24 Oct 2010: SEQ: Cross River Rail transcends petty politics

[ozbob]

Media Release 24 October 2010

SEQ:  Cross River Rail transcends petty politics

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has strongly supported the Queensland State Government's and the Queensland Opposition's commitment to the Cross River Rail project.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The Cross River Rail project is a transforming addition to the heavy rail network in south-east Queensland. The looming congestion constraints on the CBD rail axis must be addressed in order for proper sustainable safe mass transit to be available on the entire rail network for our community. Buses are not trains."

"Criticism of the Cross River Rail project by some of the pro-road lobby just further demonstrates how out of touch they are actually are (1).  Take off the 'road-coloured-glasses' and look around the world.  Rail is the being accelerated everywhere because enlightened jurisdictions are putting in place safe, sustainable, efficient and economical transport solutions for their communities."

"None the less, it is important that the Cross River Rail project team keep focussed, as they are.  Make it a watertight argument, without fudging the figures.  Meet the tight self-imposed deadline to deliver the business case.  This is a vital project."

Reference:

1.     Lord Mayor opposes public transport future  http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=72189


Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2034.0

[Mobility]

Nolan's statement (in your references) rejects the claim that character housing will be affected, yet she says that 66 properties will be resumed and that there are "some" (doesn't say how many) Queenslanders are in the area. She says the streets affected are a "mix" of property types, including timber houses. But she gets out if it by saying the area is not a "character precinct".

It sounds like Nolan is saying a character building does not deserve to be protected if it is outside a character precinct. Frequently character and heritage activists protest about buildings being demolished whose neighboring buildings are not character/heritage. Council regulations forbid even modifications to character homes, regardless of whether they are in a "character precinct".

I don't support the character and heritage regulations, but this is a clear double standard. It does not get in the way of anything the government itself wants to do but is strictly applied to and loudly opposed when private individuals or companies (except those favored by the government) wish to alter or demolish buildings. It's not "petty politics" when interests besides those of the government are involved.

[ozbob]

Thanks for your view and you are welcome to it.  It is petty politics as I see it.  The Lord Mayor has been very supportive previously.  I lived in a 'character house' in Albert St Windsor (Melbourne).  Now part of the formation for the road/tramlines along the widened Dandenong Road into St Kilda junction.  Life is like that.

The failure to actually put in place corridors as identified years ago (1960's and 70s) would have avoided a lot of the grief that is coming, not only for rail but particularly for roads and busways.  There is a busway protest this afternoon against the Northern Busway.  Lets face it, when the council wants a project character housing doesn't matter either does it?  The eastern busway has taken out 300 residential properties so far, more to come.  No problem Council supports that.

The fact of the matter is 66 properties, many not actually residential, to gain the equivalent of a 30 lane freeway in terms of pax capacity is a price that as a community is a reasonable one.  Some folks may prefer a 30 lane freeway and thousands of property resumptions.  But I differ.

[#Metro]

The failure to actually put in place corridors as identified years ago (1960's and 70s) would have avoided a lot of the grief that is coming, not only for rail but particularly for roads and busways.  There is a busway protest this afternoon against the Northern Busway.  Lets face it, when the council wants a project character housing doesn't matter either does it?  The eastern busway has taken out 300 residential properties so far, more to come.  No problem Council supports that.

One of the largest costs in public transport infrastructure is the acquisition of an exclusive right of way. One of the reason is to avoid car traffic interaction, the other reason is to make sure that people who drive cars do not have their lanes taken away from them. There used to be an exclusive tram alignment up Gympie Road as I understand it. You could get busway down the middle or perhaps light rail and achieve busway corridor capacity of up to 10 000 passengers/direction/hour or possibly more.

The same is true of the Eastern busway. Tram tracks are just sitting in the middle of Old Cleveland road, apparently to be ripped up so that --- get this--- so the busway can go in and then 'later' (we are never told or given an indication when) the wheel can be re-invented for the third time when it is converted back to LRT operation.

[ozbob]

Some nice photographs including trams on Gympie Road

--> http://www.busaustralia.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=38536&start=0

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

25th October 2010

Greetings,

Just to remind you all.

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

Albert Street station to service all CBD   Brisbanetimes 14 July 2010

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/albert-street-station-to-service-all-cbd-20100713-1099x.html


Quote
... Lord Mayor Campbell Newman backed the Brisbane underground and said council's CBD plan in 2005-06 included an underground railway station near Parliament House.

"It is actually mentioned in there, and it has to happen," he said.

Cr Newman said he, and other south-east Queensland mayors, would back the project, despite each having other projects to pitch to the federal government for funding.

"I, and the other mayors, all have other projects with different priorities which we would like to get up, but we think this should have the priority.''

Cr Newman said the underground would be deeper than comparable subterranean rail stations, like New York's famous subway, because the rail line had to go under the Brisbane River ...

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

Someone has a short memory ...

The Lord Mayor has been very supportive of CRR previously.  I lived in a 'character house' in Albert St Windsor (Melbourne).  Now part of the formation for the road/tramlines along the widened Dandenong Road into St Kilda junction.  Life is like that.

The failure to actually put in place corridors as identified years ago (1960's and 70s) would have avoided a lot of the grief that is coming, not only for rail but particularly for roads and busways.  There was a busway protest yesterday afternoon against the Northern Busway.  Lets face it, when the council wants a project character housing doesn't matter either does it?  The eastern busway has taken out 300 residential properties so far, more to come.  Airport Link and Clem7, also resumptions. No problem Council supports those.

The fact of the matter is 66 properties, many not actually residential, to gain the equivalent of a 30 lane freeway in terms of pax capacity is a price that as a community is a reasonable one.  Some folks may prefer a 30 lane freeway and thousands of property resumptions.  But we differ.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

Media Release 24 October 2010
 
SEQ:  Cross River Rail transcends petty politics

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has strongly supported the Queensland State Government's and the Queensland Opposition's commitment to the Cross River Rail project.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The Cross River Rail project is a transforming addition to the heavy rail network in south-east Queensland. The looming congestion constraints on the CBD rail axis must be addressed in order for proper sustainable safe mass transit to be available on the entire rail network for our community. Buses are not trains."

"Criticism of the Cross River Rail project by some of the pro-road lobby just further demonstrates how out of touch they are actually are (1).  Take off the 'road-coloured-glasses' and look around the world.  Rail is the being accelerated everywhere because enlightened jurisdictions are putting in place safe, sustainable, efficient and economical transport solutions for their communities."

"None the less, it is important that the Cross River Rail project team keep focussed, as they are.  Make it a watertight argument, without fudging the figures.  Meet the tight self-imposed deadline to deliver the business case.  This is a vital project."

Reference:

1.     Lord Mayor opposes public transport future  http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=72189


Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org