Richlands Rail station BRT feeder system

[#Metro]

Most people don't live within the catchment zone of Richlands station.
If you can't get the train to the people, the people must be transported to the train...

Bus services could be distinctive in style, and run both ways so that people could jump on
the route anywhere and be confident that they will be transported to the rail station.

[#Metro]

[#Metro]

Here is a closer view of Richlands station:

http://www.nearmap.com/?q=Richlands%20station@-27.596068,152.947369&ll=-27.594109,152.947712&z=16&t=k&nmd=20100821

Take a look within the 400 m (optimal walking distance) and 800 meters (with effort) areas around
the station (scale bar, bottom left). Hardly anyone lives around there, everyone is at least a good
kilometre or two from the station, with the main activity centres even further.

Rapid bus required...

[Jonno]

I give it no more than 2 months before the surrounding area sees a TOD application.

[Gazza]

Here's my proposal:

Considerations:

-No F@#&*!$ weaving or circuitous routes!
-Speedy travel times and shortest/straightest possible routes, by staying on main/'known' roads.
-Legibility, again by staying on major roads.
-Majority of people within 400m radius of a stop (accepted walk up catchment for buses)
-Several shorter routes rather than one long 'loopy' one.
-Serve important shopping centres in Inala and Forest Lake.

Key:

Red:  Forest Lake & Parkwood Estate, Via Inala Plaza and College Ave.

Blue: Forest Lake Village Via Forest Lake Blvd & West Grand Place via Grand Avenue.

Green: Inala West & Ellen Grove South, Via Archerfield Road and Woogaroo Street.
Note, for this route to be possible a bus only crossover would need to be built in Balla Close, Forest Lake
This is probably the weakest route of the bunch, not entirely happy with it, and I doubting now that I write this.

Purple Dotted: Future conversion of blue route to loop/ general route for servicing Carole Park.

Yellow Area: Catchment

Pink Area: Missed Catchment

With respect to the pink areas, these people would face a 600m walk to services either, on the flip side they would get a choice of two services for the return trip. These are fairly small in the heart of Forest Lake/Inala.

The area at the very south of Forest Lake, bordering the Logan Mwy is flat out impossible to plot an attractive bus route through, so I just stuck to Grand Ave at the expense of walking distance for these people (650m or so):


Overall though, there is scope to play around with it. The idea of having at least one flagship along Forest Lake Blvd without deviating is a non negotiable for me because it does capture a lot people, and it would be speedy, so that's one thing I won't change.
The tail ends of routes when they get south of Forest Lake Shopping Center could well switch. (Eg blue terminates at Parkwood Estate instead)
Inala is a  to serve because there are virtually only two points where you can cross easily into Forest Lake from Inala, apart from Partridge Street & Woodland Avenue, and that afformentioned idea of doing a bus crossover through a bit of public land at the end of Balala Close  ...the street networks were obviously done in isolation.

[#Metro]

Gazza, what image program are you using?

[#Metro]

Look at the monstrosity in image #2. Cul-de-sacs everywhere, IMPOSSIBLE to plot a bus route through there. 
The only hope for a bus serving that area is a bus on the motorway.

As for the BRT image/bus routes, this is great stuff Gazza! 
I actually think that this boosts the case for the construction of a rail station at Carole Park. Look at your red, blue and green routes at the bottom of image #1.
Now imagine a bus route directly from Heathwood to a station near the motorway junction. It would be much faster than travelling through the rest of forest lake.

A rail station would work well if positioned close to the motorway junction. This would allow park and ride and feeder bus to ferry the passengers in.
This is how Perth does it. It's not ideal circumstances, but better than nothing.

IMHO a rail station should be built, but only one, that being sited near the junction of the motorways.

[Gazza]

Gazza, what image program are you using?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CorelDRAW

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inkscape is a good open source one apparently if you want to dabble in this sort of stuff.

A rail station would work well if positioned close to the motorway junction. This would allow park and ride and feeder bus to ferry the passengers in.
This is how Perth does it. It's not ideal circumstances, but better than nothing.

My thoughts for people coming off the Motorway is that they are travelling at 100km/h, so its only an extra 1min 20 sec of driving to continue to Richlands, plus it doesn't require offramps to be built to access the station (There are none at the moment, the first set is in fact at Progress Road...which is where Richlands is 

I understand the arguments for doing the station at the same time as the rest of the project, and would indeed support the station being further south than the proposed site (Intersection of Roxwell and Consindine St would be an much better place), but until the land use is guaranteed to change then it would be a tough sell to planners.
Then again, an easy way to do that would be to rezone parts of Ellen Grove to higher density...Land values would shoot up, current owners would see $$$ and sell, and the place would turn over pretty quickly.

[SurfRail]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1305765125

I've just noticed that the 460 and 462 are to be routed into the Richlands interchange to coincide with the 6 June timetables, and some upgrades are happening to the 465 and 466 also.

[somebody]

I thought they were going to get rid of the 462.  Not sure about continuing the 460 and 461 either.

[#Metro]

"think bus, fill train"

[SurfRail]

I thought they were going to get rid of the 462.  Not sure about continuing the 460 and 461 either.

There is a need for the sort of regional reviews NSW and Vic have been carrying out in recent years (and TL between 2004-2006), which would identify potential savings and efficiencies in the whole south-western region - particularly now every timetable is plugged into Hastus.  Until that happens, I am happy to leave the 460 as is.

Kill the 461, and cut the 462 off south of Richlands definitely.

[somebody]

cut the 462 off south of Richlands definitely.

Wouldn't that make it a 465?

[SurfRail]

cut the 462 off south of Richlands definitely.

Wouldn't that make it a 465?

No - leave the bit that goes to Darra only, and leave the 465 for the rest.

I'd also like to see the 466 take over from the 460 and 100 in the corridor between Inala and Forest Lake by rerouting it away from the Willawong Depot, so you could redirect the 100 and/or 110 to Richlands or terminate at Inala.

[somebody]

Now I follow what you are saying.  Is there a need for such a service?  103 covers the bit north of the motorway.  Boundary Rd would be left unserved west of Acanthus St I guess.  The area is industrial though.

I agree with the 466 to some degree.  Running to the depot is a symptom of too great an operational focus.  However, doesn't the 465 cover the 100/460 Inala Forest Lake bit anyway?  Or am I not following.

[SurfRail]

I agree with the 466 to some degree.  Running to the depot is a symptom of too great an operational focus.  However, doesn't the 465 cover the 100/460 Inala Forest Lake bit anyway?  Or am I not following.

Sort of.  Like I said, the precinct needs to be redesigned to improve consistency of service levels. and simplify the network design to feed into Richlands and Inala (and Ellen Grove if we eventually have a win...). 

The existing 100/101/102/103/110/P118/122/460/P461/462/463/465/466/534 are really very ad hoc when you look at them.  They need to sit down and work these out from scratch in one hit.

[david]

Timetable has finally been loaded, approximately 10 hours before the new services start!

http://translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/services-and-timetables/timetables/110606-462,465,466.pdf

It's interesting to note that they've extended the 462 to Heathwood for "selected trips". What's the point of that? In fact, is the 462 actually needed anymore?

Sort of.  Like I said, the precinct needs to be redesigned to improve consistency of service levels. and simplify the network design to feed into Richlands and Inala (and Ellen Grove if we eventually have a win...). 

The existing 100/101/102/103/110/P118/122/460/P461/462/463/465/466/534 are really very ad hoc when you look at them.  They need to sit down and work these out from scratch in one hit.

Can't agree more. There's so much duplication in the Inala/Richlands/Forest Lake area that some residents are really spoilt for choice! For example, leaving from Inala Plaza, you can catch the 460/461/462/466 to Richlands, or perhaps the 103/462 to Darra, or perhaps the 101/102 to Oxley/Corinda. For someone heading to the City, their head would be spinning as to which is the best option!

It's even worse at Forest Lake Village. Perhaps you'd like the 463 to Wacol or Goodna if you're keen on back-tracking? Heading to Richlands? Take your pick of the 460/461/462/465. The 462 comes with the added bonus of going to Darra too! Or maybe the 100/118 if you're deadset on a one-seat journey?

My point is that there is now WAY TOO MUCH duplication of services in this region. I would understand if the frequencies were terrible in this area, but it's NOT! The frequencies are half decent. Time for a much needed review of all Brisbane West buses!

[somebody]

In fact, is the 462 actually needed anymore?

No.

[#Metro]

My point is that there is now WAY TOO MUCH duplication of services in this region. I would understand if the frequencies were terrible in this area, but it's NOT! The frequencies are half decent. Time for a much needed review of all Brisbane West buses!

There are too many bus routes in Brisbane, full stop. This might be called 'choice' by some; I call it gross waste and inefficiency. They are only 'choices' really only if they arrive at your bus stop at identical time, otherwise you have to expend time to wait for the next service, and if none of them are frequent, then it really is a menu of rotten apples.

Train stations should be treated like busway stations- you had better have a good reason for passing one without stopping!