Roads - articles and discussion

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> New Indooroopilly bridge confirmed as RACQ says another is needed

Choking traffic around Indooroopilly's Walter Taylor Bridge is a sign the Centenary Highway should now be widened to six lanes and a new bridge built from Bellbowrie to Riverhills, the RACQ says.

This week traffic inched for four kilometres along Honour Avenue past Chelmer and Graceville, with motorists taking 45 minutes to crawl across the Walter Taylor Bridge at Indooroopilly.

The Brisbane City Council confirmed on Wednesday it had in February 2016 bought the riverside Defence Department property, Witton Barracks, beside Indooroopilly train station, for a park and a new Indooroopilly bridge.

The location of the Walter Taylor Bridge at Indooroopilly. Photo: Tony Moore

The council bought land on the opposite Chelmer side of the Brisbane River several years ago and confirmed its long-term plans for a new Indooroopilly bridge from Chelmer to Indooroopilly.

"Council took possession of the Witton Barracks site in February this year, following its purchase from the federal government for use as a park and to preserve the corridor for the future duplication of the Walter Taylor Bridge," a spokesman said.

However RACQ executive manager of public policy Michael Roth said it was a symptom that the state government must bring forward plans for major infrastructure in fast-growing Brisbane.

"Bringing forward plans to build a bridge across the river out at Bellbowrie to Riverhills is a very good idea," Mr Roth said.

"It should be progressed and should be something both the state government and Brisbane City Council should look at," he said.

"Make it a one-lane each way road bridge with a cycle lane," he said.

"That would be good for buses, good for cars and good for cyclists.

"It links Riverhills to the Bellbowrie Shopping Centre and gives everyone a bit more business."

Mr Roth said a Bellbowrie to Riverhills bridge - promised to residents 40 years ago when the Bellbowrie subdivision was approved – must be considered.

He said it meant shorter car trips and better access to the Ipswich rail line stations for residents in Brisbane's western suburbs.

"If they want to take public transport into the city, that can take a lot of pressure off Moggill Road and stop all that drama downstream."

Mr Roth said it was also time Main Roads widened Centenary Highway to six lanes.

"Outbound they have six lanes from Legacy Way (tunnel) to Moggill Road. They need to continue that six-laning and take it all the way across the Brisbane River at Jindalee to the Ipswich Motorway eventually," he said.

"It's a big project, but those two will obviously relieve congestion and take that little bit of pressure off Indooroopilly and let it cope better."

The Department of Main Roads said a business case to widen the Centenary Highway to six lanes would be finished in 2018.

"The study will consider timing of infrastructure construction," a spokesman said.

"Any future funding will be assessed against competing state-wide priorities."

The department did not answer Fairfax Media questions about a possible bridge between Bellbowrie and Riverhills.

The Brisbane City Council said it made no sense to use "temporary" traffic lights to let city-bound traffic use both lanes across the old Walter Taylor Bridge more frequently in peak hours.

"It would require significant queuing capacity on either side of the bridge to store waiting vehicles and then a complex traffic management system that would direct vehicles from one lane into two across the bridge and back into one lane on the other side," a spokesman said.

[achiruel]

The only way I'd support the widening of the Centenary Mwy would be if the new lanes are HOV.

As for the Bellbowrie-Rivervills bridge, make it a green bridge, frequent buses to Darra Station.

[#Metro]

Roads, Roads, Roads, Roads...

Bridge to Bellbowrie I can agree with. Might need more lanes than just two each way. Would allow bus access.

For the centenary corridor, I would prefer to see a proper transport study conducted into whether a busway is a better option, feeding into Indooroopilly. It is also two additional lanes, so the costs would be similar, but the ultimate end capacity would not be.

It should also look at a rail option, where the Springfield line is separated from the Ipswich line and taken through the Centenary suburbs and back down into Indooroopilly.

In any case, the bus network in that area really needs fixing, as we all know.

[#Metro]

PROOF: Lane Capacity Calculation

How many seconds are in an hour?

60 minutes x 60 seconds  = 3600 seconds

Assume that a car is 3 seconds apart from the next car. How many cars are passing in one hour?

3600 seconds / 3 = 1200 pax/direction/hour

Adjust up by assuming that 20% of the cars have a second passenger, on average.

1200 pax/direction/hour  x 1.2 = 1440 pax/direction/hour.

Conclusion: No wonder there is congestion, space is grossly and inefficiently used.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

9th August 2016

Why Road Expansion Will Never Solve Our Congestion Problems

Greetings,

We are often told that road expansion or adding lanes will solve our congestion problems.
In a limited number of cases, road upgrades, expansions or lane additions can help. However,
often this is not the case.

We are not aware of any large city that has 'solved' congestion through lane expansion.
Moving people in cars is a grossly inefficient use of space. This fact will hold true even if cars
become completely electric, eco-friendly and automatic.

During peak hour commuting roads become clogged when they are required most.
During rain or an accident, large parts of the road network can stop flowing.

An additional road lane only transports around 1400 people/hour under the best of conditions.
A decent light rail, heavy rail or busway can transport around ten times this figure and stay reliable
even during the critical rush hours.

Roads are an inefficient way to move large numbers of people. The capacity simply isn't there.

We demonstrate this with some simple math:

Road Lane Capacity Calculation

How many seconds are in an hour?

60 minutes x 60 seconds  = 3600 seconds

Assume that a car is 3 seconds apart from the next car. How many cars are passing in one hour?

3600 seconds / 3 = 1200 pax/direction/hour

Adjust up by assuming that 20% of the cars have a second passenger, on average.

1200 pax/direction/hour  x 1.2 = 1440 pax/direction/hour.

Conclusion: No wonder there is congestion, space is grossly and inefficiently used.

Why do our politicians continue to choose the most inefficient, slowest, least safe
and lowest capacity solutions for our transport problems?

If you value speed, safety, capacity, efficiency and reliability high quality public transport is the way to go.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Reference:

This document corroborates the above calculation:

Transport and Main Roads Volume capacity ratio
http://tmr.qld.gov.au/-/media/busind/techstdpubs/Project-delivery-and-maintenance/Cost-benefit-analysis-manual/42Volumecapacityratio.pdf?la=en

[ozbob]

Why Road Expansion Will Never Solve Our Congestion Problems
> https://t.co/WHhGocRuKn#qldpol #nswpol #springst pic.twitter.com/Lb9EtgM21F

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) August 9, 2016

[ozbob]

Brisbane motorists getting off parking fines over signage. 7 News investigates. @DamienHansen7 #bnetraffic #7News https://t.co/mhC6WiF4o8

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) August 17, 2016

[ozbob]

Gold Coast, a laughing stock if congestion on the M1 isn't fixed. https://t.co/1JyXbhiq97 #TenNews

— TEN News Queensland (@tennewsqld) August 22, 2016

[#Metro]

Trains not lanes.

1 train line = 18 000 pphd in the GC Corridor
+1 lane = 2000 pphd (max)

In addition, installation of RRR in the M1 Pacific Motorway Corridor will release significant capacity on the section of track Roma St - Kuraby. It will be possible to run trains at very high frequency (i.e. every 10 minutes), transforming it into a virtual metro service.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Stop splitting hairs, get moving on M1

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> M1 deserves same deal as NSW

[ozbob]

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

M1 delegation snubbed by Turnbull Government again

The Prime Minister has snubbed the M1 delegation yet again and ignored the critical M1 funding issue after touching down in Brisbane for the LNP love-in, Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said today.

Minister Bailey said it was extremely disappointing that Malcolm Turnbull would come to Queensland for the LNP State Convention but not meet with the M1 delegation or even raise the issue to his party colleagues.

"The Turnbull Government is still giving the delegation which includes myself, Gold Coast and Logan Mayors, the RACQ, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland and the Queensland Trucking Association the run around six weeks after they wrote to the Prime Minister requesting a meeting.

"That was met with the Prime Minister passing the buck to his Assistant Minister who then palmed us off to Federal Minister Darren Chester who then punted us to Federal Minister Paul Fletcher," he said.

"Like being stuck in an M1 traffic jam, we're still waiting to discuss the $430 million upgrades to the M1 at the Gateway merge (M3) and Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes using the appropriate federal 80:20 funding split under their own announced funding rules.

"The M1 delegation all agreed, that the Federal Government should honour their own funding model of an 80:20 split, exactly the same funding model they use on the same road just across the border in New South Wales.

"The M1 is the highest trafficked road in Queensland and is a highway of national significance.

"The M1 is part of the Federal Government's National Land Transport Network which only two years ago in 2014 the Abbott-Turnbull Government confirmed the traditional 80:20 funding split for road and rail projects under this network in writing.

"80:20 is the formula used right now for the National Land Transport Network including Bruce and Warrego Highways, the Gateway Arterial North six laning upgrade and for upgrades on the M1 itself just across the border in NSW.

"Yet, the Federal Government insists on ripping off South East Queensland with an unfair 50:50 split funding offer.

"Regrettably, the sitting Gold Coast and Logan LNP MPs, both Federal and State, have been ineffective in delivering real infrastructure funding for their communities. They have no influence on their Canberra colleagues who short-changed M1 motorists.

"I call on the LNP conference members this weekend to put the M1 at the top of the agenda and to start supporting Queenslanders for the same funding formula as just across the border in New South Wales."

ENDS

[tazzer9]

The M1 isn't the most trafficked road in qld.    The bruce highway is the most trafficked road in australia, so of course it would be the most trafficked in australia. .   Granted something that is 1500km long will have more cars using it.

[SurfRail]

The M1 has the highest traffic density.  The Bruce Highway doesn't count when it barely gets above 10,000 per day in some stretches, which ranks it similarly to some of the regional highways in NSW like the Bruxner.

[ozbob]

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

Contractor for Southport–Burleigh Road upgrade final stage announced

The third and final package has been awarded to deliver stage three of the $104 million Southport-Burleigh Road upgrade.

Main Roads and Road Safety Minister Mark Bailey announced today Georgiou Group Pty Ltd would deliver the new Continuous Flow Intersection (CFI) as part of the works package.

"The Australian-first continuous flow intersection will be built at the Salerno Street, Bundall Road and Ashmore Road intersection to tackle congestion," Mr Bailey said.

"A new right-hand turn into Salerno Street will be included in the works for an additional route into Surfers Paradise.

"This intersection, in addition to road widening and bridges which include an additional lane in both directions, will increase capacity, ensuring the intersection flows more freely.

"Not only are we improving the road network, but an average of 112 jobs will be created over the life of the Southport–Burleigh Road project.

"The works are expected to begin soon, weather and construction conditions permitting.

"We understand works may cause some disruptions for residents and motorists, however we will aim to minimise impacts wherever we can as we undertake these necessary network improvements.

"I urge motorists to take care when travelling through the area, drive to conditions and obey all signage."

Mr Bailey said the landmark upgrades form part of the Gold Coast's $160 million major road network improvements in the lead-up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

"Works are progressing on the first (North Street to Vespa Crescent in Southport) and second (Fremar Street to Monaco Street overpass) stages," Mr Bailey said.

"The first stage is due to be completed by mid-2017 and the second stage by October 2016, weather and construction conditions permitting.

"This follows the first major upgrade completed as part of the road package – the new signalised intersection connecting Ross Street, Currumburra and Ashmore roads. These works were completed three months ahead of schedule and under budget, saving $4 million, a win for Gold Coast motorists. 

"The Palaszczuk Government is doing the heavy lifting on the Gold Coast to deliver a safe and reliable road network and creating hundreds of jobs for workers in road construction and related industries.

"Along with the $160 million in major road network improvements, we've committed $285 million for Light Rail stage two and $163 million for the heavy rail duplication from Helensvale to Coomera.

"We've also got our 20 per cent - $86 million – on the table ready to go for both Gateway and Mudgeeraba-Varsity Lakes M1 upgrades. We're just waiting on the Federal Government to commit to their own 80:20 funding model. The same funding deal that New South Wales gets on the same road, just across the border."

For more information, please email SouthportBurleighRoad@tmr.qld.gov.au or call 5563 6600.

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/S/Southport-Burleigh-Road-network-improvement-project/Southport-Burleigh-Rd-Central-section-Vespa-Cres-to-Monaco-St-Bridge

[Stillwater]

^^Depends on which sections of the Bruce Highway being looked at.  Certainly Bruce Highway immediately north of Brisbane carries in excess of 100,000 vpd; north of Nambour, around 28,000 vpd, thinning out north of Bundaberg.  Around Townsville and Cairns it again caries large volumes, requiring six lanes through the Cairns southern suburbs.

Taking just the average for the entire length tends to distort the picture.

See page 3 of the attached document:

https://bitre.gov.au/publications/2014/files/is_063.pdf

Also bottom page 13, same document.  The light blue shading on Figure 18 shows the large amount of commuter traffic between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> A southeast Queensland delegation will meet with Turnbull Government to talk M1 funding

LONG-simmering tensions between the federal and state governments over the M1 upgrade will come to a head at a meeting on Tuesday, with both sides refusing to budge on funding.

Both Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey and his federal counterpart, Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher are sticking to their guns over whether the Turnbull Government should pay more than 50 per cent of the $110-million price tag.

The state says the funding should be split 80-20.

The delegation, led by Mr Bailey, will also include Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate and representatives of the RACQ and CCIQ and will meet with Mr Bailey in Sydney.

[#Metro]

Apparently congestion has never been better.

Really? Why then do the buses need to be slowed down by 25 minutes due to 'congestion'?

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/peak-hour-traffic-moving-faster-in-brisbane-20160902-gr7ryn.html

[ozbob]

A temporary shift in equilibrium due to Legacy Way, but it will soon deteriorate further as even more horseless carriages are turned loose!

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane City Council's Key Corridor Performance Report

BRISBANE'S Legacy Way toll road has helped cut morning travel times on one of the city's busiest roads by almost 10 per cent despite its price increasing, according to a report.

Brisbane City Council's latest Key Corridor Performance Report reveals the crawl along Coronation Drive, in the city's west, increased 9 per cent in speed to about 20km/h during the morning peak when compared with last year.

Meanwhile, the northside's Kelvin Grove Rd dropped about 12 per cent in average speed to just under 23km/h during the morning commute. Stanley St westbound was the slowest, averaging 17km/h.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk attributed the continued Coronation Drive improvement to the Legacy Way opening in June 2015, despite the toll increasing to $4.94 for a car. ...

[SurfRail]

Same thing happens whenever you open a major road in the inner city.  Buys about 2 years of breathing space at best, generally less.

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2016/9/7/m1-taskforce-takes-funding-fight-to-the-feds

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

Wednesday, September 07, 2016

M1 Taskforce takes funding fight to the Feds

The fight for Queensland's fair share of funding to upgrade the M1 will come to a head today when the M1 Taskforce meets with the Federal Government.

Main Roads and Road Safety Minister Mark Bailey, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, RACQ's Paul Turner and Nick Behrens from CCIQ are flying to Sydney to meet with Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure Paul Fletcher.

Minister Bailey said it had been nearly eight weeks since the delegation, which also includes Logan Mayor Luke Smith and Queensland Trucking Association's Gary Mahon, first requested the meeting, and the Turnbull Government had put it off for too long.

"The Turnbull Government can't buck pass and ignore us any longer, the time has finally come to give Queensland its fair share," Mr Bailey said.

"Funding the M1 is a critical issue to Queensland and Minister Fletcher needs to explain why we're getting short-changed.

"The same road just across the border in New South Wales gets an 80:20 funding split and we're only being offered 50:50.

"The M1 is not a country road, like the Sydney-based Minister has implied and because of this he's ripping off Queenslanders."

Mr Bailey said more than 147,000 vehicles battle congestion on the M1 each day, including 12,000 freight vehicles and is the highest trafficked road in Queensland.

"The M1 is a highway of national significance which the Federal Government explicitly state themselves and I will go armed with their own documents to prove this," Mr Bailey said.

"The M1 is part of the Federal Government's National Land Transport Network which attracts an 80:20 federal/state funding split.

"Prime Minister Turnbull and Minister Fletcher are ignoring their own funding formula and criteria.

"There is a map confirming this which is readily available on Minister Fletcher's own departmental web site."

Logan Mayor Luke Smith said Logan City Council is behind the State's push for an 80:20 funding split for the M1 upgrade and will continue to advocate for what is right.

"The bottleneck on the M1 here in Logan is the largest contributor to congestion and is hurting our local businesses, the Federal Government needs to give Queensland the same fair treatment as it has in other states and agree to the 80:20 funding," Mr Smith said.

CCIQ's Nick Behrens said if the current funding impasse can't be resolved, then the delays experienced as a result of the M1 will continue to cost us hundreds of millions of dollars each year.

"If the Sunshine State wants to have a thriving economy that delivers prosperity to all communities then the Federal Government must place additional money on the table and put in place a level of support that surpasses their own political convenience," Mr Behrens said.

"It would be a terrible shame for Queensland if politics continues to play a too bigger role in the infrastructure decision making framework particularly in respect to the M1.

"For these reasons CCIQ is delighted to be flying to Sydney tomorrow to provide support to the State Government in securing Queensland's fair share of Commonwealth support."

Paul Turner from RACQ, added "The Australian Government has done the right thing for Queensland with 80 per cent contributions to the Bruce and Warrego Highway upgrades and the Toowoomba bypass, now we need to see this positive and accepted approach extended to the Pacific Motorway in Logan and on the Gold Coast."

Mr Bailey also said he would tell Sydney-based Minister Fletcher that the Queensland Government would not be selling our assets like ports and power to pay for their funding shortfall.

"The Federal Minister is obviously out of touch with Queensland if he's proudly advocating for Campbell Newman's policies which were rejected so emphatically by voters eighteen months ago," he said.

"Queensland does not deserve to be held hostage and made to sell our assets by Canberra to fund basic infrastructure which NSW already gets."

ENDS

[ozbob]

Errr  ... Sunny Coast Line anyone ? ?

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

Thx @ShannonFentiman @RACQOfficial We just want Fed Govt to co-fund M1 upgrades as per their own policy right here pic.twitter.com/QvJooHQT0W

— Mark Bailey MP (@MarkBaileyMP) September 6, 2016

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2016/9/7/turnbull-government-lets-queensland-down-on-m1-funding

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

Wednesday, September 07, 2016

Turnbull Government lets Queensland down on M1 funding

The Turnbull Government has ignored Queensland's appeal for its fair share of funding to upgrade the M1 but has agreed to leave the door open to further discussions.

The impasse came to head today when the Federal Government finally met with the M1 delegation including Minister for Main Roads Mark Bailey, RACQ, CCIQ and Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

The Logan Mayor and the Queensland Trucking Association, also part of the delegation, sent letters in their absence.

Minister Bailey said he was disappointed the Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure didn't agree with the delegation's concerns and wouldn't commit to the appropriate 80:20 funding split, sticking with the 50:50 offer.

"Minister Fletcher could not explain why Queensland was getting short-changed when the same road just across the border in New South Wales gets an 80:20 funding split.

"The M1 is a highway of national significance and is the highest trafficked road in Queensland with more than 147,000 vehicles battling congestion on it each day.

"The M1 is part of the Federal Government's National Land Transport Network which attracts an 80:20 federal/state funding split as explicitly outlined less than two years ago by Deputy Prime Minister Truss but Minister Fletcher refused to accept this fact."

Minister Bailey said this was not the end of Queensland's fight for our fair share.

"Our resolve has only just begun, we're more determined than ever to make sure the Federal Government gives Queensland what we deserve.

"I'm also appealing to anyone who has ever been stuck in traffic on the M1 to take this up with their Federal LNP MPs urging the Federal Government to give Queensland the appropriate 80:20 split.

"This is the same funding deal that the same road gets just across the border in New South Wales.

"What we did agree on was an interim way forward – to undertake processes to reduce the cost of the projects and to reconvene with the Taskforce when the revised costings are known."

ENDS

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Lower costs sought for M1 highway projects

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate proposes using council funds to help make M1 widening upgrade

MAYOR Tom Tate has proposed using ratepayer funds to secure an upgrade of the M1 by bridging the funding gap.

Under a plan put forward by the mayor, the Gold Coast City Council would fund upgrades on and around the M1's exits.

Cr Tate proposed the idea to federal and state ministers on Wednesday as part of a delegation which met with the Turnbull Government to try to find a solution to the long-running funding impasse.

The matter is expected to be raised by councillors at next week's special budget meeting.

"Taxpayers couldn't care less if it is federal or state money, they just want their highway fixed," he said.

"With that in mind, I offered council's help in solving the congestion issues in and around the M1 exits on council roads.

"The absolute priority is to get the feds and state closer to an agreement, so we have a lot of work to do and I'm continuing the fight.''

Among the works which could be included are the upgrade of a roundabout near Clover Hill State School and Somerset College, just off the Robina M1 exit.

The Robina exit is a congestion hotspot and one of two overpasses and adjoining off-roads that would require upgrading as part of the widening of 5km between Mudgeeraba and Reedy Creek from four to six lanes.

In June, the Federal Government committed $110 million under a proposed 50-50 funding split, something the state says it will not accept.

The state, backing an 80-20 split, says the government must put up a further $66 million to make the project a reality.

Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher said some progress had been made.

"My focus was looking at recommending that we move forward to go and get firm pricing from construction companies, and I believe we have reached agreement to do that," he said.

"Tom Tate ... really offered great leadership in yesterday's meeting, as he has consistently on infrastructure issues.

"So, what I wanted to do out of yesterday's meeting, and clearly what Tom Tate wanted to do was to say okay, there are issues where the Commonwealth Government and the Queensland Government have taken different positions but let's see what it is we can do to move forward."

Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said "it was a matter for council" if any ratepayer funds were used.

Mr Bailey said he was committed to getting the project under way.

[ozbob]

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

M1 upgrades on national priority list – but where's the money?

Both of the upgrades the M1 delegation has been appealing to the Federal Government on are now a part of Infrastructure Australia's national priority list.

The M1 Gateway Merge has been added in the latest report and joins the M1 Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes upgrade as priority projects on a national level and were evaluated on a 80-20 funding basis.

Minister for Main Roads Mark Bailey said this just cements what the M1 delegation has been saying all along.

"These projects are of national significance, they are part of the National Land Transport Network and should be funded 80-20, not 50-50 as the Federal Government would have us believe," he said.

"The interesting thing about this latest report is that it has also changed the category of the M1 Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes upgrade to National Connectivity.

"National priority, national connectivity, National Land Transport Network – I'm not sure how many more national viewpoints the Federal Government needs to prove this should be majority funded by them."

The inclusion of the report comes just days after the Minister, RACQ, Gold Coast Mayor and CCIQ met with the Federal Government to state the case that the M1 upgrades are part of the National Land Transport Network and should be funded 80-20 and not 50-50.

"The M1 is the highest trafficked road in Queensland and it should be funded on the appropriate 80-20 funding split, just like it is just across the border in New South Wales.

"We have our 20 per cent on the table for both projects and are ready to get these projects moving and put shovels in the ground.

"I am calling on Malcolm Turnbull to step in, to stop treating Queensland like a second class state and to fund these upgrades fairly using his government's own 80-20 funding formula.

"The Palaszczuk Government stands ready to provide its fair share – under the federal government's funding agreement – for these priority infrastructure projects."

Minister Bailey also welcomed the inclusion of the Bruce Highway Upgrade – Caloundra Road to Sunshine Motorway – in the national priority list which is already funded under the 80-20 funding model.

"The Bruce Highway Upgrade—Caloundra Road to Sunshine Motorway is a $1.134 billion project, funded on an 80-20 basis under the Infrastructure Investment Program with the Australian Government contributing $907.2 million and the Queensland Government contributing $226.8 million.

"Tenders are expected to be announced for this in the coming weeks."

ENDS

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Bailey backtracks after van Manen calls out blunder over funding for Gold Coast's congested M1

MAIN Roads Minister Mark Bailey has been forced to make an embarrassing backtrack regarding M1 funding after calls were made for his resignation.

Member for Forde, Bert van Manen, accused Mr Bailey of being misleading about the funding battle in a media release issued yesterday morning.

The call came after independent federal body Infrastructure Australia announced the upgrade to the M1 at the Gateway merge had been assessed as a national priority.

Months earlier, the same body also assessed the Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes upgrade as a national priority.

Both stretches have been at the centre of a funding stoush between the state and federal governments.

The state wants the federal government to provide 80 per cent while the federal government believes it should be split evenly.

Mr Bailey originally said the fact Infrastructure Australia had evaluated the upgrades should be funded 80 per cent by the federal government proved state was right to hold its ground.

"The M1 Gateway merge has been added in the latest report and joins the M1 Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes upgrade as priority projects on a national level and were evaluated on a 80-20 funding basis," a media release read.

Mr van Manen pointed out the federal body could only complete the report based on the funding request provided by the state government.

An Infrastructure Australia spokesman said the body made no decisions on who would provide the funding and just assessed the need for the upgrades.

Less than an hour later, Mr Bailey had altered an online media release, changing the word evaluated to submitted.

Mr Bailey said Mr van Manen's comments had only proven the LNP MP was "Minister Fletcher's mouthpiece".

"The M1 upgrades at Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes and the Gateway merge should be funded on an 80-20 funding split, the same funding model as the same road gets across the border in New South Wales," he said.

"The M1 is part of the Federal Government's National Land Transport Network which attracts an 80-20 federal-state funding split, as explicitly outlined less than two years ago by Deputy Prime Minister (Warren) Truss."

The media release from Mr Truss at the time qualified the 80-20 split only applied to roads outside of metropolitan areas.

Since then, a number of metropolitan roads of national significance have been funded 80-20, including the Gateway Arterial North upgrade in Brisbane.

Mr van Manen said Mr Bailey had been misleading.

"They only assessed it 80-20 because Mark Bailey asked them to," he said.

Federal Urban Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher said the Infrastructure Australia assessment only took into account the economic importance of the projects.

"Queensland Roads Minister Mark Bailey has suggested today that IA's assessment was predicated on the basis of a particular state-federal funding split," he said.

"As Minister responsible for Infrastructure Australia, it is important that I make it clear that Minister Bailey's claim is incorrect."

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2016/9/13/state-lnp-backs-canberra-in-push-for-qlds-road-funding-fair-share

Media Statements

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

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

State LNP backs Canberra in push for Qld's road funding fair share

Fair federal funding on the M1 and other road projects across Queensland have been debated in Queensland Parliament tonight, with a motion passed urging the Turnbull Government to honour its 80:20 funding split.

Despite this, the LNP Opposition sided with Canberra voting against calling for Queensland's fair share of funding which means less money for the State, putting future road funding projects at risk.

Minister for Main Roads and Road Safety Mark Bailey told the House it was an important issue for Queensland motorists and industry that the Turnbull Government should be consistent in the way it funds Commonwealth roads across the State.

"The Coalition's own policy document on the Bruce Highway states that they will ensure an 80:20 funding agreement when it comes to nationally significant roads outside of capital cities," Mr Bailey said.

"I note from their own document: This is the Commonwealth's fair share.... It is the Commonwealth that should provide the majority of funding for such roads. It is the Commonwealth that is responsible for ensuring interstate and freight road networks are efficient. It is the Commonwealth that reaps a large part of the gains from efficient road networks."

"The M1 is part of the National Land Transport Network, it is a key freight route and the same road just across the border in NSW gets 80:20 funding but we're only being offered 50:50."

Mr Bailey said the Federal Government was clearly short-changing Queensland on the M1 and it was an issue of integrity for the Turnbull Government.

"We have seen a plethora of excuses from the Turnbull Government in trying to justify their rip-off of Queenslanders," Mr Bailey said.

"The latest excuse is that they claim they only fund roads 80:20 outside metropolitan areas. Their own policy identifies that they will fund roads outside capital cities. The M1 to the Gold Coast is clearly outside the capital city of Brisbane.

"But there is discrepancy in that too. If they only fund roadways 50-50 in capital cities then why do they fund the Gateway Motorway North 80-20? It is absolutely hypocritical and inconsistent to justify less road funding for Queensland.

Mr Bailey said the LNP Opposition showed their hand and voted against Queensland getting its fair share of funding from the Turnbull Government.

"The former Newman/Nicholls Government did not commit any new funding for the M1 in the three years they were in office, when will they stand-up for Queensland?" Mr Bailey said.

"They will fund the Northern Connector in Adelaide 80-20. They will fund the road works at Banora Point, just across the NSW border, 96 per cent. The road between Woolgoolga and Ballina, just across the NSW border, gets 80 per cent funding."

Mr Bailey said the Turnbull Government needed to play its role in the development of roads and jobs right across the state.

"In terms of the Northern Australia white paper we saw an announcement from the Federal Government over a year ago on the Northern Australia Roads Program and over a year ago on the Beef Roads Program," Mr Bailey said.

"They said they were going to do it. Where are we? It is now September—a year and three months later. What exactly has happened?"

Mr Bailey said the remaining up to $220 million in Federal NARP projects have yet to be announced by the Turnbull Government.

"It's an outright shame the Opposition didn't support this motion.

"They need to put pressure on their parliamentary colleagues in the Federal Government to also get the NARP program going and to get the Beef Roads Program going.  We want road projects going in Queensland.

"The Turnbull Government needs to step up to the plate and start to understand Queensland. The LNP State Opposition should have supported Queensland instead of backing Canberra.

The three parts of the motion passed in Parliament:

    Agreeing to apply the 80/20 funding arrangement for the M1 upgrades because the M1 is part of the National Land Transport Network, consistent with the Federal Government's election commitment and as defined on maps published by their own department;
    Expedite the announcement and commencement of successful projects in the North Australian Roads Programme that was first announced on 18 June 2015;
    Expedite the announcement and commencement of successful Queensland projects in the Beef Roads Programme that was also first announced on 18 June 2015.

ENDS

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2016/9/16/bruce-highway-upgrade-features-australian-first-design

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

Friday, September 16, 2016

Bruce Highway upgrade features Australian first design

A ground-breaking new interchange design to improve traffic management will be a key part of a major Queensland road project, with the contract awarded today for a $929.3 million upgrade to the Bruce Highway between Caloundra Road and the Sunshine Motorway.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Darren Chester and Queensland Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey today announced a Fulton Hogan Seymour Whyte joint venture had won the contract for the project, which will ultimately reduce congestion and travel time for motorists.

"This project involves widening the highway to six lanes, as well a major upgrade to the Sunshine Motorway interchange and reconfiguring the Caloundra Road Interchange to a Diverging Diamond Interchange," Mr Chester said

"This intersection zone sees the most crashes on the Bruce Highway and it urgently needs a new approach to traffic management for the roughly 60,000 vehicles that use it every day.

"The Diverging Diamond Interchange design is a first for Australia, and could be used in future projects across the country. It has been used with great success in the US since 2009 and will improve safety for traffic moving between the Bruce Highway and Caloundra Road."

Minister Bailey, who was onsite today, said the upgrade to the Bruce Highway had also seen community feedback incorporated into the design layout.

"An average of 694 direct jobs will be supported over the life of the project, which is fantastic news for the Sunshine Coast community," Mr Bailey said.

"After personally meeting with community members last year, we have also included a southbound exit from the highway to Pignata Road.

"This is a big win for the community as it will create safe and direct access to local businesses and homes, as well as a future connection to development in Palmview.

"A new service road will also be built on the western side of the Bruce Highway between Steve Irwin Way and Tanawha Tourist Drive.

"The design will also significantly reduce the impact to the Beerwah State Forest. This means the Caloundra Road interchange will be contained to the east of the Mooloolah cemetery and will no longer impact environmentally sensitive areas to the west."

Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said the design will see motorists on Caloundra Road seamlessly cross from driving on the left side of the road to the right side of the road as they negotiate the interchange.

"The benefit of this crossing is that right-turning traffic does not have to give way to opposing traffic, making the highway both safer and faster for Caloundra Road motorists," Mr Wallace said.

"Motorists will then switch back to standard left-side driving on the other side of the interchange."

Preliminary construction is anticipated to start by the end of 2016, with major construction expected to start in mid-2017 and be completed in 2020, weather permitting.

The Australian Government is providing $743.4 million to the project, with the Queensland Government committing $185.9 million.

For more information visit http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/brucehwycaloundra2sunshinemwy

[ozbob]

Quest --> M1 work delayed by political row over who will pay how much. Meanwhile, congestion reigns

[#Metro]

IA pointed to the merging of seven lanes of traffic into three as the major congestion cause.

No, the cause is too many cars and use of an inefficient mode (2000 pphd) to get people to destinations.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Bruce Highway upgrade: Green groups ramp up fight to save rare frog

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Is traffic pollution literally driving us crazy?

Is road rage on the increase in Queensland as a result of our worsening traffic, or is it merely that more people are using dashcams and recording what is happening?  It sure seems to be on the increase if you drive on Brisbane's main roads, but that may be the least of our worries. Evidence suggests that traffic fumes might actually be driving us crazy.

Twenty years ago, road rage was hardly ever encountered. Queensland drivers were generally friendly, and the traffic was nowhere near as bad in south-east Queensland as it is now.

Nowadays it is a different story. South-east Queensland's major roads seem a constant construction zone. The Gateway Arterial going north of the river is a case in point. It never seems to be finished. This alone is enough to cause many drivers to lose their cool, as the RACQ points out.

However, recent research suggests that traffic fumes themselves might be doing long term damage to our brains, and may actually cause Alzheimers Disease.  An international study has found that tiny nanospheres of magnetite are entering our brains. These are different from magnetite that occurs naturally in the body, and can be traced directly to high temperature combustion of fossil fuels in car engines.

The study found that the particles are small enough to enter the brain directly through the nose. These particles have been implicated in chemical processes in the brain that cause degenerative diseases, such as Alzheimers Disease.

Obviously sitting in traffic is a real risk, but it is also a danger to people who might live or work near areas with busy roads.

All the more reason for us to have a better public transport network. I have always been a big advocate of public transport, and believe using it makes good sense.

However, our train system from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast is too slow, and trains are too crowded at peak times.

In Brisbane, rail and road users compete at level crossings, and buses carry much more traffic than should be the case. All the while, the slow moving traffic releases more particles into the air and into our brains.

What Queensland needs are new public transport ideas, and new funding. Just endlessly asking the federal government to bail out Queensland, as Annastacia and her pals are wont to do, isn't a realistic option.

Queensland governments need to get serious about funding public transport, and taking the big decisions necessary to pay for it.

Sadly, the current government wants to play politics with public transport infrastructure. This is all too obvious.  On the other side, it remains to be seen if the Opposition is willing to embrace new forms of infrastructure partnerships that could bring much-needed capital to the table.

It is all enough to send you around the twist, to be honest.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

21st September 2016

Bill O'Chee nails it !

Good Morning,

Interesting and pertinent ' Comment ' article in the Brisbanetimes this morning.

Brisbanetimes --> Is traffic pollution literally driving us crazy?

Apart from the points that Bill O'Chee makes concerning traffic, road rage and pollution,  he has nailed the root problem with the mess that is public transport in Brisbane and SEQ.

All the more reason for us to have a better public transport network. I have always been a big advocate of public transport, and believe using it makes good sense.

However, our train system from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast is too slow, and trains are too crowded at peak times.

In Brisbane, rail and road users compete at level crossings, and buses carry much more traffic than should be the case. All the while, the slow moving traffic releases more particles into the air and into our brains.

What Queensland needs are new public transport ideas, and new funding. Just endlessly asking the federal government to bail out Queensland, as Annastacia and her pals are wont to do, isn't a realistic option.

Queensland governments need to get serious about funding public transport, and taking the big decisions necessary to pay for it.

Sadly, the current government wants to play politics with public transport infrastructure. This is all too obvious.  On the other side, it remains to be seen if the Opposition is willing to embrace new forms of infrastructure partnerships that could bring much-needed capital to the table.

We agree Bill.  We have shown how improvements can be achieved without massive $$$ expenditure.  We are largely ignored and the elite take off on more overseas jaunts whilst the joint continues to fall apart.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ Attached: http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=546.msg180185#msg180185 ]

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Travel time survey shows Brisbane's worst roads for peak hour traffic

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Uber data reveals Brisbane traffic journeys taking longer

[ozbob]

Work to upgrade one of Brisbane's most congested roads is now causing even more delays. @KateLJones7 #7News https://t.co/TgJ4fgQviT

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) October 9, 2016

[tazzer9]

KFD was only one of brisbane's congested roads if you lived in ascot and drove to work in the city.  Which would have been most of the political donors forcing quirk to build this.
Anyone who drives around brisbane knows KFD wasn't the greatest but it is far from the worst.

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2016/10/21/commonwealth-and-queensland-governments-working-together-on-m1-upgrades

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

Friday, October 21, 2016

Commonwealth and Queensland Governments working together on M1 upgrades

Minister for Urban Infrastructure Paul Fletcher and Queensland Minister for Main Roads Mark Bailey will meet in Brisbane today to discuss progress on the M1 upgrades, following an initial meeting in Sydney on 7 September 2016.

The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads will commence an expression of interest process for the design and construction of the upgrade of the Pacific Motorway M1/M3/Gateway Merge at Eight Mile Plains.

Preparations will also now begin to engage a design consultant for the Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes project.

This work will offer a clear idea of firm market-based construction costs.

If these costings turn out to be lower than estimates in the business case – something which is currently quite common due to highly competitive conditions in the construction sector – that would make the collective task of funding the upgrades a little easier.

The Commonwealth Government will 'front-load' its funding commitment to fully fund the procurement process for the Gateway Merge project. This funding will also progress the significant pre-construction works required for the Mudgeeraba to Varsity Lakes upgrade.

While both governments reserved their position on the funding split, discussions around delivery of the two upgrades will progress based on the outcomes of each procurement process.

The Gateway Merge will tackle one of the state's most problematic bottlenecks — more than 148,000 vehicles travel through this congested section each day, including 12,000 heavy vehicles.

The upgrade will include a new four-lane bridge over the Pacific Motorway and the realignment of Underwood Road between Logan Road and School Road.

The five-kilometre widening between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes will modernise the motorway to reduce the number and severity of motor vehicle incidents, help freight businesses operate more efficiently and above all cut travel times for commuters.

Today's announcement is a positive step towards both governments' goal of addressing road congestion on the M1.

ENDS