Western Busway - proposed route

[ozbob]

There is no doubt that a western busway would improve considerably the utility and efficiency of bus from the west.

Please post your suggested route.  Start point, general route, bus stations and anything else relevant.  

Some background here --> http://wbtni.net.au/index.php?mod=Dynamic&id=69

Thanks!

Cheers
Bob

[#Metro]

The Western Brisbane Transport Network Investigation (WBTNI from now on) has two options
that are sort of in the right area: Option 11 and Option 7.  Parts from Option 17 could also be included- either as busway or as priority bus lanes. http://www.wbtni.net.au/transport_options.htm

Indooroopilly Shopping Centre and Toowong (with rail interchange) are key places that should have major bus stops or interchanges. Using the ABC site for a station might be one possibility, but it would depend on the Alignment- that might be too close to the river.

I think there is a bus depot at Richlands and one proposed for Sherwood that could stable the buses using a Western Busway. If another depot is required, this could be considered for near Kenmore/Moggill.

[somebody]

I have a radical suggestion.

Coronation Drive, between Cribb St and Chasely St was 6 lanes and 5 lanes Land St to Sylvan Rd.  Currently the right most outbound lane is just blocked off for some or all of that length.  That lane could be used for traffic, and the left most lane made into a bus/transit lane, with limited access.  I.e. busses don't have to stop for traffic lights, barriers between that lane and the other traffic lanes, nothing enters or leaves the bus/transit lane.

Major problems are that the 4xx rockets need to be re-directed to access it, and it does nothing to help inbound buses, except for making returning buses faster.  It also means that the buses for Milton Rd/Toowong Cemetery need to access it via Sherwood Rd, Jephson St and Sylvan Rd or Croydon St.  I rejected the idea of using Land St & Sylvan Rd to get to Milton Rd because you probably couldn't expect the buses to be able to turn right at Land St unless the limited access finished before Chasely St

It's a whole lot better than nothing.

[#Metro]

Hmm. This is actually an interesting idea. There would have to be a partition, and it would be hard to stop people abusing the bus lane to bypass the lights.

Busway station at Toowong: Toowong Woolies?

Any land resumption is not going to be popular 

[david]

In fact, the old ABC site would provide a perfect interchange between CityCat, train and bus. A simple footbridge could be constructed to connect the train station to the busway station (or modifying the existing one which connects the station to UQ-bound buses). Plus it would only be a short walk from the busway station to the Regatta CityCat terminal. There might be some problems with the apparent cancer risk of the area though.

I have posted this before in a different thread. I thought it would be suitable to re-post here -

It really needs to run along Milton Road, before turning into Croydon/Jephson St and tunnel to Toowong station, before following Moggill Road to Indooroopilly (new bus station near the Myer entrance) and then turning onto the Western Freeway/Centenary Highway. Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre should be the final station on the western busway.

I suppose it could also run parallel with the Northern link, connecting with the INB at Normanby station. Stations could then also be situated at Bardon/Paddington (perhaps designed like the Lutwyche station - open air but underneath a road).

[O_128]

the  western busway could easlily be a lane each way in the tunned with undergriund busway stations with lifts to the surface similar to a metro the busway could follow the entire lengh of the tunnel and join up at the RWCH. simple it would add maybe 100million to the cost of the tunnel

[#Metro]

A simple footbridge could be constructed to connect the train station to the busway station

A subway structure underneath coro drive to connect to the platforms at Toowong? Or a wide footbridge maybe.
Mt Ommaney looks like the logical terminus for the busway- I agree.
Should the route deviate from Toowong and take in parts of Milton/Paddinton/Rosalie? Hmm.
Should there be a connection of some sort to the Western Freeway?
Should any alignment be kept close to the rail line (transfers, synergy) or further away (serve people who might not have train access?).


The ABC Toowong site is quite large, the rest of this could be converted into a very nice waterfront park. There would probably be space for offices etc too, and the leases from this could offset the cost of building the station. As for cancer risks, I think they tested the place exhaustively and couldn't trace it to anything (I haven't been able to find a report though). It was a breast cancer cluster in women, so I'm not sure if it really is just the site or something else.

[#Metro]

http://www.abc.net.au/corp/pubs/bci.htm

Reports for the ABC site.

[somebody]

Hmm. This is actually an interesting idea. There would have to be a partition, and it would be hard to stop people abusing the bus lane to bypass the lights.

I said a partition.  If it's a 24-hour bus lane, there's no trouble stopping people abusing it by putting in a bus lane camera.  The partition is only needed to allow the buses to safely not need to stop at the traffic lights.

[david]

I believe those lanes in which you speak about will be put back into general use once the Hale St Link opens

[somebody]

I believe those lanes in which you speak about will be put back into general use once the Hale St Link opens

Weird.  What are they waiting for?

[ozbob]

How is this for an idea?  Busway (bus lanes/road)  counterflow from Mogill suburbs to Wacol (Darra?) railway station.  Green bridge, bus and active transport only?  Be a lot quicker, cheaper and will avoid a lot of the congestion.

[ButFli]

I know you love the idea of bus-rail connections OzBob but it remains to be seen whether Brisbanites will take to them en masse. The idea of travelling counter-peak by bus only to have to join peak-direction rail services is not appealing to the average PT passenger. Just look at the majory of non-CBD-centric PT routes - most of them are barely used.

Planning large scale infrastructure is pointless when there is every indication that it won't be used.

[Emmie]

In fact, the old ABC site would provide a perfect interchange between CityCat, train and bus.

This sounds a very clever idea, David.  I don't think the cancer cluster is an issue - the land has been extensively investigated, and nobody seems to know what caused it, but if the land up for sale, presumably they've decided it's okay for housing or commercial development anyway.

[ozbob]

There are some interesting comments here!

http://blogs.brisbanetimes.com.au/eyeq/archives/2008/04/solving_western.html?page=fullpage#comments

Cheers
Bob

[#Metro]

Green bridge, bus and active transport only?

This is a good idea, especially if a bridge was required next to the Walter Taylor Bottleneck or Centenary Highway. It gives good bicycle access and lends itself to weekend leisure use as well. Running trains in this area might be a problem as some of it is rather hilly.

[david]

How is this for an idea?  Busway (bus lanes/road)  counterflow from Mogill suburbs to Wacol (Darra?) railway station.  Green bridge, bus and active transport only?  Be a lot quicker, cheaper and will avoid a lot of the congestion.

I believe that was one of the suggestions that Kenmore residents came up with when opposing the Kenmore Bypass. Seems fairly logical to me. Trip times from Moggill would be cut dramatically. Plus, trains at Darra will be able to cope with the excess demand once the new rail lines open up in 8 months or so.

The problem would be preventing general traffic from accessing such a bridge. There is nothing to stop general traffic from going across the Eleanor Schonell Bridge at the moment (apart from the risk of a fine, plus plenty of uni students looking at you awkwardly)

[O_128]

How is this for an idea?  Busway (bus lanes/road)  counterflow from Mogill suburbs to Wacol (Darra?) railway station.  Green bridge, bus and active transport only?  Be a lot quicker, cheaper and will avoid a lot of the congestion.

I believe that was one of the suggestions that Kenmore residents came up with when opposing the Kenmore Bypass. Seems fairly logical to me. Trip times from Moggill would be cut dramatically. Plus, trains at Darra will be able to cope with the excess demand once the new rail lines open up in 8 months or so.

The problem would be preventing general traffic from accessing such a bridge. There is nothing to stop general traffic from going across the Eleanor Schonell Bridge at the moment (apart from the risk of a fine, plus plenty of uni students looking at you awkwardly)

the same could be said for the busways

[ButFli]

There is nothing to stop general traffic from going across the Eleanor Schonell Bridge at the moment (apart from the risk of a fine, plus plenty of uni students looking at you awkwardly)

And the fact that the bridge isn't connected to the road network on the UQ side. If someone drove their car across the bridge there would be nowhere for them to go apart from back over the bridge again.

[Jon Bryant]

The lanes/bridge could use the same technology used on the Gateway Bridge.  It is capable of digitally recognising Number Plates.  Sure drive across but the fine will follow in the mail.  Should be used on Bus Lanes as well.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

12th July 2018

Call for Centenary Motorway Bus Priority

Greetings,

We note the statement ' Palaszczuk Government fast-tracks design for a second Centenary Bridge ' http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2018/7/4/palaszczuk-government-fasttracks-design-for-a-second-centenary-bridge.

We welcome this committment as it provides an opportunity to incorporate transit lanes to give buses priority.  The Western Brisbane Transport Network Strategy ( https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/W/Western-Brisbane-Transport-Network-Strategy ) has identified this need, particularly Project 3: Darra to Indooroopilly – Centenary Motorway transit lanes (SEQIPP)
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/W/Western-Brisbane-Transport-Network-Strategy/Western-Brisbane-Transport-Network-Strategy-projects#project_03

This project will involve the provision of bus priority or transit lanes from the western suburbs to Indooroopilly along the Centenary Motorway.

We call for the provision of bus priority to be factored into the fast tracking design for a second Centenary Bridge.

If buses are given priority the mode becomes much more attractive.
A bus potentially removes around 50 cars from the congested traffic.  It is time we started to think outside the car!

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1017145394285821952

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Goodna man's plan to ease congestion on Centenary

A VOCAL transport advocate has called on the State Government to go further on its congestion busting project for the Centenary Hwy by installing transit lanes and boosting bus services.

This month, the State Government announced it would provide $16 million to fund a business case for a second bridge across the river at Jindalee.

The project is designed to ease congestion along the busy stretch.

Goodna resident Robert Dow from Rail Back On Track wants the State Government to incorporate transit lanes in the redesign to provide express passage to buses, boosting options for travellers.

"If bus transport was made more attractive along that corridor, it would help mitigate congestion," Mr Dow said.

"We know one bus takes 50 cars off the road - that's about half a km of traffic."

Transport and Main Roads' long-term planning strategies include prioritising bus services in the Western Corridor, along with making better use of existing rail and road assets.

Mr Dow said the State Government's announcement earlier this month had created an opportunity to remind decision makers how buses could help ease congestion.

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1017145394285821952

"We want better transport options for everyone," Mr Dow said.

"We can't do busways everywhere, it's too expensive.

"But you can certainly put bus and transit lanes in to make the journey quicker and that would make travelling by bus more attractive."

Transport and Main Roads has been contacted for comment on the provision of transit lanes and increased bus services.

There are several transport projects funded by the State Government ongoing in the Ipswich region, including a major upgrade to the Ipswich Mwy between Darra and Oxley, and Sumners Rd Interchange.

The Palaszczuk Government has also committed to expanding Ipswich's rail network, although no firm plans have been announced and the project won't to go ahead until after 2024 - when the inner-city project Cross River Rail is finished.

Yes, my tweet is embedded in the article ... 

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1017287337900818432

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1017880009342504960

[#Metro]

"There were no plans to include bus lanes in this project"

What is this nonsense? That bridge is THE main arterial into the CBD for the Centenary Suburbs. It is a geographical choke / constriction point in the entire network and thus an opportunity to give a clear advantage to PT.

There are no plans for bus - but there are provisions for cyclist and pedestrian though?

If anything they should place a single busway stop there to serve Jindalee, Sinammon Park and DFO.

[ozbob]

Quest Westside News 16th August 2018 pages 1 and 5

Life in the slow lane