Noosa Light Rail

[SMU260]

Stop names are temporary
Noosa Tram A - Roundabout Station to Main Beach Station via Noosa Heads
Noosa Tram B - Sunrise Station to Noosa Heads

[Stillwater]

Is this wishful thinking, or is there some substance to the suggestion?

[Gazza]

Yeah cant really see a town of 60,000 supporting LR, or the upzoning to support it.

[minbrisbane]

Not somewhere like Noosa anyway, where will they park their luxury cars if light rail takes space away?

[#Metro]

Thanks for the suggestion SMU260. I'll scribble some initial thoughts:

66,000 pop. x 3.3 trip generation rate x 260 days/year = 56.6 million trips (the pie)

Assume PT=10-20% (look away, Jonno  )

=> 5.66 to 11.3 million trips p.a. ballpark. For comparison Gold Coast LRT does about 10 million p.a.

Daily trips would be about 21,800 to 43,560 trips/weekday.
Assuming a 10% peak factor, we get about 2,200 to 4,400 pphd.

Note, the peak load factor may not be applicable here as it's not really tidal commuting. If so, the peak load would be much lower.

This translates to a tram (250 pax) at least every 6-7.5 minutes in peak.

So on the estimated patronage numbers alone, an LRT could work. The disadvantages of the LRT mode would be local opposition, and intensive capital works required ($).

A Cityglider-style bus service coming every 10 min or better seems a more achievable aim, at least in the short term.

[Jonno]

Having grown up in Sunshine Beach and visiting my parents on a regular basis.. this is super needed.  With everyone trying to drive everywhere especially tourists it is not working (and costing tax-payers a fortune) and lots of dining of the evening this is perfect for light rail.  Bus works but its not as "fun" as the GLink is.       

Gradients are a bug issue though.

[#Metro]

A BUZ-like service would work well IMHO.

You would only need two or three routes running at, say, 10-minute intervals.

Some improvement to pedestrian access will be needed, as although there are local arterial roads, you could not access them easily from inside built up areas, nor cross them safely. Some pedestrian islands and easements/walkways might need to go in.

[SurfRail]

Frequent buses first.  G:link replaced what was 20+ buses per hour per direction in places in the core of the old coastal bus corridor, not 4 or less.

[Jonno]

The challenge in Noosa is that buses are in general traffic.  The buses need priority ROW as would Light Rail and it is not any easy feat particularly the Noosa Heads part but doable. What ever is done for Buses needs to be ready to be converted to Light Rail...

PS  I still don't think light rail could easily manage the grades over the Noosa Hill (Noosa Head to Noosa Junction).  I am sure they is technology to allow it to happen.

[#Metro]

Agree with SurfRail, decent service needs to come first. Then you can show the politicians full buses when they ask.

[Jonno]

Agree with SurfRail, decent service needs to come first. Then you can show the politicians full buses when they ask.

well they certainly see gridlock on any long weekend, holidays especially Christmas Holiday period.. and a lot of the weekends in Summer. So Translink and NSC should be doing something.

[#Metro]

Well, Jonno many major roads in Noosa are 1+1 configuration. Noosa Drive for example.

If you want a bus lane, you'll need to expand the road lanes on both sides of the road. 

The other thing is looking at potentially having Noosa Ferry boosted and brought into Translink. That's Priority A essentially.

If the Noosa Bridge is ever replaced to be higher, potential for the ferry and bus interchange there exists.