On the Buses

[somebody]

I almost mentioned the troll emoticon in my previous post!

The fact remains that the only time the 66 is heavily loaded is when it is running along side non revenue services.

[somebody]

Seriously BrizCommuter, what is your problem with providing the needed capacity with a route other than the 66?

[Golliwog]

I can see the point both of you are making. The 66 is useful as it absorbs the inner busway trips, and as is the case with a number of those trips they are to interchange in the CBD, so theres no need to the route to go elsewhere. I do get that if the buses that are running back out to start another run in as a 333 or whatever else ran in service then it would reduce the need for route 66, but I don't think it would remove the need.

[Sunbus610]

Kangaroo Buslines gets the 'ok' re new bus depot........read more HERE (Caboolture Shire Herald)

[ozbob]

Buranda to UQ Lakes












Photographs R Dow 22nd February 2011

[ozbob]

Mini conga line Adelaide Street on a pleasant Sunday morning in Brisbane



Photograph R Dow 13th March 2011

[#Metro]

Now, if those buses were just a bit closer and there were 1 or two extra buses in queue... you'd have a tram
 

[Stillwater]

Stranger things happen - we have taxis as buses (Flexilink) and buses that pretend to be trains (Railbus, but don't stick to the same timetable as trains).  Now, the 'bustram'.

[ozbob]

Buses used the taxi/drop off road at Oxley as bus road closed for station works last week.  This makes it very difficult for the buses exiting from the station, they need to ease around the sharp right hand corner step wise (forward, reverse, forward, reverse  and so on ... )







Photographs R Dow 17th March 2011

[somebody]

Massive bus jam inbound on the busway at about 9:10am this morning.  Was backed up from the Cultural Centre to South Bank station, and possibly beyond.  It's just from there I couldn't see anymore.

[ozbob]

Coronation Drive near the Regatta





Photographs R Dow 23rd March 2011

[colinw]

I caught the bus to work today instead of going with my wife on the school run, first time in ages.

Route 554, Kuraby to Garden City, I travelled from the bus stop at Kuraby Railway Station to Eight Mile Plains busway station.

Aargh!!!!!  Suburban intersection congestion - took ages to get across Logan Road, then motorway on ramp congestion - couldn't get to the busway exit off the Gateway motorway.  Then the approach to the Eight Mile Plains busway station was clagged up and buses were queuing.

End result: 34 minutes and $3.11 to go just over 6km, and very wet & muddy shoes due to the lack of sensible pedestrian facilities (even a sealed footpath) on the most direct walking route from the busway to Brisbane Tech Park.

No wonder nobody else in my office ever catches public transport.

On the positive side - bus was modern, well presented, comfortable.  Driver was very courteous & helpful to some pensioners who appeared to be using their Go Card for the first time.  All but 1 passenger used a Go Card.

Not so good - a very large number of people chose to top up their go card on the bus.  Slowed boarding at a couple of stops down to similar speed to when paper tickets were the norm.  But this being a suburban "milk run", there no easy access to AVVMs, so I guess topping up on the bus is the best option, particularly for school kids who don't have a credit card to link.

Over all, usable, but a little frustrating.  The main delay wasn't TransLink's fault but a result of the Class C ROW and quite severe congestion on  motorways and Logan Road in the Eight Mile Plains area.  Buses were stuck in the mess with everyone else.  A 555 service from Logan was stuck trying to access the busway right in front of the bus I was on.

[Jonno]

Translink can fix this by putting in Bus Lanes and traffic light control technologies!!

[Golliwog]

Translink can fix this by putting in Bus Lanes and traffic light control technologies!!

But are traffic light controls something that Translink themselves cna just go and do? I don't think so. I know they can't do their own buslanes, they need to get the relevant authority (TMR/Local Council) to do it.

[Jonno]

.. but they can start planning it with the relevant authorities rather than Doing Nothing.

[somebody]

This criticism being leveled at Translink is quite unfair.

Council is the problem.  But then, council are really just the agent of the people who don't want bus/transit lanes.

[Sunbus610]

Ok.........I've written numerous requests firstly to TRANSLink and then they passed the buck onto the Sunshine Coast Council to install a modern bus seat with a full shelter at this popular bus stop in Nambour's main street (Currie Street) back in September 2010 and today.......STILL NOTHING has been done  

I was eventually informed, by this joker (who apparently looks after the regions public transport infrustructure) at the Sunshine Coast Council (SCC) and after months of no-hear & delays, that funding has finally been approved for just a seat (I was informed that the foot path was far too narrow for a full covered bus shelter to be installed - what a load of %$#*) and here we are today in April 2011 and still........not a thing has been done, no seat, no shelter (like council really cares about local bus commuters' sitting out in the hot Queensland sun or rain waiting for their bus to arrive) but just that little old J pole. Just goes to show where their (SCC) priorities really are when it comes to improving public transport etc on the Sunshine Coast and why most people choose to drive.

[Golliwog]

I think they may be right about it being to narrow for a covered bus seat (by that I mean what they have in Adelaide St is Brisbane) but surely they could erect a roof over the whole foot path?

[#Metro]

At least you have a map!  

Surely there is a spare seat somewhere in SEQ that could go there
There's a bench http://streetfurniture.com/index.php/products/display/benches/  .

[Sunbus610]

I think they may be right about it being to narrow for a covered bus seat (by that I mean what they have in Adelaide St is Brisbane) but surely they could erect a roof over the whole foot path?

Have you seen the width of the footpath, where BCC have a shelter and seat, at the bus stop on Abbotsford Road right near the Bowen Hills railway station, it's not as wide as this one in Nambour's Currie Street let me assure you!!

[Stillwater]

On the Sunshine Coast, the council is responsible for building and maintaining shelters.  What make's Sunbus610's picture all the more remarkable is what it depicts.  This bus stop services the Nambour Library, which the council wants to make very accessible.  Libraries have two large user groups that would be attracted to public transport -- children and teens who don't drive and the elderly.  Both groups, particularly the elderly, would appreciate a shelter.  On the opposite side of the road in the picture is a nest of buildings that house the Sunshine Coast Regional Council's Nambour HQ.  Hundreds work there, and they come from all over the coast.  As a visitor to the council (travelling there by car), it is im possible to get a car park in the parking area at the rear of the council because it is filled with staff vehicles.

That's right, this is one of two bus stops that serve the council's own workforce at its principal office HQ.

If ever a place was deserving of a bus shelter (serving library and council HQ), this is it.

Don't worry, though, the council has a glossy brochure that's full of planning and aspiration:  http://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/addfiles/documents/opof/transport/sc_sustainable_tpt_strategy_1131.pdf

The public should hold the state government and councils to account so that the theory gets translater into practical outcomes.  Who knows, with a shelter here, maybe more of the council's own staff will find it more attractive to catch a bus to and from work.

[Golliwog]

I think they may be right about it being to narrow for a covered bus seat (by that I mean what they have in Adelaide St is Brisbane) but surely they could erect a roof over the whole foot path?

Have you seen the width of the footpath, where BCC have a shelter and seat, at the bus stop on Abbotsford Road right near the Bowen Hills railway station, it's not as wide as this one in Nambour's Currie Street let me assure you!!

I'm not familiar with that one. When was it put in though? Theres a Australian Standard that was released in 2002 or 2004, I'm not sure, but it dictates disability access requirements, and details many things, one of which is clear access space for a wheelchair to travel through. Its a very detailed code. You know those little knobs on the top of handrails? If they comply with the code, they have to be 150mm from the end of the rail.

[ozbob]

Caught 524 into Goodna rail this morning, about 30 pax on board.  Presently inbound on SMU204, bad track corrugations Goodna - Darra.  Vibrations shaking the screen down on the lap top ...

[ozbob]

My local bus stop and the 524 ...













Photographs R Dow 7th April 2011

[#Metro]

Look at that awful feeder bus frequency. 

[Golliwog]

Caught the 109 from UQ Lakes to the City this afternoon. Not sure if my trip is representative or not, but we were packed. I got a seat (of sorts) in the bag rack area up the front, I just had to remember to stand up for each stop or I'd a slight whack from the door. At least I wasn't like the few passengers who didn't fit on the bus and had to wait 20 minutes for the next one.

Given the provision of the 412 as well, I can live with the shortened service hours of the 109 (meaning, I would love for them to be longer, but its not the end of the world), but running at a frequency where passengers miss out, not because they're late but simply because they don't fit is not cool. Btw, this is not such an issue during the week as while yes it does happen for a lot of buses, the next one is usually pretty much right there.

As an aside, on the way to uni this morning, there was the exact opposite of the usual busjam. There was a car jam. Lined across the whole length of the bridge next to the busway, and into Adelaide St. Of course, there was one guy (in front of the bus I was in) who decided he didn't have to wait like everyone else and pretended to be a bus.

[ozbob]

66 Bus at Roma St, one of the tri-axle buses



Photograph R Dow 18th April 2011

[Golliwog]

Oh, and a brand spanking new one as well. I had checked the BT Bus fleet site on the weekend and they only had up to 1726.

[Sunbus610]

'Unsightly bus stop gets revamp' - Noosa Civic
Click here for this article HERE (Sunshine Coast Daily)

[#Metro]

Ironically, directly outside an RACQ office. 

[Otto]

Oh, and a brand spanking new one as well. I had checked the BT Bus fleet site on the weekend and they only had up to 1726.

I saw 1733 parked on Dean St outside Toowong Workshops last week.

[Sunbus610]

Well folks, isn't it just so wonderful how the Sunshine Coast Council has finally got around to installing such a nice modern seat for local bus commuters to utilise in Nambour's (main street) Currie Street, thank you so much Big Bob and Division 10 Councillor Tatton for going to so much trouble of finding the funds to buy it and I do hope it doesn't put too much pressure on council's tight budget and expenses!!!

[Arnz]

Sunbus 5526 (Mercedes Benz LO814 [CC]) on a rare revenue outing working a Route 600 to Maroochydore. 

There is only 5 pie carts left in the Sunshine Coast Sunbus fleet, 4 of which is based at Marcoola depot.

5526 is usually a training bus based at Caloundra.

[Sunbus610]

Outrage over bus station
Maroochy Journal
13 May 11 @ 06:30am by Matt Johnston

SHADOW spokesman for transport Scott Emerson has slammed the latest delay in the construction of the Maroochydore Bus Station, which was due to be completed by the end of the year.

Mr Emerson said the delay, which would see construction begin next year, was another example of the Labor government's inability to plan.

"This is yet another bungle by the State Government and it is unbelievable because if they were doing the job properly, they should have known about this rather than delay it like they are,'' he said.

"We understand the importance of public transport and there's a couple of things we are looking at and we will announce them closer to the election."

Maroochydore MP Fiona Simpson labelled the most recent delay and increase in cost, which was reportedly caused by a clash between the proposed design and Telstra and Energex utility plants, as a ``cop out'' and questioned where the money spent on the project had gone.

"It's a bus station, not brain surgery,'' she said.

"This project is critical for two reasons because of safety and because of congestion.

"At the existing station they employ people to stand behind the buses when they back out because there are safety concerns and on top of that Maroochydore is a hub for public transport and the current station is a bottleneck for services."

The LNP's stance comes as the Journal revealed last week that the State Government had spent $55 million on transport feasibility studies on the Sunshine Coast in the past 15 years without anything being done.

The proposed station, which is part of the State Government's CoastConnect project, will feature six bus bays (three on either side of Horton Pde), sheltered seating, lighting and CCTV, a public transport information stand, secure bicycle storage, driver amenities and priority traffic signals for buses.

However, Ms Simpson said the project was already planned before CoastConnect and was brought in under the major project once it had been announced.

"It was a fudge that they ever included it in CoastConnect,'' she said.

"It should be a stand alone project. It is a simple project but a critical one."

Despite repeated requests from the Journal, the Department of Transport and Main Roads failed to respond before deadline.

View the article HERE

[#Metro]

Maroochydore MP Fiona Simpson labelled the most recent delay and increase in cost, which was reportedly caused by a clash between the proposed design and Telstra and Energex utility plants, as a ``cop out'' and questioned where the money spent on the project had gone.

"It's a bus station, not brain surgery,'' she said.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK!!!

[colinw]

This morning the 7:51AM route 554 from Kuraby to Garden City had a crush load by the end of Stiller Dr, Kuraby.

Not bad for a bus service which was denied to us for years, because "there is no demand".  The local councillor actually fought against this service, as did an active NIMBY group in Stiller Dr (where the most patronage now comes from).  Yes - some local loonies actually campaigned against a bus service, because it would disturb their suburban peace & quiet!

Peak hour runs of the 554 are easily carrying more people than are catching the train from Kuraby at the same time.  It would appear that the new estates on the eastern side of the railway are "bus catchment" more than "rail catchment" now.

[Fares_Fair]

Maroochydore MP Fiona Simpson labelled the most recent delay and increase in cost, which was reportedly caused by a clash between the proposed design and Telstra and Energex utility plants, as a ``cop out'' and questioned where the money spent on the project had gone.

"It's a bus station, not brain surgery,'' she said.

QUOTE OF THE WEEK!!!

Hello tt,

I think you could start a 'quote of the week' regular post, starting with this one.
It could be followed by the Transport Minister's reported quote on the level crossings situation.
It would make for a great light-hearted read.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

Again the politics from Ms Simpson and now, sadly, Mr Emerson.  Relocating underground services, such as sewerage pipes, electricity cables, water mains, telephone cables etc can represent a substantial cost component of any infrastructure project.  Often these are located not that far below the ground, so that site preparation involving foundations or footings can require their relocation.  And that costs.  If the area is to be sealed, then problems occur should, at some stage in the future, access be required for servicing.  Given the businesses around Horton Pde, the footpath and roadway would be bristling with all sorts of pipes and utilities. 

The statements show that the LNP is chasing the cheap shot in circumstances where the party does not have a transport policy and has said it won't have one for the Sunshine Coast before the next election.  Reference to 'a couple of things we are looking at' will be some vote-grabbing projects that may or may not form part of a comprehensive strategy. 

One thing is for sure, a vote for the LNP next March won't change the situation where underground utility services nearly always get in the way of major projects, requiring their relocation to be part of the project schedule and cost. 

I look forward to the photo of an angry Ms Simpson standing over a hole exposing pipes and cables, pointing at them, and saying 'these would not have been put here had the LNP been in power'.  I also look forward to Ms Simpson and Mr Emerson putting in the party transport policy words to the effect that 'we won't let underground services be located anywhere near locations where major transport infrastructure is planned.'  The LNP is being as shallow as always and it needs to show more depth in transport policy and thinking if it is to be a more plausible alternative government.

[Golliwog]

I don't think putting utilities down deep is a good idea anyway. When it comes time to service/replace them, you're just going to have to dig up everything to get to them anyway.

[somebody]

This morning the 7:51AM route 554 from Kuraby to Garden City had a crush load by the end of Stiller Dr, Kuraby.

Not bad for a bus service which was denied to us for years, because "there is no demand".  The local councillor actually fought against this service, as did an active NIMBY group in Stiller Dr (where the most patronage now comes from).  Yes - some local loonies actually campaigned against a bus service, because it would disturb their suburban peace & quiet!

Peak hour runs of the 554 are easily carrying more people than are catching the train from Kuraby at the same time.  It would appear that the new estates on the eastern side of the railway are "bus catchment" more than "rail catchment" now.

Interesting.  Is it possible for the bus to avoid the level crossing at Kuraby?  Looks like there are bus shelters on the east side of the station, but a dubious facility for turning the bus around through the car park.