Roads - articles and discussion

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Wynnum Rd upgrade: Majority of residents say no to dedicated bus lanes, but Councillor Shayne Sutton says survey a 'farce'

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Quirk: Residents say 'no' to Wynnum Road bus lanes

[ozbob]

Quirk sets up a loaded straw poll.  He is getting desperate me thinks ..

Doing the same thing over and over is just making it worse.  Bus priority might get a shift from cars to more sustainable transport options.

T2/T3 lanes at peak should be considered, but I guess they don't get it.

More lanes, more induced traffic.   Hey ho  ... worsening gridlock!

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Legacy Way workers slowed down to protect jobs: Graham Quirk

Things are getting to LM Quirk ...   

The article has been updated, looks like he has upset a few ...  e.g.

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

Twitter

Cr Milton Dick ‏@CrMiltonDick 13m

LM must apologise for insulting the integrity of workers and making these baseless claims.
http://m.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/legacy-way-workers-slowed-down-to-protect-jobs-graham-quirk-20151023-gkgup1.html ...

[ozbob]

Twitter

Penny Dahl ‏@Pennycopter 18m

Terrible run on the Centenary Hwy northbound coming out of Springfield through Richlands #bnetraffic

[achiruel]

Quirk sets up a loaded straw poll.  He is getting desperate me thinks ..

Doing the same thing over and over is just making it worse.  Bus priority might get a shift from cars to more sustainable transport options.

T2/T3 lanes at peak should be considered, but I guess they don't get it.

More lanes, more induced traffic.   Hey ho  ... worsening gridlock!

Did they survey ask about T2/T3 lanes though? Wasn't it only about exclusively bus lanes (which given the current frequency of buses in that section, would see much of their lives empty).

However, Cr Sutton is correct about one thing; unless the Canning Bridge is widened along with the rest of the road, it is just creating a chokepoint.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> 32 properties resumed to start Kingsford Smith Drive widening project

The former State Government couldn't find the courage to do the BaT properly (no resumptions > flawed design) no such timidness with the BCC despots.

Hypocrisy ...   

[ozbob]

Media Release
Treasurer, Minister for Employment and Industrial Relations and Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships
The Honourable Curtis Pitt

$450 million Logan Motorway Enhancement Project on the drawing board

Treasurer Curtis Pitt said faster travel times for Logan motorists and more than 1,300 jobs could be on their way soon under a $450 million market-led proposal from Transurban Queensland to upgrade the Logan Motorway and the Gateway Extension Corridor.

The proposal is the first to progress to the detailed assessment phase of the Government's new Market-Led Proposals framework announced at the State Budget in July.

Mr Pitt said the proposal includes interchange upgrades at key congestion and accident hot spots, widening parts of the Gateway Extension Motorway and the construction of some new ramps to ease congestion and improve safety.

"Based on Transurban's initial modelling, the project is expected to create more than 1,300 new jobs during construction and generate more than $1.2 billion in economic benefits for Queenslanders," Mr Pitt said.

"This proposal is a great example of industry bringing their ideas to the table and working with government to facilitate them.

"The Logan Motorway Enhancement Project has received early support from a wide range of stakeholders including Logan City Council, the Queensland Transport and Logistics Council, the Queensland Trucking Association and the RACQ.

"I want to thank all the local Government MPs for their advocacy of this project. We're a government that's focused on infrastructure delivery, which is why we want to harness the knowledge and expertise of the private sector on exciting proposals like this."

Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey said the Logan Enhancement Project responded to a clear need for action.

"It provides an outstanding opportunity to transform a vital part of SEQ's transport infrastructure that is currently suffering from congestion and causing reliability and safety concerns," he said.

"This project promises to deliver a safer and more efficient motorway network by relieving local traffic congestion, reducing travel times, while improving safety and enhancing connectivity with other major road networks.

"The proposed works also address major congestion and road safety issues currently experienced on the Mount Lindesay Highway and Wembley Road interchanges.

"Over recent years we've seen a significant increase in commercial traffic, for example between 2010-2014 there's been average network growth of 52.5% for commercial vehicles, compared to less than 7% for private vehicles," Mr Bailey said.

"The road upgrade will also improve productivity and the more efficient delivery of goods and services.

"Independent consultants KPMG have also forecast that the new road could halve the number of collisions by 2020. With the increased level of commercial traffic, any reduction in accidents is good news for all road users.

"Transurban has committed to a comprehensive stakeholder engagement process during the Detailed Proposal phase to ensure a thorough understanding of the project and stakeholder support."

Transurban proposes to fund the upgrades through toll increases for trucks across the Logan and Gateway Motorways.

There will also be a new toll facility for motorists if they choose to use the proposed new south-facing ramps at Compton Road.

Motorists will not be forced to use any new tolling points and they will have access to alternative routes via the existing toll-free road network.

Motorists who use existing toll routes and continue to use the same routes will not see an increase in tolls as a result of this project.

Peter Garske, Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) said outcomes of the project would include removing congestion, reducing safety risks, and delivering savings in fuel efficiency, maintenance and labour costs.

"The Association supports the project delivering improved efficiency and productivity for transport businesses, while also upgrading safety for the road network. Any works that ultimately deliver savings for business will be welcomed by our members across the transport, freight, and logistics industries," he said.

RACQ EM Public Policy Michael Roth said the RACQ welcomes the State Government working with the private sector to obtain the best possible outcome for taxpayers and motorists.

"It's good to see Transurban improving their network with the Logan Enhancement Project. RACQ believes this project will relieve congestion in a notorious chokepoint while allowing for future traffic growth," he said.

"We're pleased motorists won't have to pay any more to use the Motorway, and the road will be made much safer to drive on."

The State Government does not receive any toll road proceeds. It's expected the Government will receive Transurban's final proposal in late 2016, when the Government will decide whether to proceed with the proposal, modify it, or consider other options.

In the three months since the State Government announced its new Market-Led Proposals Framework in July, it has received at least 28 proposals. For more information about the Queensland Government's Market-Led Proposals Framework, visit www.treasury.qld.gov.au/mlp

[Fares_Fair]

.. while rail congestion is continuing to be ignored for the North Coast Line between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, even though it would remove trucks, reduce freight costs and save $ on road trauma.
#2tracks

[SurfRail]

.. while rail congestion is continuing to be ignored for the North Coast Line between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, even though it would remove trucks, reduce freight costs and save $ on road trauma.
#2tracks

I suspect this is largely to be funded by Transurban who can collect tolls to reimburse them the investment.

No such luck for the NCL.

[verbatim9]

So much being done on roads. I must admit Logan Motorway has alot of Truck Traffic weekdays.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> User-pays to fund motorway upgrade

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Gold Coasters should pay Pacific Motorway toll: traffic expert

[ozbob]

^ 7 News have sought comment on how transport can be improved with respect to M1 gridlock etc.

Gazza was interviewed and detailed public transport improvements e.g increasing speed and capacity north of Beenleigh, better bus connections at GC stations, future line extensions.  Hopefully will make the cut for tonight's news.

Thanks Gazza!

[SurfRail]

Quite predictably this is generating the usual outrage.

Having said that and assessed it with a level head, I don't agree with this idea at all, because it is a piecemeal approach to road pricing.  It is also going to be very difficult to target at Gold Coast commuters anyway seeing the gantries and such would need to be located on what currently functions as a local, regional and interstate highway, so the principal justification for it simply doesn't exist.

[ozbob]

^ 7 News have sought comment on how transport can be improved with respect to M1 gridlock etc.

Gazza was interviewed and detailed public transport improvements e.g increasing speed and capacity north of Beenleigh, better bus connections at GC stations, future line extensions.  Hopefully will make the cut for tonight's news.

Thanks Gazza!

Got back from Goodna rail station just in time to see the story.  Good comment Gazza!

They simply cannot keep adding lanes  ...

[James]

What it comes down to is that the Beenleigh line is grossly inadequate. Travelling from Varsity Lakes station, my car does not turn off the motorway at Beenleigh, taking 50 minutes to get to the CBD! It continues at 100kph all the way to South Bank.

Having said that and assessed it with a level head, I don't agree with this idea at all, because it is a piecemeal approach to road pricing.  It is also going to be very difficult to target at Gold Coast commuters anyway seeing the gantries and such would need to be located on what currently functions as a local, regional and interstate highway, so the principal justification for it simply doesn't exist.

I agree. Also, this charge should only really apply for the peaks. One drive in particular I remember was when I was passing through Nerang at around 10pm on a Monday night, you could not see any other car on the stretch of road I was on. If you charged me $20 for driving on an empty road, I'd get pretty cranky.

Really, the better thing to do is encourage decentralisation. Fact is that the Gold Coast needs to start generating its own jobs and become a city in its own right, rather than an oversized holiday town.

[#Metro]

It should be obvious that adding lanes will not ease congestion - a lane was already added when the T2 lanes were removed from the freeway. So it went from three congested lanes and one uncongested one to four congested lanes, what difference does it make??

[Gazza]

The 4 lane section is fine. The issue is that 3 lane stretch from Loganholme to 8MP.

James, funnily enough I made the point that the line north of Beenleigh is full of twists and turns, and has limited track capacity.

[ozbob]

7 News --> M1 toll suggestions

A traffic expert believes the solution to growing congestion on the Pacific Motorway is a toll. He wants drivers charged ten dollars for trips between Brisbane and the Gold Coast. Mylee Hogan reports.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

31st October 2015

Time for a paradigm change - roads only failure

Greetings,

Lots of media interest following this story in the  Couriermail Quest --> Gold Coasters should pay Pacific Motorway toll: traffic expert

We cannot keep on adding more and more lanes to roads and expect the congestion issues to be resolved.  More lanes > even more induced traffic, so the cycle repeats.

Of course we need roads, but we also need to start making some changes to the present systematic approach to encouraging even more transport failure.

Congestion tolling, public transport improvements and decentralisation are all needed to change the failing road paradigm.

7 News also covered this  --> M1 toll suggestions

Massive investment in roads at the cost of other transport modes has just accelerated the failure.

Spin and photo opportunities cannot cover up the failure.  It will only worsen unless some wise policy initiatives are implemented.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[red dragin]

If he'd come out and said improve poblic transport - there would have been little media response.

Come out and say something controversial - media are suddenly interested and your message that has potential gets attention.

[#Metro]

What's controversial?

[SurfRail]

What's controversial?

The fact you are asking that concerns me.

[James]

It should be obvious that adding lanes will not ease congestion - a lane was already added when the T2 lanes were removed from the freeway. So it went from three congested lanes and one uncongested one to four congested lanes, what difference does it make??

This part of the motorway is only a small section. On the inbound it is after the bottleneck (2 lanes as the M3 goes under the Gateway), and hence will always have a higher flow quality. On the outbound it has just moved the bottleneck closer to the M3/M1 merge, as there's only two lanes between the 8MP bus station and where the Gateway merges, compared to when it was 2 lanes + T2 lane all the way from Exit 11 up to the Gateway merge.

Adding lanes in the right place will ease congestion in the short to medium term. In the long term more congestion will arise. Adding lanes in the wrong place (or only half completing an extension) will just shift congestion.

[verbatim9]

Sent to all outlets:

31st October 2015

Time for a paradigm change - roads only failure

Greetings,

Lots of media interest following this story in the  Couriermail Quest --> Gold Coasters should pay Pacific Motorway toll: traffic expert

We cannot keep on adding more and more lanes to roads and expect the congestion issues to be resolved.  More lanes > even more induced traffic, so the cycle repeats.

Of course we need roads, but we also need to start making some changes to the present systematic approach to encouraging even more transport failure.

Congestion tolling, public transport improvements and decentralisation are all needed to change the failing road paradigm.

7 News also covered this  --> M1 toll suggestions

Massive investment in roads at the cost of other transport modes has just accelerated the failure.

Spin and photo opportunities cannot cover up the failure.  It will only worsen unless some wise policy initiatives are implemented.

Best wishes
Robert

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

There could be more money spent on rail realignment north of Beenleigh?

[SurfRail]

The lowest hanging piece of fruit is Trinder Park.  After that it gets steadily more expensive - probably enough that you might be better off building a new line between Beenleigh to the CBD along the eastern edge of the M1 without design compromises.  Stops at Loganholme, Springwood, Eight Mile Plains and Upper Mt Gravatt only, then via Park Road and CRR.  Emphasise bus interchange at all 4 stops en route, with the significance of park'n'ride becoming greater the further out you get.  Leave the busway south of the Buranda on and off-ramps in place as a high quality veloway and emergency services route.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Penny Dahl ‏@Pennycopter 2m

Jam packed - the Centenary Hwy inbound from Darra behind a crash on the bridge at Jindalee #bnetraffic pic.twitter.com/BsytaeHod7

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Logan Motorway in line for upgrade

[ozbob]

Media Release
Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety and Ports and Minister for Energy and Water Supply
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Tenders called for Caboolture River Bridge upgrade

Tenders for the major $17.1 million upgrade of the Caboolture River Bridge on Morayfield Road will be called this week

Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey said the State and Australian Governments were jointly funding the upgrade.

"The Palaszczuk Government is investing $8.5 million to jointly fund this important infrastructure upgrade with the Australian Government under a 50/50 funding agreement," Mr Bailey said.

"The $17.1 million upgrade will not only provide better infrastructure for the local community, it will benefit the economy through improved freight efficiency and related productivity gains.

"An average of 51 direct jobs will be supported during the delivery of these critical upgrade works."

Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormacksaid the $17 million upgrade will provide better infrastructure for the local community and benefit the economy through improved freight efficiency.

"This will provide a higher-standard, safer bridge for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, as well as allowing load limits on the bridge to be removed," Mr McCormack said.

Member for Pumicestone Rick Williams said the whole community will benefit from this much needed upgrade.

"The Caboolture River Bridge is more than 90 years old and experiences flooding during heavy rain or severe weather," Mr Williams said.

"The contract is expected to be awarded early next year, with work to start soon after and take about 12 months to complete."

More information is available at the Queensland Government QTenders website at https://www.hpw.qld.gov.au/qtenders

[ozbob]

LM Quirk has announced that LandLease will be building the KSD Project.

Interesting to see that ' public transport wash ' is again being used to try to garner favour, in a similar fashion as to the false promises re Legacy Way and the ' 2000 daily express buses ' ..

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

Check out @Robert_Dow's Tweet: https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/666440611461857280?s=09

Lord Mayor says high frequency #bus services will be possible with Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade #publictransport


Oh so the 300 will become a buz/rapid/high frequency service?

I take any commitment from BCC with respect to buses as utter bullsh%t sadly.

Plenty of prior form with Legacy Way - 2000 daily express buses

Anti-bus network reform Quirk et al.

They only see solutions in terms of massive infrastructure.  Unable to take the right steps.

I note the ALP Candidate has already said they will rip up the KSD contract.  Good luck with that.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

17th November 2015

Kingsford Smith Drive - Just upgrade the bus!

Greetings,

We note that Lord Mayor Quirk has resorted to  ' public transport wash ' in an attempt to garner support for the Kingsford Smith Drive road upgrade project.

> https://twitter.com/Team_Quirk/status/666435399602978816

Twitter

Team Quirk ‏@Team_Quirk

Lord Mayor says high frequency #bus services will be possible with Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade #publictransport

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

We saw a similar attempt to use ' public transport wash ' for the Legacy Way project.  We are still waiting for the ' 2000 daily express buses on Legacy Way '.

SEQ: Legacy way's 2000 daily express buses - we don't believe it Campbell!

> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7798.0

There is no reason why high frequency bus services cannot be run now.  Brisbane City Council only sees things in terms of massive infrastructure improvements, basic bus network reform will save billions of dollars.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

28th August 2015

Kingsford Smith Drive - Just upgrade the bus!

Greetings

RAIL Back on Track is skeptical of the Kingsford Smith Drive project advanced by Brisbane
City Council (BCC). Sadly, BCC is increasingly displaying signs of 'Campbell Newman Syndrome'.

The RACQ is actually talking sense. Why does Brisbane City Council and Cr. Adrian Schrinner
want to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on Kingsford Smith Drive? Isn't the new AirportLink
and Clem 7 tunnel not enough? Why can vehicles not use that?

Both of these tunnels, which we were constantly told were 'absolutely vital' over and over
again, with the benefits beyond questioning, are now desperately in need more car traffic. And they
have both gone into financial administration.

Why not just upgrade the 300 Toombul bus?

It already achieves high value for money and very high capacity utilisation (i.e. good patronage).
The areas around Ascot, Hamilton and  Clayfield have excellent density.  Stop spacing should be reviewed.
High-speed stop spacing encourages patronage growth and speeds up passenger journeys. An upgraded
service could pull in a lot more passengers and lots of fare revenue, so we think the net costs would be rather small.

For too long, fundamental changes to the Brisbane bus network have been stonewalled by
Brisbane City Council and Lord Mayor Graham Quirk. It's all part of the 'I'm not listening'
culture that has developed at City Hall. That needs to change.

It is absolutely clear that bus network reform must proceed as a matter of emergency.
RAIL Back on Track has already prepared a New Bus Network Proposal for Brisbane to address
this ---> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

Best wishes
Robert

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

Reference:

Toombul 300 Bus
http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/network-information/buses/T/300

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane roads: Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade becomes a hot political topic

[red dragin]

I've not driven it in peak, but outside of peak there is nothing wrong with the traffic on KSD. The road surface needs repair in places, and probably a few less traffic lights (or at least better synchronization).

[ozbob]

KSD is actually carrying less traffic today than it did 10 years ago.

Projections are that it might carry another 10000 vehicles per day by 2031.  Hardly worth expenditure.

[#Metro]

What was wrong with Airport Link?

If the purpose is to reduce traffic, slap a toll on it or remove the connection to the Gateway Motorway. Both would reduce traffic dramatically.

[ozbob]

When the RACQ has doubts about a road project, it has got be rather suspect hey?

Some very disturbing aspects to all of this.  A report from a Cr on twitter suggests that the project has now been delegated to the CEO of Council, which means no real scrutiny from the elected councillors.

I am sure we have not heard the last about the KSD upgrade project.  Might actually be the end of Quirk et al.

[#Metro]

Lord Mayor RBOT says high frequency #bus services will be already possible without Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade #publictransport #BSAlert

There we go!

[#Metro]

Had a look at the video.

There appear to be some problems with the design that would inhibit PT in the area, mainly the Portside Wharf area.
Please review for yourself.

Issue: No Right Turn onto Racecourse Road

New Bus Network Proposal 901 Crosstown cannot turn into Racecourse Road due to a turn ban
at this location. KSD Upgrade overlooks this. Need right turn into Racecourse Rd for 901
to access Albion Station.

http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

This is important because in the future, our proposed 901 Crosstown would be modified to drive along
Macarthur Parade and then to Toombul. Otherwise, an entirely new bus route would have to be added,
in addition to the 300 (BUZ?), and as we all know this kind of planning it what has pushed up fares
and added considerable cost to PT network operations.

The 302 Pinkenba would also benefit from r.t. at Racecourse rd; this would allow it to go to Albion Station also, saving
cost of driving it to the CBD.

Recommend also extra lanes need to be T2

[#Metro]

Where is this research? What were the input assumptions? Do the assumptions include or exclude the existence of the AirportLink?

There is an unusual extra amount within the transport budget for buses - could this perhaps be for a ToombulGlider?

Extending the rail line from Doomben
Cr Quirk said council research – after a previous state government examined the idea of a rail extension from Doomben - showed an extra 30,000 vehicle trips would be generated by 2031.

"The outcome of that is that we expect to see an extra 30,000 vehicle movements out of that area through to 2031," Cr Quirk said.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/labor-would-waste-129-million-if-it-cancelled-plans-to-widen-kingsford-smith-drive-quirk-20151117-gl13er.html