Article: Nagging traffic jams spread to weekends in Brisbane

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Nagging traffic jams spread to weekends in Brisbane

Nagging traffic jams spread to weekends in Brisbane
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Ursula Heger

April 18, 2009 12:00am

WEEKEND traffic in Brisbane is now so choked that some motorists are experiencing bottlenecks and traffic snarls to rival weekday congestion.

Traffic experts and the state's peak motoring body the RACQ have told The Courier-Mail some parts of the southeast are unable to cope with roadworks, alternating speed limits and the change in road usage, causing bumper-to-bumper traffic snarls during normally quiet weekends.

The problems come as a Brisbane's CBD commuters get used to 40km/h speed zones, introduced last weekend, in most central Brisbane streets.

Dave Andrews from the Australian Traffic Network said different areas were affected at different times on the weekend, with entertainment precincts in the Fortitude Valley producing late-night traffic because of reduced speed zones.

"Typically the Bruce Highway on the Sunshine Coast remains busy on the weekend, along with the Gateway," he said.

"Friday and Saturday nights you get a lot of traffic in the Valley, while major shopping centres are a particular problem early on Saturday mornings.

"Wherever there are roadworks you find traffic problems on the weekend, such as the Inner City Bypass, which has a lot of roadworks lately."

RACQ traffic and safety executive manager John Wikman said the driving patterns of weekend commuters caused different traffic problems than during the normal weekday peak.

"Just driving around suburban roads, not even the CBD, the traffic seems to get up there and stay quite continuous throughout the day," he said.

"Stafford Rd, particularly along the section between Webster Rd and Appleby Rd is busy.

"The (State Government) usually deal with public transport issues with people trying to get to work, but people on the weekends are using their cars for entirely different reasons, and we need to look at this when we are upgrading our roads network."

Blog comment:

Catch a train.  We are seeing a gradual ramp of rail.  Bus need more services at weekends as well as rail.  We are moving into a far more constant transport demand over the 7 days.  If we provide the means for people to get around and out of their cars this is a win for all. 

Just a tip, when you get a ticket out of a ticket machine on Saturday and Sundays make sure you press the off peak button, it is a cheaper fare.  The new ticket machines don't default to off peak on weekends like the old machines.  Be aware!!  :-)

[O_128]

maybe jsut maybe 15 min off peak should be introduced on weekends as a trail

[WTN]

maybe jsut maybe 15 min off peak should be introduced on weekends as a trail

For the busier routes.  Some have surprisingly good patronage, to the point where people are standing.

[stephenk]

It's not uncommon for passengers to be standing in mid-morning inbound services on some lines. This is often aggravated by the running of 3-car units on services that justify the use of 6-car units.

Brisbane needs an off-peak frequency of 15mins to make public transport more attractive. When you can drive across Brisbane in the time it takes to wait for a train, then it's no surprise that so many people who live near a train line still drive.

[ButFli]

Translink really needs to get out and do a count on the number of people on weekend services and increase frequencies where needed.

The 411 only comes once an hour on Sundays yet mid morning and early evening some passengers are required to stand. Admittedly no one gets left behind, but surely if all the seats are full it demonstrates that there is sufficient demand for at least half hourly services. An hourly frequency on a 15 minute trip to the city is ridiculous.

[stephenk]

ButFli has a good point. If rail frequencies are improved at the weekends, then so should the frequencies on some bus routes. Otherwise people who have to make a bus/rail journey will be put off because of the infrequent bus portion of the journey.

When planning to increase frequencies, the present loading on existing services should not be the only factor looked at. This is because increasing the frequency will itself improve the loadings as more people are attracted to frequent public transport.

A good example of the benefits of increased frequency is when an infrequent suburban rail line was replaced by a more frequent tramway between Wimbledon and Croydon. The patronage increased by 800% in just 7 years!

[O_128]

Last Sunday i caught the 8 11 Bowen hills train from manly to central this was a 3 car train and was standing only at cannon hill. QR needs to realize it inst the 70s anymore and people don't just work 9-5 mon-fri

[Arnz]

Last Sunday i caught the 8 11 Bowen hills train from manly to central this was a 3 car train and was standing only at cannon hill. QR needs to realize it inst the 70s anymore and people don't just work 9-5 mon-fri

QR does not plan the timetables.  TRANSLink does, QR only runs it.

[mufreight]

One must question if Translink has the ability to plan anything?
Their track record would seem to indicate not.

[stephenk]

Last Sunday i caught the 8 11 Bowen hills train from manly to central this was a 3 car train and was standing only at cannon hill. QR needs to realize it inst the 70s anymore and people don't just work 9-5 mon-fri

QR does not plan the timetables.  TRANSLink does, QR only runs it.

As far as I am aware Translink specify some requirements of the timetable (e.g. frequencies), but QR actually write the timetables.