gold Coast Light Rail Extension 10
Ipswich to Springfield Rail line extension  8  (Springfield to Ripley North 10)
Salisbury to Beaudesert Rail Line 9
Sunshine Coast Light Rail 10
Faster rail (Brisbane to Sunshine Coast) 10
Cleveland Rail Line Duplication 10
North West Transport Corridor (Rail and motorway from Bald Hills to Stafford Road) 10
Bus Rapid Transit Toowoomba to Ipswich 8
Faster Rail (Brisbane to Ipswich) 9


All the public transport projects have merit, and we have been advocating for all of them with the exception of BRT Toowoomba to Ipswich. Guess this ends the notion of fast rail to Toowoomba as with the lack of SEQ Mayors support little chance , but the chances are slim for completion of most of them by 2032 to be honest.

The scores are mine, with 10 being the highest priority.  What are your priorities for this list?

[kram0]

They sound good in theory, and they all need to proceed, but it will take a very big cheque to pay for all of this.

[verbatim9]

Rapid bus from Ipswich? Aren't they better off just increasing the bus frequency from Roma Street? The overall trip times would be shorter than catching a train to Ipswich then transfering and waiting for a bus.

What will make rail faster to Ipswich? What do they have in mind? Just express patterns? Faster rail

I don't think these mayors have any idea and may have not caught the current Murrays or Greyhound service from Roma Street.

They really need to focus on faster rail to Withcott or Helidon, then a rapid bus transfer from there can be viable, but not from Ipswich.

[verbatim9]

All the public transport projects have merit, and we have been advocating for all of them with the exception of BRT Toowoomba to Ipswich. Guess this ends the notion of fast rail to Toowoomba as with the lack of SEQ Mayors support little chance , but the chances are slim for completion of most of them by 2032 to be honest.

Didn't Metro advocate for BRT from Ipswich to Toowoomba and released  a press release on it?

[ozbob]

^ nope.

[ozbob]

Faster rail (Brisbane - Ipswich) ...

Peak express pattern all services peak and off peak, dependent on 15 minute frequency on Springfield line being achieved.

Third track Darra West - Redbank*, a long forgotten project. I don't think this will ever proceed, particularly as freight demands on the Ipswich line are probably going to reduce.

* https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/_/media/projects/w/western-brisbane-transport-network-investigation/pdf_wbtns_complete.pdf page 14

That's all folks ..

[verbatim9]

^ nope.

It must of been just a discussion then

https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8490.msg100113.msg#100113

SEQ Olympic Games- Suggestions

Administrative

• Toowoomba to become part of the SEQ TransLink Network
• Phase out cash and cash fares from the entire SEQ TransLink network

Proposals

Bus
Daily TransLink bus connection to Toowoomba ex Ipswich

Rail

• Ipswich Line upgrades to support Ipswich All Day Express services

[verbatim9]

Re Sunshine Coast, the first phase plan may be to build heavy rail to Kawana then have LRT from there to Maroochydore.

[kram0]

The airport line duplication is a waste of money. It currently operates at 15min frequency and that's all that's required even with future demand.

Even Heathrow express only operates at 15min frequency and it's one of the busiest airports in the world.

A stop at DFO I agree with.

[verbatim9]

The airport line duplication is a waste of money. It currently operates at 15min frequency and that's all that's required even with future demand.

Even Heathrow express only operates at 15min frequency and it's one of the busiest airports in the world.

A stop at DFO I agree with.

Skygate station needs to be fast tracked.

[ozbob]

Yes verbatim9, it was just a discussion point and not supported on the forum.

Toowoomba deserves fast rail.  I will be inquiring from the SEQ Council of Mayors why they have apparently given up on fast rail to Toowoomba.

[ozbob]

Email to Council of Mayors SEQ

20th November 2021

Fast Rail to Toowoomba

Greetings

We note that in the Couriermail today (20 Nov 2021) there has been a list published " .. The Council of Mayors South East Queensland had identified its list of 32 projects it says all levels of government must commit to building before Brisbane's 2032 Olympic Games. .. "

https://www.couriermail.com.au/sport/seq-olympics-2032/32-olympic-projects-to-transform-how-you-get-around-seq/news-story/c9974304bbb4ec1708ecd4916633cb32

32 BY 2032: THE MAJOR PROJECTS COMING TO THE SOUTH EAST
Brisbane Metro
Centenary Motorway Upgrade Projects
Cross River Rail
Ipswich Motorway Upgrade Projects
Mount Lindesay Highway Upgrade Projects
North Coast Rail Line Duplications (Beerburrum to Nambour Project)
Pacific Motorway Upgrade Projects
Gateway Motorway Upgrade Projects
Multimodal Transport Corridor (Kawana Town Centre to Mooloolah River Interchange)
New Rail Stabling Facilities
Bruce Highway Upgrade Projects
Inter-regional Transport Corridor (Coomera Connector)
Norman Street Bridge (Ipswich)
Sunshine Motorway Upgrade Projects
Warrego Highway Upgrade Projects
Gold Coast Urban Rail Line Extension Project
North South Urban Arterial
Open Level Crossing removal project
Gold Coast Light Rail Extension
Ipswich to Springfield Rail line extension
Salisbury to Beaudesert Rail Line
Sunshine Coast Light Rail
Faster rail (Brisbane to Sunshine Coast)
Cleveland Rail Line Duplication
North West Transport Corridor (Rail and motorway from Bald Hills to Stafford Road)
Bus Rapid Transit Toowoomba to Ipswich
Logan Motorway Upgrade Projects
Faster Rail (Brisbane to Ipswich)

This list has dropped fast rail to Toowoomba and replaced with Bus Rapid Transit.

We don't support this at all.

Is the article correct?

Thanks.

Regards

Robert

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