Roads - articles and discussion

[colinw]

Or 2 Springfield lines!

Can a couple of these projects and you'be paid for half of CRR right there.

[#Metro]

I've been having further thoughts on the Kingsford Smith Tunnel

I am almost certain the bulk of the increased traffic is not due to "increase in development" in that area, but traffic wanting to access the Gateway and Brisbane Airport.

What is curious is that the Airport Link project will allow ICB traffic to the East-West arterial and therefore the Gateway Motorway, so once this is complete, traffic is likely to drop (for a while) which gives an opporunity to implement much cheaper traffic calming measures on the road like Light Rail, Copenhagen bike lanes or busway options.

So the solution might be to hold off on the KSD tunnel option, and wait until Airport Link opens and the traffic levels for that.

[Golliwog]

Any construction wouldn't happen till after the airport link project was finished anyway. And if you're saying that traffic on KSD isn't really due to development out there but access to the Airport/Gateway/ATC, how would Copenhagen bikelanes help? Or really for that matter a busway. If you're trying to get SOV's off of KSD you would do better to analyse where they are coming from and also where they are ending up and working on PT for those areas.

[#Metro]

Well at the moment when you get off the ICB or Clem7, where do you go?
It's either Lutwyche & Gympie Road or if you want to go to the Airport or the Gateway, KSD.

Its no accident at all that those two roads are full to the brim with traffic because ICB etc dumps huge volumes of concentrated traffic into these streets. Airport Link is coming. What consideration to Airport Link and underlying traffic assumptions did the traffic modelers use to justify KSD upgrades???

I can tell you now, Hamilton and that area has very pricey homes, the residents will NOT be happy!!!

[somebody]

There is also Sandgate Rd.

Not sure that Airport traffic causes that much of KSD congestion.  ICB/KSD is by far the best way to get from the west to the north without paying a toll.

[Stillwater]

Folks, they will be going to the airport, for sure, and to the Gateway ( to access destinations north and south), but most certainly in future to here:
http://www.australiatradecoast.com.au/
or to work there – some 30,000 new jobs at places such as here:
http://www.australiatradecoast.com.au/news/australia-tradecoast-delivers-a-sustainable-future
and here:
http://edm.australiatradecoast.com.au/airbus-military-conversion-program.html
The place is growing like Topsy, as shown here:
http://www.tradecoastcentral.com.au/
Here's what wiki says:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia_TradeCoast
If things don't change, get ready for Brisbane to have worst traffic congestion than Los Angeles – within 10 years.

[Stillwater]

From the economic analysis ofthe Australian Trade Coast:

The number of people employed in the
ATC region is forecast to increase to
106,000 people over the next 20 years,
making Australia TradeCoast Queensland's
second largest employer by area after the
Brisbane CBD.

Humm.... what is the most direct link from the CBD to the 'second largest employer by area after the Brisbane CBD'.  Throw in a busy and growing airport and a fairly active port, and what do you have?  Then there is a Gateway Motorway's function as an eastern bypass between the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast, both of them major growth corridors.

We will need more than a duplication Gatewau bridge and port motorway to cope with this lot!

[#Metro]

The more I think of this, the more I think re-opening the Pinkenba line.
An "Almere style" busway could be constructed to transport people to the rail line (or the line could be extended, but I'm just pointing out that a split line also means split, and thus lower frequencies for the branches)

[Stillwater]

Extend Doomben line to Pinkenba, perhaps?  Put in a loop so all those workers can catch a train?

[ozbob]

I have mentioned before somewhere that there is a serious plan to extend the Doomben line into Hamilton reach.  Cutting underneath KSD.

[Golliwog]

I have mentioned before somewhere that there is a serious plan to extend the Doomben line into Hamilton reach.  Cutting underneath KSD.

Well there is something of that nature in Connecting SEQ so it does seem to possibly be a happening thing.

[ozbob]

Joint Statement:

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh

Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe
08/11/2010

NEW AIRPORT FLYOVER OPEN

Today motorists are soaring 20 metres above the Airport Roundabout on our newest bridge, the Airport Flyover, reducing travel times to the Airport by up to 10 minutes.

Premier Anna Bligh said the eastbound lanes opened to cars overnight, a year before the original scheduled completion date of November 2011.

"A break in the wet weather over the weekend has allowed the project team to complete the final asphalting and line-marking for the flyover, with the eastbound lanes opening in the early hours of this morning," Ms Bligh said.

"When all the lanes on the flyover are open by Christmas, 3,600 vehicles an hour will be able to cross the overpass to get to and from the Airport.

"Once complete, the 20m-high flyover will be handed to the Department of Transport and Main Roads to manage and will be free for all drivers."

Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe said the opening was great news for Brisbane and advised motorists travelling to the Airport to drive carefully and look for changed traffic conditions and directional signs.

"This coming weekend, weather permitting, a full closure of the Airport Roundabout is also required to facilitate work on the fast diamond intersection. When it begins operating, Brisbane's most hated intersection, the Airport Roundabout, will be eliminated forever," Mr Hinchliffe said.

Thiess John Holland Project Director Gordon Ralph congratulated the team of up to 400 workers who had contributed to the Airport Roundabout Upgrade project since construction began in April 2009.

CEO of BrisConnections Dr Ray Wilson said when the Airport Link project is finished in 2012, access to the Brisbane Airport for motorists will be better than any other airport in Australia.

The project involves:

   * Constructing a new four lane 750m bridge linking East West Arterial Road and Airport Drive over the Gateway Motorway overpass
   * Replacing the existing Gateway Motorway overpass at the roundabout with a new four lane overpass
   * Replacing the existing roundabout with a high capacity signalised intersection
   * The upgrade of the intersection at East West Arterial and Nudgee Roads
   * Widening of East West Arterial Road to three traffic lanes in each direction
   * Improved connections to the airport precinct, the Gateway Motorway and Kingsford Smith Drive and
   * Surface road improvements to Airport Drive.

Visit www.brisconnections.com.au to register for SMS and email updates on traffic changes and project progress.

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

State of denial ...

[Jonno]

All for a solitary km per hour improvement in traffic speed.  It just does not add up!

[somebody]

NEW AIRPORT FLYOVER OPEN

I wonder what effect this will have on Airtrain.  Seems that there have been two effects improving Airtrain: congestion, but also the improved network effect of feeding into a better transport system, most notably due to BUZ.

All for a solitary km per hour improvement in traffic speed.  It just does not add up!

If it was sustainable, many in Bris-vegas would disagree with this!

[Derwan]

There is also Sandgate Rd.

... which is also heavily congested. 

[WTN]

NEW AIRPORT FLYOVER OPEN

I wonder what effect this will have on Airtrain.  Seems that there have been two effects improving Airtrain: congestion, but also the improved network effect of feeding into a better transport system, most notably due to BUZ.

I'm curious about the impact on Airtrain too. But more importantly, how much improvement in traffic flow will we see? Traffic could be bottlenecked at Sandgate Rd.

The road building in the airport area has gone mad. Very mad. I remember about a decade or more ago Airport Drive, East-West Arterial Rd and the Gateway Motorway were just 4 lanes. The roundabout was busy, but had few delays. Now we have TWO Gateway Bridges, TWO Gateway Motorways (about 10 lanes in total), 4-6 lanes on East-West Arterial Rd and Airport drive, 4 lanes on Moreton Bay Drive, slip lanes on the roundabout, flyover to DFO, and now a huge flyover the old Gateway Motorway. And the long Airport Link Tunnel is still coming. The sheer volume of asphalt and concrete poured in that area makes me sick! It's like we're trying to be LA.

[#Metro]

Oh really?, so that's what all that asphalt is- I thought that was just the new parallel runway 

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Call for dedicated scooter space

Call for dedicated scooter space
Daniel Hurst
November 10, 2010 - 5:17AM

We've seen bike lanes, we've tried transit lanes. Now, there's a call for moped lanes.

Maverick state MP Aidan McLindon wants transport authorities to consider installing dedicated lanes for moped riders alongside Brisbane's main roads.

Mr McLindon, himself a former moped rider, said the low-speed 50cc scooters were safe and legal on local roads and could be ridden with an open car licence.

However, the Beaudesert MP said the 50km/h mopeds could not be used on arterial roads because it was dangerous to share lanes with faster traffic, thereby limiting transport options for commuters.

"You just look at the gridlock every morning and afternoon," he said.

"We've got the bicycle lanes, but it would actually help to have a dedicated separate moped lane that's undercover."

Mr McLindon called for a rethink of "rarely used" T2 transit lanes, saying many cars stuck in traffic contained only one person and transport planners had to "start thinking outside the square".

Better, safer options for moped riders within 10 kilometres of the Brisbane CBD could prompt more people to take up the environmentally friendly, cost-effective option, he said.

Mr McLindon suggested moped lanes could be separated from general traffic by a concrete barrier and lit up at night by solar panels on an overhead roof.

He said possible roads for moped lanes included parts of the M1 near the city, the Riverside Expressway and Coronation Drive.

"I think it really will be the mode of transport in the future, especially for all those single drivers going into town," he said, pointing to rising cost of living.

However, Transport Minister Rachel Nolan poured cold water on the idea.

"Construction of dedicated moped lanes alongside major arterial road networks is common practice in a number of Asian cities where mopeds and motorcycles form a very high proportion of traffic, as high as 60 per cent in some cities," she said in a formal response to the proposal.

"In Brisbane, mopeds form a very small proportion of traffic at the moment – much less than one per cent. Whilst this figure is rising, it is still too low to warrant the provision of dedicated infrastructure."

Ms Nolan said the government was investing millions of dollars in cycling infrastructure because more trips were made by bicycle within 10 kilometres of the Brisbane CBD than by moped.

She said moped riders, like motorcycles, could use transit lanes.

But mopeds were banned from using freeways and motorways because of the large difference in speeds between mopeds and other vehicles, she said.

An RACQ spokeswoman said the region had competing transport needs and moped lanes should not be a priority.

Although Mr McLindon's idea may be good "conceptually", the RACQ saw a number of problems.

"Creating a dedicated infrastructure network for a form of transport that is not popular ... because of the obvious safety issues doesn't make a lot of sense," the spokeswoman said.

Moped salesman James Skinner, from Scooters Scooters at Fortitude Valley, said the store sold about ten 50cc scooters each week.

Mr Skinner said he had noticed increased interest in mopeds, which cost about $2000 or up to $4700 for top-of-the-line models, but some people were concerned about safety.

"It [moped lanes] would be a good idea and it would push people to get onto scooters more if they could get onto 70km/h or 80km/h roads," he said.

Mr McLindon, who quit the Liberal National Party earlier this year to form the fledgling Queensland Party, said the proposal would become part of his new party's yet-to-be-announced transport and environmental policy platform.

Comment was sought from Brisbane City Council.

[Jonno]

The RACQ is even willing to attack other forms of motorized transport. I love the suggestion that the scooters are not safe.  They really do have serious case of "car and truck colored glasses".  They don't understand that it is the poor behaviour of the car drivers and to a lesser extent truck drivers that makes other forms of road transport so dangerous.

Other than RACQ itself who is there to formally complain about their behavior to? ACCC?

[somebody]

I don't know why that story was newsworthy.  Except for the comedy aspect.  Seems like a crack pot idea to me.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Ray Smith confirmed as Labor mayoral candidate

Ray Smith confirmed as Labor mayoral candidate
Tony Moore
November 12, 2010 - 3:17PM

New tunnel projects are unlikely to be on Brisbane City Council's agenda if Labor lord mayoral candidate Ray Smith wins the March 2012 election.

Mr Smith, 45, the CEO of the film and television production house Cutting Edge, was this morning confirmed as Labor's choice to take on Lord Mayor Campbell Newman.

His nomination was foreshadowed by brisbanetimes.com.au last Thursday.

At a media conference this afternoon at Cutting Edge's West End headquarters, the Brisbane northsider said he had doubts about the toll tunnels being built around Brisbane.

He immediately took on Cr Newman's TransApex tunnel plan, which saw Newman elected in 2004, describing his competitor as a "shrewd politician".

"Campbell Newman has a reckless plan for more tunnels and more toll roads," Mr Smith said.

"It's a plan for massive debt and it's a plan for skyrocketing rates and, if we look at Clem7, we can see that there's no guarantee that we can even fix Brisbane's traffic congestion issues.

"His toll roads are already costing the ratepayers of Brisbane dearly and they will continue to cost the ratepayers of Brisbane dearly into the future."

Mr Smith has grown the Cutting Edge production house from a small business with five employees, to one which employs 150 full time staff in offices at West End, Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin and London.

He said he "stepped down" as CEO of Cutting Edge today to concentrate on his candidacy.

In his prepared speech, he repeated themes often raised by opposition leader Shayne Sutton critical of council's debt level, rising to $2.2 billion by 2015.

"This reckless financial management is costing the ratepayers and residents of Brisbane more and more and each day," he said.

Mr Smith was uncommitted about Legacy Way, formerly known as the Northern Link tunnel, which had already been given the go ahead by Brisbane City Council.

"The fact of the matter is that these toll roads are absolutely growing the debt out of control," he said.

"If we have the same sorts of issues that we have with Clem7 with Northern Link, we look like taking a $2.2 billion debt and who knows where it ends up. And then who knows what is going to happen with rates.

"We are saying we need to go with local roads not toll roads."

Cr Newman launched a $1.2 billion local roads Road Action Plan at the 2008 election.

Cutting Edge has made Labor Party election advertisements for more than a decade, including some of the Kevin07 ads and more recently television spots for the ALP when the 2010 federal election campaign got tight for Julia Gillard.

A Crime and Misconduct Commission Inquiry in 2002 investigated opposition claims of political links between the ALP and Cutting Edge and questioned why the production company received $10 million in business incentive grants from the Beattie Government.

The CMC report in December 2002 dismissed those claims and also found there was no evidence the ALP received political advertising at cheaper than commercial rates.

Mr Smith today dismissed the inquiry, launched after the State Opposition questioned the Cutting Edge business in State Parliament.

"They started a political witch-hunt that ended with a very clean finding for Cutting Edge," Mr Smith said.

"But this is the LNP which purport to be the party of business and they very nearly brought a very good Brisbane company to its knees during that time with that political witch-hunt.

"So, open whatever doors they like. Open whatever doors they like."

Mr Smith said he had never made political donations to the ALP, which he joined in January this year.

Mr Smith went to Wilston State School, then to Newmarket High and has three teenage children.

He said Labor would not use television more prominently in the 2012 campaign, saying Labor wanted to "fight them in the wards".

In 2006, Cutting Edge was ruled Brisbane City Council's best business and this year it won the Arts and Entertainment section of the Premier Anna Bligh's Export Awards.

Cr Newman is expected to respond to Mr Smith's candidacy this afternoon, when he dedicates a plaque to Brisbane band Powderfinger at the Riverstage.

[#Metro]

I wonder what his views are on PT???

[#Metro]

http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/about-council/elections/index.htm

The next BCC elections are not until 2012. 

[Golliwog]

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/P/Pacific-Motorway-Gateway-Motorway-to-Coronation-Drive.aspx

Project info
The concept planning study will investigate:

•how the Clem7, Airport Link, Hale Street Link and future growth in demand will impact on motorway operations
•the optimum lane configuration for the motorway
•ways to improve South East Busway connectivity and prioritisation of access
•environmental and cultural heritage issues within the corridor and adjacent areas
•regional and local cycleways and pedestrian needs
•operational strategies to assist with the management of the motorway.
The outcomes of the concept planning study are scheduled to be finalised by mid-2010.

I think this could be good. Possible bus lanes into the CBD? Although theres nothing up there yet about what they've come up with, despite it being due by mid-2010.

[#Metro]

This is a very vague set of dot points. What are they thinking???

[#Metro]

Came across this: I love this one.
Very apt acronym- "SCATS" 

http://www.campbellnewman.com.au/articles/council-does-even-more-to-tackle-congestion.html

More than $9 million over three years has been committed in the Lord Mayor's 2010-11 Budget to establishing an expert unit to reduce traffic congestion in Brisbane.

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said the Congestion Reduction Unit (CRU) would strengthen the current resources available to Council and other traffic and transport agencies in monitoring Brisbane's road network and reducing traffic congestion.

the bit that concerns me is:

The CRU will also be responsible for analysing all proposals to re-allocate the use of existing road space from general traffic to uses such as bike and bus lanes and pedestrian space to determine the impacts this may have on traffic flow.

[somebody]

I'm not concerned about that.  If they look at these things on their merits, then we will get more bus/transit lanes.

[ozbob]

Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Stirling Hinchliffe
15/11/2010

BRISBANE'S WORST BOTTLENECK ELIMINATED

Brisbane's worst bottleneck the Airport Roundabout has been demolished and replaced with a signalised 'fast diamond' intersection, Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Stirling Hinchliffe announced today.

Mr Hinchliffe said over the weekend the old roundabout was removed and the fast diamond installed. The new intersection is constructed in a diamond formation and responds to traffic as it arrives as opposed to a tradition timed signal system.

"Today Brisbane's most hated intersection, the Airport Roundabout, has been eliminated forever," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"Every year 17 million vehicles use this intersection and I'm pleased to say the fast diamond will change the way motorists travel through the region.

"Over the last couple of months, phased construction has been underway on the fast diamond intersection with the final sections of new road replaced when the roundabout closed for good on Friday night.

"The crews have worked around the clock as they completed the realignment of the fast diamond intersection to convert the roundabout including new traffic signals and road signage.

"On the ground, the fast diamond will be able to control all four turning movements as well as straight through movements with traffic signals, while overhead, 3,600 vehicles an hour will be able to cross the Flyover to get to and from the Airport.

"Free for drivers, the first eastbound lanes of the Flyover opened a year ahead of schedule.''

He said the State Government's $327 million Airport Roundabout Upgrade project would cut 10 minutes off travel times to the Airport. The westbound lanes of the Flyover are expected to open before Christmas.

"I would like to thank motorists for their patience over the weekend while the final works to demolish the roundabout where completed,'' Mr Hinchliffe said.

"Signage is in place at the approaches to the new intersection to help drivers find their way to Nudgee Road, the Southern Cross Way and Airport Drive.

"With the fast diamond now complete, the focus will shift to finishing works and opening the westbound lanes of the Airport Flyover before Christmas.''

Thiess John Holland Project Director Gordon Ralph congratulated the team of up to 400 workers who contributed to the Airport Roundabout Upgrade.

"These workers are part of a team of people who are constructing the largest road infrastructure project ever built in Australia," Mr Ralph said.

CEO of BrisConnections Dr Ray Wilson said when the Airport Link project finished in 2012, access to the Airport would be the best in the country.

The project involves:

·Constructing a new four lane 750m bridge linking East West Arterial Road and Airport Drive over the Gateway Motorway overpass

·Replacing the existing Gateway Motorway overpass at the roundabout with a new four lane overpass

·Replacing the existing roundabout with a high capacity signalised intersection

·The upgrade of the intersection at East West Arterial and Nudgee Roads

·Widening of East West Arterial Road to three traffic lanes in each direction

·Improved connections to the airport precinct, the Gateway Motorway and Kingsford Smith Drive and

·Surface road improvements to Airport Drive.

Visit www.brisconnections.com.au to register for SMS and email updates on traffic changes and project progress.

Media: 0417 815 223

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

Airtrain had better lift their game ...

Road congestion will only get worse, bring on frequency and extended hours of operation Airtrain!!

[#Metro]

The big winner here is the Airport.
More people driving cars = more parking fees to collect

Its a simple equation.

[ozbob]

Disaster looms ...

[ozbob]

Thought occurred to me the Government is happy to throw billions at roads to facilitate access to BNE, but baulks at some subsidies for extended airtrain operations .. and stands by whilst punters ripped off.

Mmmmm,  food for thought ..

[#Metro]

How much has been spent on road upgrades there now? It is surely in the multi-billion dollar range now.

[Jonno]

How much has been spent on road upgrades there now? It is surely in the multi-billion dollar range now.

...and all for 1 km per your improvement to traffic speeds.  I want my money back!!!!

[mufreight]

At a cost of billions of taxpayer dollars the government has been most successful in moving the gridlock possibly 200 metres or so down the road and in encouraging more motorists to crowd the already overcrowded and ill conceived Brisbane area road system.
Now what do we have left that produces sufficient revenue to attract a buyer that we can sell off to fund our next bit of absurdity? what nothing then time for an election that we will lose and leave the opposition with the mess to clean up. 

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 15 November 2010 page 4

Spy in the sky may cover our tracks

[ozbob]

Australia is hugely vulnerable to the looming transport paralysis, no wonder the OECD is concerned.

It is because of

[#Metro]

Nobody wants to acknowledge the truth: THERE IS NO 'SOLUTION' TO ROAD CONGESTION
You cannot "solve" congestion. ALL capital cities in Australia experience congestion. They always have and they always will.

The idea that we should "solve" congestion is also one that assumes that we should see the world through "road-coloured glasses" of a motorist and that the goal is
to keep traffic flowing for the benefit of this group of people. The goal should be PEOPLE-THROUGHPUT not VEHICLE THROUGHPUT.

So how do you increase the throughput of people when faced with congestion- you get more people in less space. How do you do that? You supply trains, busses, ferries, light rail, busways, railways, tramways, bikeways etc. That is how you increase people throughput at a fixed level of congestion.

[ozbob]

From the ABC News click here!

Look to Vancouver, town planners told

Look to Vancouver, town planners told

By Meg Purtell

The City of the Future conference has heard Brisbane could learn a lot from some of its international counterparts.

The event is exploring major issues facing Australian cities, including sustainable housing and transport options.

It has brought together international speakers and representatives from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to look at sustainable housing and transport options.

John Norquist from the Congress for the New Urbanism in the US says Brisbane is growing so quickly, a lot of burdens are being placed upon the city.

He says planners need to be looking ahead by at least half-a-century.

"Vancouver would be a great model for Brisbane to look at," he said.

"Vancouver has no freeways whatsoever yet it manages its traffic well.

"It has good distribution of traffic, it has great transit and it has huge property values better than any other city in Canada."

Mr Norquist says public transport is vital.

"I think a good lesson from the US is to not over build highways - build streets, avenues, boulevards," he said.

"Don't build big freeways like the Riverside Expressway that's right in front of downtown Brisbane and decreases the value of the downtown by it being there.

"There's no point in having a road like that, they're being removed all over the world."

[ozbob]

Why is transport policy in Australia so dumb?

I know ..



Be daring, throw them away ...


City of the Future: Australian & US Perspectives --> http://www.uq.edu.au/news/index.html?article=22136

[ozbob]

I am now of the view that Brisbane has all the roads it will ever need.  Some access roads will need to be constructed for new developments and so forth but the basic road network is done.   The emphasis now has to be on public transport (mass transit) as roads will never solve the mess, but there is a bigger whammy on the way, peak oil.   Time to start tap dancing ..

If the State Government was really with it they would can Northern Link as well.  Not needed and a huge financial risk.