Cross River Rail Project

[ozbob]

Well, there we have it in this News Corp report:

"BRISBANE'S bold BaT Tunnel was never going to be built, former senior figures in the Newman government claim. 
 
"The two-level tunnel to carry both trains and buses under the city's river was a centrepiece of the previous LNP government's infrastructure plans, to be partly funded by the controversial asset-leasing program and the rest from a public-private partnership.

"But even if the LNP had won January's state election, the much vaunted $5 billion BaT project was doomed and would have been dumped during its second term in power, according to sources in the previous administration."

When will Queensland state governments stop seeing transport as a public relations campaign and get real?

It is appalling how we are being treated by Governments, be they blue or red!

Labor pulled the SCL upgrade 2009, vacilated with Cross River Rail and now it is clear LNP were not going to really proceed with the BaT tunnel.

All a big charade.

[#Metro]

Let's not forget '2000 daily express buses'

[James]

Absolutely disgraceful, arrogant and stupid conduct by the LNP if this is the case.

It all but confirms in my mind that my next change of location will be out of Brisbane (once I finish University), and possibly this state. Our state is one led by incompetent nitwits who couldn't give two sh%ts about the average voter with the average voter having the intellect of a sofa. Might as well dig the tunnels for Cross River Rail myself.

Take a look at some of the GOLD coming off the Courier-Mail comment sections.

The Courier Mail has always been a bastion of intellectual thought.

[ozbob]

^ lets do it!   

[ozbob]

Labor were incompetent, LNP were deceitful ... maybe the election was justice of sorts.

Yes folks, its Queensland polyticks ... 

[Stillwater]

How about Frank Sinatra / Elvis Presley, 'Impossible Dream'

BaT ... the Impossible Dream.  I wonder what Ms Trad is dreaming? 

[v6hilux]

^ lets do it!   

Person on left - the PM. Person in middle - this person was told not to upstage the PM, person on right - this person didn't hear the message!

[STB]

Absolutely disgraceful, arrogant and stupid conduct by the LNP if this is the case.

It all but confirms in my mind that my next change of location will be out of Brisbane (once I finish University), and possibly this state. Our state is one led by incompetent nitwits who couldn't give two sh%ts about the average voter

I'm with you on that James, I'm thinking the same!

https://youtu.be/D6m-7Qu861Q

[colinw]

+2.  I've been trying to talk my wife into us relocating to Melbourne for a while now.

[verbatim9]

Melbourne Trams are so slow except for the light rail to St kilda. No night trains on weekends and bus network on par with Brisbane. Enjoy the cafe scene and the Mel Winter

[James]

Perhaps its time to start a new campaign, #getmovingoutofSEQ



Bye Bye!

[ozbob]

^   

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

30th May 2015

Greetings

Queensland Government Can Fund Cross River Rail

New Bus Network Proposal (Updated) ---> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork
Current Brisbane City Council Bus Network ---> http://tiny.cc/checkyourbus
Bus Reform Report  'Frequency is Freedom' ---> http://backontrack.org/docs/bus/reform/BusReformBlueprint.pdf

Noticed the irony in today's Courier-Mail (pages 28 & 29)? Every level of government wants funding to be the problem of the government above it. Brisbane City Council expects the Queensland Government to pay to fix up the mess, and in turn, the Queensland Government expects the Federal Government to fix up the mess.

Firstly, The Queensland Government has a number of options to self-fund Cross River Rail:

1. Property and Land Development above and around QR Stations.
2. Borrowing against the value of profit-making public assets withheld from sale.
3. Extending Land Taxation by removing the tax-free threshold and broadening the base.
4. Growing the Queensland Economy

Perth self-funded the doubling of the Perth rail network, including drilling two train tunnels into and under the Perth CBD. It is time to stop using the Federal Government as an excuse to lean on. The Queensland Government is ultimately responsible for Queensland. If it wants to raise the funds it could. Borrowing interest rates are at historic lows.

Secondly, Brisbane City Council's should reform its own bus network. No construction funds should be allocated to Brisbane City Council until it has cleaned up the waste, inefficiency and black holes in its own bus network.

For example, in the article the Lord Mayor is reported as saying 'bus lines at the Cultural Centre were close to capacity.' Um, this is actually an 'excess air' problem.

Large volumes of air are present in the Brisbane bus network, even during the peak hour. This is  due to poor bus network design, refusal to introduce interchanging and a lack of high capacity superbuses.

Cultural Centre Busway figures; TransLink 2013:

64.8% of AM peak inbound buses are <50% full
78.4% of all services during the day are <50% full
50% of PM peak outbound buses are <50% full

Transport Minister Jackie Trad MUST intervene and fix Lord Mayor Graham Quirk's bus network.

Our New Bus Network proposal shows how to do it  >> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork
and is funded by rearranging existing bus resources. It includes proposals for a 400 CentenaryGlider and BulimbaGlider bus services.

For a service quality map of Brisbane City Council's bus services, follow this link
>> http://tiny.cc/checkyourbus

The Queensland Government is responsible for governing Queensland. History shows that governments that fail to act are quickly removed from office.

Best wishes
Robert

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

References:

Brisbane Bus reform: RAIL Back on Track Launches New Bus Network Proposal
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11047.0

Courier Mail 30th May2015 pages 28 & 29.

[STB]

Enjoy the cafe scene and the Mel Winter

I actually quite like the Melbourne winter, so that won't bother me one bit.  The cafe scene is far more mature from what I've seen in Melbourne, plus the laneways are actually quite awesome and well developed.

[ozbob]

I delivered papers every morning in Melbourne when I was growing up.  I loved the cold and rain .. 

I just dress for the weather.  Looking forward to visiting Melbourne in a few weeks for the opening of Regional Rail Link.  There will be an event on Sunday 21st June, which I cannot make but will be using the new RRL later in the week when I go on the VLiner to Geelong.

Melbourne Metro has started. Melbourne is a public transport paradise compared to Brisbane.  Simple fact.

Meanwhile here in banana-land,  crickets! 

eg.

============

Twitter

oh.yes.melbourne ‏@ohyes_melbourne 16 hours ago

I have been car-free for 13 months today, thanks @yarratrams and @cityofmelbourne for making it possible

[v6hilux]

Melbourne is a public transport paradise compared to Brisbane.

Brisbane is quite a different story because due to the major Geographical Constraints, like we have hundreds of mountains and gulleys within a mountain range and sparse population spread although that is now changing with MD housing developments going ahead at high speed.

With the recent new rail to Springfield as an apparent gruberment condition for the grubvelepors to contribute towards, they stuffed the car park aspect totally. Get there after 7:30 AM and there is no spots. People have to park illegally and now the Transport Department (gruberment run organisation) is going there every week issuing fines for said offenses - talk about turning people away from public transport!

[ozbob]

Brisbane had very good public transport once.  1969 the rot set in ...

[ozbob]

The issue with parking is not one for this thread see >> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=532.0

However, we simply cannot continue to expand car parks indefinitely.  Enlightened jurisdictions provide proper feeder bus networks, good active transport support and paid parking.  See Transperth > http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/parking

SEQ is far from enlightened sadly.  In fact they cannot even find a match to light a candle ...

Please post parking issues on this thread > http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=532.0

[HappyTrainGuy]

Melbourne is a public transport paradise compared to Brisbane.

Brisbane is quite a different story because due to the major Geographical Constraints, like we have hundreds of mountains and gulleys within a mountain range and sparse population spread although that is now changing with MD housing developments going ahead at high speed.

With the recent new rail to Springfield as an apparent gruberment condition for the grubvelepors to contribute towards, they stuffed the car park aspect totally. Get there after 7:30 AM and there is no spots. People have to park illegally and now the Transport Department (gruberment run organisation) is going there every week issuing fines for said offenses - talk about turning people away from public transport!

You can say the same for many stations across brisbane but the reason all the cars are there is because there are no buses going there. The same with bus interchanges. As much as I'd love to see 4tph on the Caboolture line the patronage doesn't 100% support it. It's only once you start getting to Petrie, Bray Park, Strathpine, Zillmere and Northgate where they start picking up passengers (Strathpine-Petrie have hourly bus services and trains arrive at the same 3 minute window so connections are never an issue). The more buses we have feeding into interchanges be it rail or bus the better and the more infrastructure projects and upgrades can then be justified such as cross river rail, NWTC, Landsborough/CAMOS, 9 car trains, frequency increases, bike lanes/pathways/bike facilities and road upgrades to and at stations etc.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

6th June 2015

Self-Fund: Develop Rail Properties To Fund Cross River Rail

Sunshine Coast transport consultant Peter Quick is on the money. The Queensland Government has a number of options to self-fund Cross River Rail:

1. Property and land development above and around QR Stations.
2. Borrowing against the value of profit-making public assets withheld from sale.
3. Extending Land Taxation by removing the tax-free threshold and broadening the base.*
4. Growing the Queensland Economy

A visit to the website of MTR Hong Kong - the same company operating Melbourne's rail network - shows its property development division MTR properties has almost fifty stations where high-intensity development has been placed above or around rail stations, including light rail stops.

Attempts to recapture value generated by Queensland's transit infrastructure to date have been lacking. Private property owners around rail stations are already getting a free boost to their property values, courtesy of the Queensland Government and taxpayers. Or high-value land has been left to low value uses such as park-and-ride, which is not the highest and best use. We think the government can do a better job of clawing back that money through station development and land taxation changes.

Inner-city locations where land values are high or stations close to shopping centres are good choices. Increased development around stations will generate jobs for Queenslanders, grow the Queensland economy, and increase farebox revenue on the public transport network generally. If student accommodation is built, it may also attract a subsidy from Brisbane City Council.

Proposals to fix up the bus network (mostly using existing resources, http://tiny.cc/newnetwork ) and a concept proposal for a RiverCity Rail tunnel (see link below) have already been developed by our members. This would complement the above changes.

Ultimately the Queensland Government must fund the lion's share of Cross River Rail as it is the sole owner of Queensland Rail. The Perth precedent shows that self-funding can be done. The Queensland Government is responsible for governing Queensland. History shows that governments that fail to act are quickly removed from office.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

References:

MTR Hong Kong Property Development
https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/corporate/properties/prop_dev_index.html

The Unique Genius of Hong Kong's Public Transportation System
http://www.theatlantic.com/china/archive/2013/09/the-unique-genius-of-hong-kongs-public-transportation-system/279528/

Opinion: Queensland should forget federal funding for cross river rail and turn to private sector to get things moving
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/opinion-queensland-should-forget-federal-funding-for-cross-river-rail-and-turn-to-private-sector-to-get-things-moving/story-fnihsr9v-1227373139965

Basics: The math of park and ride
http://www.humantransit.org/2014/10/basics-the-math-of-park-and-ride.html

River City Rail Tunnel Concept
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11413.msg155988#msg155988

Brisbane City Council Subsidies
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/developers-to-receive-discounts-to-build-brisbane-student-accomodation-20150225-13om7y.html

* Rough Calculation

10 billion dollars (project cost) divided by 5 million people (rounded population of Queensland) divided by 40 years (infrastructure economic life) = $50 per person, per year.

New Bus Network Proposal (Updated) ---> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork
Current Brisbane City Council Bus Network ---> http://tiny.cc/checkyourbus
Bus Reform Report  'Frequency is Freedom' ---> http://backontrack.org/docs/bus/reform/BusReformBlueprint.pdf

Transit Oriented Development - possible locations

Inner City

Auchenflower
Bowen Hills
Buranda
Coorparoo
Dutton Park
Fairfield
Morningside
Park Road
Taringa
Windsor
Wooloongabba (co-constructed with CRR)

Suburban

Cleveland
Eagle Junction
Mitchelton
Nundah
Sandgate
Strathpine
Toombul
Wynnum

Other

Beerwah
Caboolture
Helensvale
Nambour
Robina

[Golliwog]

So many stations have TOD potential. Just along the Ferny Grove line for example:
Gaythorn: The army barracks is currently redeveloping some of their accommodation across Samford Rd from the station, I'm sure it's probably online somewhere but from what I can see it's at least 3 storys of apartments, many of the blocks between Pickering St and the station have been done up as town houses, meanwhile the shops all around the Pickering St and Samford Rd intersection are just asking to be done up as something mixed use. Wouldn't think it'd take much as part of the developments to raise/extend the overbridge over Samford Rd and include lifts to make access that much easier.

Grovely: Again, blocks to the south of this station have been redone over the last few years, fitting in as many houses as possible. Redeveloping the area between the Tafe and the railway line to something more mixed use should be easy to justify, and while you're at it make it easier to walk through it to the station (currently despite the station car park running right along the back of the Maccas and other shops, the only access is from Dawson Pde).

Alderley: The proposed Alderley TOD, while it did fall over financially, is really something that will happen with time. A lot of the commercial shops between South Pine Rd and the station are quite run down so I'm sure many locals would love it to be done up to improve access and amenity.

Windsor: Already has shops etc towards Lutwyche Rd, but this station is in a cutting (or at least part is) so it should be a 'simple' development to build over the top.

[SurfRail]

The best TOD potential on the FG line is around Mitchelton.  Sink the line, wipe out 4 level crossings, develop the station site by creating something that works at surface level as well as above.

[aldonius]

Well, at least 2 LXs. Prospect Rd doesn't really go anywhere. Glen Holm St from what I've seen only backs up about 5 cars at any given time, nothing like the main roads. If it was substantially cheaper/easier not to grade sep those two I wouldn't be concerned.

[SurfRail]

More a case of lowering the line involving dives likely that far back anyway, or at least close enough that it would be worth widening the scope to do it.

It's the kind of project which would only happen if the redevelopment potential paid for a substantial portion of the work.

[v6hilux]

I just had a random thought about all this TOD and increasing Network Capacity (CRR) - it means that more passenger train sets will need to be built to fill the holes.

OH, the employment it will create - the CRR is urgent in my mind!

[ozbob]

CRR or equivalent is a very urgent project I agree!!

[#Metro]

CRR needs CPR, LOL

(Cross Party Rail)

[v6hilux]

FIFA could probably chip in a few buck to help build the CRR??

[HappyTrainGuy]

I just had a random thought about all this TOD and increasing Network Capacity (CRR) - it means that more passenger train sets will need to be built to fill the holes.

OH, the employment it will create - the CRR is urgent in my mind!

NGR will be pumping out trains very very quickly.

[SurfRail]

^ Whether there will be enough is a different story.

Perth's new C-sets are basically 100% capacity increase, whereas our larger order is mainly to replace obsolete stock (depending on what we end up with timetable-wise potentially everything built before IMU100s, which would mean of 75 new sets only around 20-25 would be for capacity increases).

[ozbob]

Twitter

Nine News Brisbane ‏@9NewsBrisbane 10h

FIRST ON 9: How $30m was wasted on the BaT tunnel even before it was rejected. @PhilWillmington #QldPol #9NewsAt6

FIRST ON 9: How $30m was wasted on the BaT tunnel even before it was rejected. @PhilWillmington #QldPol #9NewsAt6&#38;#10;https://t.co/8WtwzfTqNR

— Nine News Brisbane (@9NewsBrisbane) June 9, 2015

This is only the promo.  I have asked if they can make the complete story available.

[#Metro]

Loved the dramatic music!

E-X-C-L-U-S-I-V-E

[colinw]

ROFL.  The old mainstream media will be a long time in their death throes, but are already struggling for relevance.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

13th June 2015

Time to get cracking with PT projects

Greetings,

We welcome the committment to get cracking on these three essential public transport projects:

" ... The Infrastructure Minister and acting Premier said yesterday a second heavy rail river crossing in Brisbane, duplication of the Sunshine Coast line and extending Gold Coast's light rail were vital to tackling congestion. ... "

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/queensland-infrastructure-spending-the-big-three-projects-well-borrow-to-fund/story-fntuy59x-1227395436740

The Gold Coast light rail stage 2 could be funded by private investment/operator franchise and realising value-capture along the corridor.

The Sunshine Coast Line upgrade has major benefits for freight transport, as well as enabling better passenger services. As such it is not unreasonable to expect the Federal Government to make a significant contribution. The remainder should be funded out of the State budget.

A second river heavy rail crossing might need to be part funded by property and land development as we detail below.

Doing nothing IS NOT AN OPTION.  We are headlong into a rapidly developing transport crisis.

The Courier Mail has run a series: #GetMovingSEQ ( > http://backontrack.org/docs/cm/GetMovingSEQ/gmseq9.pdf ) which has well demonstrated the critical situation we are in.

There is nowhere to hide.  Brisbane bus network reform, introduction of all door boarding on key bus routes, establishing proper bus priority on the surface road system is just the beginning.

Fare reform for SEQ is also essential.

We are here to help! Just call ...

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

6th June 2015

Self-Fund: Develop Rail Properties To Fund Cross River Rail

Sunshine Coast transport consultant Peter Quick is on the money. The Queensland Government has a number of options to self-fund Cross River Rail:

1. Property and land development above and around QR Stations.
2. Borrowing against the value of profit-making public assets withheld from sale.
3. Extending Land Taxation by removing the tax-free threshold and broadening the base.*
4. Growing the Queensland Economy

A visit to the website of MTR Hong Kong - the same company operating Melbourne's rail network - shows its property development division MTR properties has almost fifty stations where high-intensity development has been placed above or around rail stations, including light rail stops.

Attempts to recapture value generated by Queensland's transit infrastructure to date have been lacking. Private property owners around rail stations are already getting a free boost to their property values, courtesy of the Queensland Government and taxpayers. Or high-value land has been left to low value uses such as park-and-ride, which is not the highest and best use. We think the government can do a better job of clawing back that money through station development and land taxation changes.

Inner-city locations where land values are high or stations close to shopping centres are good choices. Increased development around stations will generate jobs for Queenslanders, grow the Queensland economy, and increase farebox revenue on the public transport network generally. If student accommodation is built, it may also attract a subsidy from Brisbane City Council.

Proposals to fix up the bus network (mostly using existing resources, http://tiny.cc/newnetwork ) and a concept proposal for a RiverCity Rail tunnel (see link below) have already been developed by our members. This would complement the above changes.

Ultimately the Queensland Government must fund the lion's share of Cross River Rail as it is the sole owner of Queensland Rail. The Perth precedent shows that self-funding can be done. The Queensland Government is responsible for governing Queensland. History shows that governments that fail to act are quickly removed from office.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

References:

MTR Hong Kong Property Development
https://www.mtr.com.hk/en/corporate/properties/prop_dev_index.html

The Unique Genius of Hong Kong's Public Transportation System
http://www.theatlantic.com/china/archive/2013/09/the-unique-genius-of-hong-kongs-public-transportation-system/279528/

Opinion: Queensland should forget federal funding for cross river rail and turn to private sector to get things moving
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/opinion-queensland-should-forget-federal-funding-for-cross-river-rail-and-turn-to-private-sector-to-get-things-moving/story-fnihsr9v-1227373139965

Basics: The math of park and ride
http://www.humantransit.org/2014/10/basics-the-math-of-park-and-ride.html

River City Rail Tunnel Concept
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11413.msg155988#msg155988

Brisbane City Council Subsidies
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/developers-to-receive-discounts-to-build-brisbane-student-accomodation-20150225-13om7y.html

* Rough Calculation

10 billion dollars (project cost) divided by 5 million people (rounded population of Queensland) divided by 40 years (infrastructure economic life) = $50 per person, per year.

New Bus Network Proposal (Updated) ---> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork
Current Brisbane City Council Bus Network ---> http://tiny.cc/checkyourbus
Bus Reform Report  'Frequency is Freedom' ---> http://backontrack.org/docs/bus/reform/BusReformBlueprint.pdf

Transit Oriented Development - possible locations

Inner City

Auchenflower
Bowen Hills
Buranda
Coorparoo
Dutton Park
Fairfield
Morningside
Park Road
Taringa
Windsor
Wooloongabba (co-constructed with CRR)

Suburban

Cleveland
Eagle Junction
Mitchelton
Nundah
Sandgate
Strathpine
Toombul
Wynnum

Other

Beerwah
Caboolture
Helensvale
Nambour
Robina

[Golliwog]

The best TOD potential on the FG line is around Mitchelton.  Sink the line, wipe out 4 level crossings, develop the station site by creating something that works at surface level as well as above.

You would need to go down a bit. Google maps doesn't show it well but from memory theres a drain that runs between University Rd and Blackwood St that chucks a right angle towards Brookside when it hits the railway. It's already mostly in culverts behind the shops (I think) but you'd need to make sure you got under that if you were to develop on ground level.

Agree with your dive length you'd need to either close Glenholm LX or lengthen your cut to keep the intersection open and remove the rail. I think the latter would be what the locals would demand. Prospect Rd though, I've never understood why they kept it open, it should have had a through road put into Bellevue Ave when the townhouses went in up at Redgum Pl.

One issue with any development at Mitchelton is getting all the current landowners onside. They've been talking about redeveloping Mitchelton around the station for years. IIRC, the hardware adjacent to the station has stated they have no intention of leaving their current site (the plan was to shift the warehouse-y type places over to Osbourne Rd where the Pet Barn is, across the railway from Centrelink, to allow you to put retail/residential/restaurant/small offices along Blackwood and Kedron.

The main issue though would be the cost associated with keeping the line operational while you dug out underneath it.

[techblitz]

The main page link you posted gave me a message that I have to subscribe to see the content.

Couriermail is behind a pay wall.  I suspect that the mobile site is too but it only triggers after a number of article views.

I have also heard rumours that Brisbanetimes will be going the same way in the not to distant future as well.

spot on ozbob
just got the "article limt reached for this month" for sydney morning herald..and so it begins....

[colinw]

The SMH/Age article count is trivial to bypass as it relies on cookies.

Delete the SMH/Fairfax cookies, or use the "private browsing" mode of your browser, and read as many as you like.

[techblitz]

^ nice will give it a try

[HappyTrainGuy]

Or just delete the paper url+jargon and replace it with .news.

[newbris]

Or just delete the paper url+jargon and replace it with .news.

Would you mind explaining this further ?