Roads - articles and discussion

[James]

The problem is people crossing roads and being in a vehicular environment without taking proper care, ie being on their phones and not alert to their surroundings. A proper education campaign is what is required, along with some sort of deterrent/alerter to upcoming road environments. This could be barriers in front of traffic lights etc to at least force some alertness upon people, or cause those who are unalert to stop before they walk on to the road.

Mobile phones have a lot to answer for in terms of road safety.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> RACQ reveals Queensland's most 'unroadworthy roads'

QUEENSLAND'S peak motoring body has exposed the Bruce Highway as the Sunshine State's worst road, along with nine other "unroadworthy roads" in a new survey.

RACQ spokeswoman Lucinda Ross said this year's survey attracted 1643 responses with more than 600 substandard roads nominated.

"The Bruce has been on RACQ's priority list for years, and drivers agree, rating the highway Queensland's most unroadworthy road," Ms Ross said.

"Motorists raised a number of issues along the 1600 kilometre route, from congestion in the southeast, to flooding risks and rough surfaces in the central Queensland section."

Ms Ross said while drivers believe the Bruce Highway is Queensland's worst road, the number of problems identified has decreased likely due to the $8.5 billion upgrade program rolled out since 2013.

RACQ will use the survey results to inform its future infrastructure funding priorities.

"Sixty per cent of respondents called out the condition of road surfaces and nearly half said narrow lanes or poor road shoulders were the main issues on local roads," she said.

"We'll be sending the results of this survey to State and Local Governments – Queensland drivers have spoken and now we need action."

TOP 10 'UNROADWORTHY ROADS'

1. Bruce Highway (94 responses)

2. Alma Rd, Dakabin (81 responses)

3. Mount Lindesay Highway (70 responses)

4. Kennedy Highway (64 responses)

5. Henry Rd, Griffin (50 responses) - tied for fifth

5. Pacific Motorway (50 responses) - tied for fifth

7. Foxwell Rd, Coomera (27 responses)

8. Yawalpah Rd, Pimpama (25 responses)

9. Ipswich Boonah Rd (23 responses)

10. D'Aguilar Highway (18 responses)

[red dragin]

Couriermail --> RACQ reveals Queensland's most 'unroadworthy roads'

2. Alma Rd, Dakabin (81 responses)

5. Henry Rd, Griffin (50 responses) - tied for fifth

Both are prime examples of where Council has taken developers money, let the earthmoving trucks destroy already substandard roads, then done nothing to repair them. A section of Alma was rebuilt, but the piece near where Alma Park Zoo was is a patchwork quilt.

Earthworks started at the western end of Alma Rd months ago to increase the radius of the ~120 degree corner. No action now for at least four months.

Henry Rd is actually in much worse condition, simply attracted less responses.

[verbatim9]

Talk that the Bruce Hwy widening from Caboolture to Caloundra may take a decade to complete.

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/bruce-highway-mark-bailey-denies-decade-long-wait-for-development/news-story/266a3639e50d085d91b9097c410b498a

TRANSPORT and Main Roads minister Mark Bailey has rejected suggestions motorists could be in for a decade of pain on the Bruce Highway, but admitted the paperwork for the missing links widening the road to the Sunshine Coast has yet to be done.

Speaking at the Caloundra Highway Interchange construction site, Mr Bailey put the blame for delays in getting the business cases for extra lanes between Caboolture and the Steve Irwin Way back on the previous Newman Government.

But standing beside him, Member for Fairfax Ted O'Brien said the state Labor government had had two terms in office to get work moving on the major arterial.

Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said motorists were tired of sitting in traffic for three hours to get to Brisbane and did not want to see road works drag out over the next 10 years.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Drivers urged to boycott Transurban's offshore call centre

QUEENSLAND motorists are being urged to boycott toll operator Transurban's offshore call centre and ring a "secret" number that would connect with a smaller local office, in a bid to create jobs.

The State Opposition has discovered a landline number (07 3182 2468) which is not promoted and directs callers with toll inquiries to Transurban's small office in Eight Mile Plains in Brisbane's south.

The jobs push comes after the toll road giant axed 100 jobs in 2015, directing the majority of their inquiries to a call centre in Manila in the Philippines.

At the time, Transurban attributed the cuts to changing consumer behaviour because more motorists were paying online or at self-service outlets.

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said if enough people boycotted Manila, Transurban would have no other choice than to expand its Queensland call centre.

However, Transurban Queensland Group Executive Sue Johnson said the LNP's move was disappointing as that phone number was dedicated to people with "more complex queries, including hardship".

Ms Frecklington said motorists deserved better than being given the run around by an offshore call centre operator.

"I want to promote the direct number for the call centre in Eight Mile Plains, so people can ring up when they have an issue and talk to someone right here in Queensland who may actually know where the toll roads go," she said.

Ms Johnson said to ensure customers continued to receive the best service possible regarding their toll road travel and Linkt account, they needed to phone 13 33 31, from 7am to 7pm, seven days a week.

"Our customer satisfaction rating is consistently 4.2 out of five," she said.

"We resolve more than 94 per cent of queries on the first call and 81 per cent of calls are answered within 30 seconds."

Transurban employs 285 direct employees and thousands more indirectly.

[Cazza]

Currently doing a Cost-Benefit Analysis assignment on Cross River Rail. Can someone just quickly give me the capacity of a standard highway lane/hour? I know it's been mentioned plenty of times throughout the blog but I can find it. Cheers.

[#Metro]

It's around 2000 pphd, and this is derived from the three second rule of distance between cars.

Remember that cars need parking and parking space is limited in the CBD due to physical constraints of the river.

[Cazza]

Cheers

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/1030996386047647744

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Travel times to western suburbs along Legacy Way slashed by 10 minutes

Bus passengers and motorists from Kenmore, Riverhills and Fig Tree Pocket can save 10 minutes from trips to and from the city after $60 million improvements to the Inner City Bypass were opened on Sunday.

A wider, four-lane section of the Inner City Bypass near the entrance of the Legacy Way tunnel now connects Brisbane's western suburbs to the city.

The ICB has been widened from three lanes in this section, after Brisbane City Council sold it to Transurban in March 2017, meaning ratepayers contributed just $4 million to this project.

A new bus ramp was added from Bowen Bridge Road up to the Inner Northern Busway to  improve access between the hospital and the Inner City Bypass and Bowen Bridge Road.

More than 50 bus services use this stretch of the Inner City Bypass daily and the road widening will slice 10 minutes from each journey on average, Cr Quirk said.

"With more lanes and bus priority measures, this upgrade will ensure the ICB can cater for future traffic demands which are expected to grow to 130,000 daily vehicles by 2031," he said.

The Inner City Bypass now carries 105,000 vehicles per day.

"So this is an important project," Cr Quirk said.

"It will take 10 minutes off their travel time."

Those time savings should begin from August 27 after passengers and bus drivers are alerted to the changes on the Inner City Bypass.

Also, a new bus ramp helping bus passengers travelling to the Royal Brisbane and Womens Hospital at Bowen Hills opened on Sunday, linking more bus journeys to the western suburbs link.

Brisbane City Council's infrastructure committee chair Cr Amanda Cooper said the Inner City Bypass was Brisbane's most important road "connector" in the city's road network.

Transurban as part of their network of toll roads in Brisbane runs the Inner City Bypass connecting the Legacy Way, Clem 7 and Airport Link tunnels.

Transurban's Queensland group executive Sue Johnson said the road widening would improve safety on a busy stretch of road.

Transurban is responsible for maintenance along Legacy Way and will begin maintenance and road clearing from August 27 after accidents along the Inner City Bypass, she said.

Meanwhile, tolls will not be introduced to the Inner City Bypass to cover the expense, tolls for cars on the Legacy Way tunnel will increase by about 7 per cent from July 2020, from $4.94 to $5.31, in 2017 terms.

In March 2017, Transurban's previous Queensland group executive Wes Ballantyne said tolls for heavy vehicles would also increase at almost "three times" the average increase for cars from July 2020.

[OzGamer]

No sign yet from Translink or BCC when/if the outbound buses will actually start to use it.

[techblitz]

https://translink.com.au/service-updates/193956

Last reviewed: Friday 17 Aug 2018 at 4.11pm (3 days ago)

From Monday 27 August, outbound routes p426, 431, p443, 446, p455 and p456 will travel via the Northern Busway and Legacy Way tunnel. That means services are more reliable, and you save time.

Buses will pick up and set down at:
•Normanby
•QUT Kelvin Grove
•Herston busway station

and then run express to their usual destination.

As part of the change:
•routes p426, 431, 446, p455, p456 will no longer stop at Stop 7, Milton Road
•routes 431 and 446 will no longer stop at Toowong Cemetery.

Please replan your journey.

In 2016, these inbound routes were realigned to travel via Legacy Way and the Northern Busway. Now, completion of the ramp on Bowen Bridge Road means we can align the outbound routes too, so you can travel the same way in the morning and afternoon.

Use the journey planner to learn more about your new trip home, or call 13 12 30 anytime.

Affected services



Bus
P426
431
P443
446
P455
P456

[ozbob]

Ha, you just beat me to it TB ... thanks.

[techblitz]

 np
trying to stay occupied on an inbound ngr727 

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Traffic jams seen as way to steer cars onto toll roads in Brisbane

A SENIOR State Government official welcomed some congestion on Brisbane's roads as it forced motorists to consider using public transport or toll roads, a parliamentary inquiry has heard.

The Transport Department's deputy director-general for policy, planning and investment, Julie Mitchell, told an inquiry into the state's toll-road system the Government could not build its way out of congestion, and it wanted more commuters to make "sustainable trip types with lower carbon emissions", such as on public transport.

Rejecting calls that the Government should be trying to direct more traffic onto toll roads through incentives such as discounting, Ms Mitchell said peak-hour traffic was not bad enough to "push more traffic into the tunnels".

The inquiry, which is due to deliver its final report on September 13, was called after Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington raised concerns about the high level of complaints against toll operator Transurban, and the failure of the state's six toll roads to reduce congestion.

Ms Mitchell said continually building roads would not fix congestion as motorists would just clog up the new roads.

"Some level of congestion is not such a bad thing on roads; it actually makes people think about their travel choices," she said.

Ms Frecklington said suggesting that congestion was "not such a bad thing" showed the Palaszczuk Government was completely out of touch.

"Tell that to motorists stuck in traffic on the M1 every day," she said. "Our population is increasing, but Labor's cuts to infrastructure mean congestion is getting worse every year.

"Busting congestion is a priority for the LNP."

RACQ policy chief Dr Rebecca Michael said the body would like to see more motorists using inner-Brisbane toll roads through toll discounts and incentives.

Transurban's Sue Johnson told the inquiry the company's obligation to shareholders meant it had no "discretion" to cut tolls below the maximum level set by the Government.

[Cazza]

I think Deb and the LNP are really the ones out of touch here. Wanting to cancel CRR to build more roads? Let's be real, anyone with half a brain would eventually realise that it is a plain stupid idea.

[James]

This is the problem when you get populism mixed with sensible ideas. At first glance, it looks stupid, but upon further analysis, you realise congestion is very helpful. I actually agree with Ms Mitchell. Some congestion is a healthy way of abating demand for a service and driving people away.

Today I drove to work for once - parked about 700m away for $9 all day. While I begrudge the bus(es) home taking 35 minutes door-to-door most days, the drive + walk this afternoon was around 28 minutes or so, and it costs more to drive than use public transport (plus I can't check my emails etc. while I drive). This is compared to an in-vehicle time of 12 minutes in the off-peak. While I had a reason for driving today, my experience has told me not to bother driving all the way in again unless it is absolutely essential.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Road speeds plummet as southeast Queensland is gripped by gridlock

PEAK hour traffic speeds plunged on some of southeast Queensland's busiest roads in July leading the RACQ to call for urgent action to bust worsening congestion.

The peak motoring body's latest Travel Time Report found commute speeds along the region's major road corridors slowed by almost 30 per cent in July compared with the same period last year.

Drivers stuck on congested sections of the Pacific Motorway barely managed to reach a third of the speed limit, inching along at an average speed of 34km/h, which was 28 per cent slower than in July 2017.

The RACQ's analysis of Transport Department bluetooth average speed data also revealed the Centenary Motorway dawdled at an average of 27km/h in both the morning and afternoon peaks near Miskin St.

Traffic speeds on the same road between the Toowong roundabout and Moggill Road reached a low of 23km/h in the afternoon.

RACQ Head of Public Policy Rebecca Michael said year-on-year average speeds were generally getting worse. The only roads to record an increase in average speeds were the Mt Lindesay Highway and one section of the Centenary Motorway.

"The Pacific Motorway is barely moving from Logan River to the Gateway merge with additional delays of around 12 minutes," Dr Michael said.

"It's a similar story north on the Bruce Highway near Anzac Avenue where drivers are crawling at just 44km/h."

"It's concerning because we had four fewer school days in July this year, which would usually mean faster speeds with less traffic on the roads during school holidays – the fact this wasn't the case shows we need to take an urgent look at the state of our major thoroughfares."

Dr Michael said recent upgrade announcements such as a $2 billion injection into the Pacific Motorway and the introduction of variable speed limits would help ease congestion but said more needed to be done to prepare for future traffic volumes across the network.

"It's time commuters were rewarded for their patience," she said.

"Variable speeds will help on the M1, but we need funding commitments to improve major corridors including the Centenary Motorway and the Bruce Highway.

"Innovation and investment in our roads is critical, and we'll need more of it if we're to combat the gridlock we continue to see on a daily basis across the region."

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1031945940486086656

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1032174911635087360

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1032176505181224960

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane's slowest morning commutes revealed

THE morning commute for Brisbane motorists has plummeted to below 40km/h as average travel times on the city's busiest roads continue to deteriorate.

The latest six-month snapshot of Brisbane's state and council-owned roads reveals Stanley St in Woolloongabba is still the slowest major road during the morning and afternoon commute.

The overall average speed on the River City's 38 key corridors during the morning peak was 35km/h between January and June this year – down from 42km/h during the same period in 2017.

The average speed during the afternoon peak was slightly better at 39km/h, but was still down from last year's average of 42.1km/h.

It comes amid new figures that show Brisbane City Council has installed nearly 50 new sets of traffic lights over the past four years.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk has talked up the latest travel report, saying it showed average speeds had dropped by just 1km/h on council-owned roads over the past year despite major works on Kingsford Smith Dr and the Inner City Bypass. He said he expected travel times to improve as other upgrades were completed.

"This is good news for motorists because it shows that our commitment to taking real action on traffic congestion is delivering measurable benefits, especially when we've got major upgrades currently under way such as the Inner City Bypass and Kingsford Smith Drive," he said.

"The delivery of projects attacking congestion such as Clem7, Airport Link, Go Between Bridge and Legacy Way has cut surface road vehicle movements by 120,000 per day."

But the RACQ's head of public policy, Dr Rebecca Michael, said the report showed Brisbane was heading backwards.

"That's why it's so important we see continued investment in roads, public transport and efficiency improvements to maintain or improve average travel speeds across the network," she said.

"We also need to see better utilisation of toll roads close to the city because this will help relieve congestion and improve average travel speeds on the competing surface road network."

The RACQ's most recent travel time report, which tracked speeds on major motorways including the Pacific, Centenary and Ipswich motorways, showed commutes were almost 30 per cent slower in July compared with the same period last year.

BRISBANE'S SLOWEST ROADS IN THE MORNING

Stanley St, South Brisbane - 16km/h

Coronation Dr, Milton - 20km/h

Kelvin Grove Rd, Kelvin Grove - 20km/h

Oxley Rd/Coonan St, Indooroopilly - 21km/h

23km/h Wynnum Rd, Wynnum - 23km/h

Lutwyche/Bowen Bridge Rd, Lutwyche - 23km/h

[James]

#RailFail and bus network issues continue to bite, it seems.

Note that Stanley St and Wynnum Rd are the primary corridors used by people living near the Cleveland Line (Cannon Hill, Wynnum/Manly, Thorneside etc.) to access the CBD by car. Perhaps if TransLink focused on improving the bus & train services to these areas, particularly ending the woes along the 'misery line', we would see an improvement in average speeds.

[verbatim9]

Transit/Bus lanes need to be reintroduced on Coronation Drive to speed up reliability of bus services. It's becoming a reoccurrence of 20-25 min traveling times from the Regatta to Hale street in both directions. I don't think this particular issue has anything to do with the reworking of the bus network or rail fail.

Just recently it has been reported in the WA (Perth) media that bus ridership has declined especially on feeder services to and  from the stations

People just prefer to drive especially for cross town trips because it's.faster.

Some people may switch to Public Transport if there is evidence showing quick reliable travel times along mass transit corridors in form of Metro lines Busways and Transitways with minimal transfer times for crosstown trips.

A tunnel needs to be built from PA to Toowong to alleviate traffic along Coronation Drive. Plus Transit lanes along Coronation Drive and a new segregated mass transit corridor indentified and built from Kenmore, Chapel Hill, Indooroopilly St Lucia, UQ, West End, City.

Transit lanes need to be introduced on Gympie Road and the Busway completed to Chermside.

[ozbob]

Perth has significant economic factors affecting PT ridership.  Interesting that rail is holding up.  Bus patronage decline is not that great, however they are now talking bus priority and network improvements. 

This is a good background document on all the major states.

Public Transport Barometer TTF

> http://www.ttf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/TTF-LEK-Public-Transport-Barometer.pdf

[verbatim9]

Perth has significant economic factors affecting PT ridership.  Interesting that rail is holding up.  Bus patronage decline is not that great, however they are now talking bus priority and network improvements. 

This is a good background document on all the major states.

Public Transport Barometer TTF

> http://www.ttf.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/TTF-LEK-Public-Transport-Barometer.pdf

Thanks sounds interesting will take a read.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1044140517989085184

[verbatim9]

Latest pics of the Toowoomba Second Range Crossing Pretty impressive! Source: @MarkBaileyMp Twitter

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1056575656681660416

[ozbob]

Queensland Times 21st November 2018 page 5

Sumners Rd upgrade now closer

CONSTRUCTION of the Sumners Road Interchange Upgrade on the Centenary Highway is a step closer with the tender released by the State Government last week.

State ALP MP for Mount Ommaney Jess Pugh said the Sumners Road Interchange Upgrade would improve safety and cut travel times for motorists in the Centenary suburbs, Ipswich, Springfield and beyond.

"Everyday about 85,000 vehicles use the Centenary Motorway and 35,000 motorists use Sumners and Monier roads," Ms Pugh said.

"The existing roundabouts will be replaced with two new signalised intersections along with construction of a new two-lane eastbound bridge and the existing westbound bridge will be replaced with a new four-lane westbound bridge."

Ms Pugh said an underpass for bike lanes would complete the link to the Centenary Bikeway.

"Experienced construction companies now have the opportunity to tender on this major project, with a contract to be awarded early next year," she said.

Construction is expected to start in the first half of next year and take two years.

An average of 64 direct jobs will be supported over the life of the project. Go to tmr.qld.gov.au/sumnersroad.

Sumners Road Interchange upgrade, Jamboree Heights --> https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/sumnersroad

[red dragin]

It seems like they redesign this interchange every few years or so.

Is it a marginal seat? 

[OzGamer]

I think it's actually an upgrade/redesign that has been talked about and tinkered with for years but never done properly.

But yes, it is a marginal seat and flipped from LNP to ALP at the last election. Hasn't helped with the Centenary Highway or a decent bus network yet though.

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Kingsford Smith Drive delayed due to 'design defect'

A SIGNIFICANT section of a $650 million Brisbane road project will be delayed by up to a year due to river conditions only recently flagged as a problem by the contractor.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk made the announcement about Kingsford Smith Drive on Thursday morning but tried to soften the blow with news the river walk would be open by Christmas.

He also announced that the first section of the upgraded road, eastbound from Harbour Rd at Hamilton, would be open and the speed limit restored to 60km/hr by mid next year.

Cr Quirk said despite geotechnical work done by the contractor during the early stages of the project a section of the river, between Toorak Rd and Grays Rd, proved an "issue for us".

"The river conditions are very varied and as a result of that there is going to be a need for ground anchors to be placed around 15m into the bedrock to ensure the long term structural soundness of the retaining wall in the river," Cr Quirk said.

"Really, we're talking about that section from around Racecourse Rd through to Breakfast Creek will not open until the second half of 2020, and we had hoped that section would be open by the end of 2019," he said.

Cr Quirk said ratepayers would not wear the increase in cost for the already $650 million project, which would be borne by the contractor.

"There is a price around the contract, and that remains," he said.

Lendlease chief executive officer Steve McCann told addressed the company's Annual General Meeting last Friday there was a "defect in the design undertaken by external design consultations".

"This design defect has meant the work is outside the required tolerances and therefore requires rectification," he said.

"In addition to the costs of rectification work, this has resulted in increased provisions for delay and other ancillary costs."

Throughout the project residents and commuters have dealt with the major thoroughfare's speed limit being reduced to 40km/hr and constant road closures.

Meanwhile, traders at Racecourse Rd have said the roadworks had contributed to challenging retail conditions on the landmark high street.

The road is a key connector for the Australia Trade Coast, Brisbane Airport, Northshore Hamilton and the soon-to-be-built International Cruise Terminal at Pinkenba.

Cr Quirk apologised for "any delays and inconveniences there might be to residents and (local) traders".

"What I would say to the traders is that at least now that they have got that pedestrian connectivity happening again along this corridor.

"That will make, I think, a significant difference at least that people will be able to connect with traders via this walkway ... from this Christmas."

The river walk will 1.2km long, with a 2m wide pedestrian footpath and a 3m wide two-way cycle path, and will include five "look out" spots to take in views of the river.

Infrastructure chairman Cr Amanda Cooper said it was "a fantastic new facility".

"Council is delighted that for this Christmas, the residents will be able to actually stroll along a 1.2km new Riverwalk facility," she said.

"They will certainly be able to enjoy the beautiful views of the CBD, Mt Coot-tha, our spectacular river and will also be able to stop at one of these five rest nodes, have a drink of water, sit, and look at the world go by."

The contractor, Lendlease has been contacted for comment.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane transport costs rise sharply in past year

BRISBANE families are spending almost $20,000 a year on transport costs as prices for petrol, registration and licencing continue to outstrip inflation, according to new data.

The Australian Automobile Association's latest Transport Affordability Index, to be released today, found total transport costs had jumped $621 to $19,932 in Brisbane over the past 12 months, largely on the back of rising fuel prices.

The rise was mirrored in every city studied around the country except Sydney and has led to pleas for governments to provide urgent relief to motorists.

RACQ head of public policy Dr Rebecca Michael called for a freeze on registration and licence fees, which had jumped 3.5 per cent in the September quarter.

Dr Michael said it was "time for action" as the government fee increases were coming on top of sharp rises in prices for tolls, parking and fuel, hitting motorists "from all angles".

According to the index, average transport costs in Australia jumped 4.2 per cent in the 12 months to September 2018, which was more than double inflation of 1.9 per cent.

In the past three months, Sydney was the only metropolitan city to record a fall in transport costs after a toll relief scheme came into effect.

Under the scheme, motorists in NSW can register their car for free if they spend more than $25 per week on tolls.

The index, which measures total transport costs and local affordability, found that Brisbane families were spending 16.4 per cent of their income on transport.

That figure had dropped slightly in the past quarter after incomes increased, meaning Brisbane lost the dubious title of Australia's most unaffordable city for transport to Hobart.

The Barker-Meehan family, who use their two vehicles for work, said they felt the squeeze on their personal finances because of the cost of commuting.





"We spend $80 a week on fuel, $700 a year on rego, plus $65 a month on insurance," Mr Barker said.

"You pay all that money, and what do you get for it? The roads are getting worse."

If motoring were cheaper, Mr Barker said he would fast-track improvements to their newly bought family home in Mount Gravatt East.

"We'd spend the money on the bills, things about the home, and some renos."

Holland Park residents Michael, 39, and Ros Prout, 36, estimated that maintaining their three cars and two motorbikes cost them about $6,000 per vehicle each year.

Mr Prout said a large amount of that money would be better off in his family's back pocket.

"I spend a stupid amount on insurance and rego each year," he said.

"We'd spend that money on an overseas holiday."

AAA chief executive Michael Bradley said motorists were coming under increasing pressure from rising transport costs.

"Policymakers around the country need to be aware that households are facing these rising costs and look at ways to keep them in check," he said.

Mr Bradley said rising fuel prices were driving up transport costs with typical Australian metropolitan and regional households paying an additional $671 and $674 respectively on fuel than they did 12 months ago.

In Townsville, the only Queensland regional city in the index, annual transport costs climbed to $13,578, a jump of $542 from September 2017.

Households in Townsville spent 11.64 per cent of income on transport, making it the second most affordable regional centre in the study, behind Wagga Wagga, NSW.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane motorists steer clear of Kingsford Smith Drive

THOUSANDS of motorists have abandoned Kingsford Smith Drive as the council ploughs ahead with its expensive roadworks project on the north Brisbane thoroughfare.

The Courier-Mail can reveal the daily number of motorists using the road has dropped by more than 8.5 per cent — or 5367 vehicles — since construction began on the upgrade in 2016. The council confirmed last week that a significant section of the project would be delayed up to a year.

The council opposition has slammed the $650 million project as a "gold-plated" waste of money, warning that the number of daily road users may not pick anytime soon.

Labor's transport spokesman Jared Cassidy said there had been a long-term trend of motorists abandoning the road.

He pointed to data that showed there were more than 65,000 daily road users in 2004 — significantly more than the daily average of 57,461 users in the first six months of 2018.

"We have seen over time, a remarkable decline in the demand (for the road) and that's also a period that has seen enormous growth in people living there," he said.

"It just shows that the $650 million upgrade was never warranted in the first place.

"A much smaller upgrade would have done the job."

Cr Cassidy said the Airport Link Tunnel and upgrades to surrounding roads had reduced demand for Kingsford Smith Drive.

The LNP administration has previously claimed that it expects the daily number of motorists using the road to increase to 90,000 by 2030.

BCC infrastructure chairwoman Amanda Cooper said the upgrade would improve travel times by up to 30 per cent.

"Every day, the Kingsford Smith Drive project is future-proofing this key gateway to the city and Council is committed to upgrading this corridor to get residents home quicker and safer," she said.

[James]

Motorists have abandoned the road because it is 40km/h for 1.7km between the ICB and Racecourse Road, and 50km/h for 1.6km between Racecourse Road and Woonah Avenue. Add in the periodic congestion caused by roadwork vehicles and so forth, it is easy to envisage a drop of 8.5% by motorists choosing a faster route.

It would be more appropriate to consider this figure in the context of traffic running along Sandgate Road and Airport Link - I imagine most of those 5367 vehicles (including myself in the case of trips to the airport) are using Sandgate Road instead. It shows in the Sandgate Rd off-ramp on the ICB too - the traffic on that ramp has densified over the past few years.

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Kingsford Smith Drive delay costs unclear says opposition

RATEPAYERS will not know the true cost of the Kingsford Smith Drive delay for years to come and the Lord Mayor has apologised for misleading councillors over the issue this week.

Opposition councillors are struggling to confirm the cost that ratepayers will have to wear for the delay to the Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade despite two weeks of asking for it.

Motorists steer clear of Kingsford Smith Drive

Last week Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said the contingency figure for the road project was "publicly available information" but this week admitted it was commercial-in-confidence.

"I am prepared to apologise in some respect," he said.

"With all major contracts ... there is a significant amount of information. That information was commercial in confidence."

Cr Quirk has consistently stated the delay would not change the $650 million contract price.

The contingency is the amount included within that $650 million contract price specifically for cost blowouts, which is not paid out to the contractor unless required.

Contingencies are standard practise in contracts for large capital works projects.

Cr Quirk said although it was not provided to councillors in writing, it was given to them during a spoken briefing on November 17, 2015.

Cr Cassidy wanted to know if the council would pay for the delay from the contingency or if Lendlease would pick up the tab.

"In a well-managed project the contingency should never be used, this administration couldn't organise a party in a pub, let along a road project," he told Quest Community News.

"The ratepayers will be paying for this project for generations and won't know its true cost for years to come."

Last week, when the opposition asked him for the contingency figure, Cr Quirk said it was "publicly available" in the papers from when the council approved the contract.

"I don't intend to go back and do your own homework for you when the information has already been given to you," he said.

This week, deputy opposition leader Jared Cassidy tabled those papers, which do not include the contract or contingency figures.

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk apologised to the Brisbane City Council meeting this week for misleading the chamber.

[verbatim9]

New Theme park to get arterial road.

Gold Coast Bulletin------------>https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast/gold-coast-development-600m-songcheng-theme-park-design-will-incorporate-m2-coomera-connector-access/news-story/d8cc8fe1d0121ec6e90c2064ce8707a1

Gold Coast development: $600m Songcheng theme park design will incorporate M2 Coomera Connector access

ANDREW POTTS, Gold Coast Bulletin

February 5, 2019 1:21pm

Subscriber only

PLANS for a $600 million theme park at Carrara are being revised to make way for a major new road.

Australian Legends World, put forward by Chinese developer Songcheng, will feature an indoor ski field, animal exhibits and adventure park along with a 3500-seat performance theatre and is expected to create thousands of jobs during its construction.

[verbatim9]

^^I am not surprised of the new road being proposed. There will be an emphasis on driving to and from the Theme park with lots of parking allocated. Public Transport will be available, but a token option. In comparison Hong Kong Disney has its own Spur line off the Tung Chung line that encourages train use to and from the park, alleviating potential traffic congestion and building unnecessary parking spots and road infrastructure.

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Brisbane City Council says Queensland Government needs to invest in city's transport network

BRISBANE'S infrastructure and public transport bosses are fed up with the State Government's "reluctance" to invest in the capital city's transport network.

As the State Government consults on its South East Queensland Draft Regional Transport Plans Brisbane City Council has issued a list of priority projects the state has left behind.

The council wants the State Government to commit to funding the Eastern and Northern Busways; upgrades to major state-controlled roads; green bridges across the river; building the North West Transport Corridor and a schedule to replace open level crossings.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey listed billions of dollars worth of projects the state had invested in to benefit Brisbane and said City Hall was "responsible for its road network".

Infrastructure chairwoman Amanda Cooper said the plan was a good basis for future growth but too reliant "vague half promises" and Cross River Rail.

"The State Government have always been quite reluctant to deliver infrastructure in Brisbane and have really relied on council to do that work," she said.

"The next step of this report needs to be concrete commitments to delivering infrastructure — not just vague half-promises and essentially making other people responsible for doing their job."

She said Gympie Arterial Rd and Sandgate Rd on the northside and Beaudesert Rd on the southside all desperately needed major upgrades from the State Government.

"That's why we're experiencing additional pressure on council roads — because the roads that are meant to carry the large, heavy volumes of traffic can't cope," she said.

BRISBANE'S HIGH PRIORITY TRANSPORT PROJECTS

Gympie Arterial Rd upgrades
Sandgate Rd upgrades
Beaudesert Rd upgrades
Eastern and Northern Busways
Green bridges across the Brisbane River
North West 'missing link' from Alderley to Carseldine
Schedule to replace Open Level Crossings
Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner said he supported the general direction the State Government's plan and that it aligned with Brisbane City Council's own Transport Plan.

"Where the rubber hits the road is the actual budgetary commitments to these projects, and taking them from concept through the business case phase and then to delivery."

Cr Schrinner, who is Public and Active Transport chairman, wanted to know why plans for the eastern and northern busway extensions had "disappeared".

"The busways have just disappeared from state planning altogether ... You can't have a long-term transport plan that doesn't include that infrastructure," he said.

He said extended busways would mean the council could extend Brisbane Metro.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey issued a scathing response to the councillors' wishlists but was silent on committing to any of the council's high priority projects.

He said Brisbane City Council had a $3 billion budget comparable to the Tasmanian State Government and that "City Hall is responsible for its local road network".

"City Hall, however, have allocated $650 million on one project at Kingsford Smith Drive and continues to ignore the Walter Taylor bottleneck at Chelmer and Indooroopilly in the southwest," he said.

He said the State Government would spend $5.4 billion on Cross River Rail for Brisbane plus $355 million on roads in the Brisbane metropolitan region in 2018/19, including $9 million for local roads.

Mr Bailey said the state had also increased the council's share of funding under the Transport Infrastructure Development Scheme.

He listed billions of dollars worth of State Government commitments to the Ipswich Motorway, Logan Enhancement Project, the M1, and the Sumners Rd Interchange.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Before and after: Chermside tunnel plan revealed

A VEHICLE tunnel could be built under Brisbane's Gympie Rd to transform Chermside into a major suburban business and residential hub with a village atmosphere, a new report says.

The concept has been unveiled by urban design think-tank Suburban Alliance, which says the vision would attract billions of dollars of development and create thousands of jobs.

Director Ross Elliott says major urban renewal and infrastructure investment in the area is decades overdue, with much of the commercial strip still looking like it did in the 1970s.

The vision report presents two possibilities.

In the first, a 1.6km tunnel would be constructed under Gympie Rd between the Rode Rd and Murphy Rd.

The other suggests a 9km tunnel from Telegraph Rd and Stafford Rd to connect with the existing Airportlink, Clem7 and Legacy Way tunnel systems.

That would allow that section of Gympie Rd to be narrowed to a tree-lined boulevard for local traffic and possibly an expansion of the Brisbane Metro public transport system due to start in 2023.

Gympie Rd currently carries 66,000 vehicles a day, not far short of the 75,000 on the Gateway Motorway, and is one of the state's worst accident hot spots.

The idea is modelled on Nundah where $55 million spent on a bypass tunnel has resulted in more than $800 million of private investment in apartments, retail, food and commercial buildings.

"Nundah went from a failing business and community village to a thriving hub. The same could happen with Chermside, but on a much larger scale," the report says.

The group is now urging the State Government and Brisbane City Council to formally investigate the cost and potential economic boost.