Car parking - solutions?

[pandmaster]

Sunshine Plaza would likely be the only SC candidate for paid parking in the medium term, especially if the SC clowncil decides to raise the PT levy to fund the light rail (likely joint as a PPP and/or partial State Gov funding) and/or the state government gets off their butts on the CoastConnect busway (let's face it CAMCOS beyond Caloundra is in the foamers/Maglev bus/2040+ territory). 

I agree that the Plaza is a prime candidate for paid parking. That would be an interesting move though, as I suspect most of the cars parked there are for shoppers and not office workers or commuters using it as a park 'n' ride. The Plaza attracts so many people from such a large area that if they introduced paid parking Kawana Shoppingworld and other shopping centres would be licking their lips. A better spot for paid parking would be around the courthouse, police station and state government building.

[red dragin]

^ Surely North Lakes will have paid parking when the MBRL opens.

Too far away I think. There are a lot of car parks at the station as well as a new Coles complex about 150m away

[Jonno]

12-step program to kick city parking addiction? How to overcome the parking status quo https://t.co/77x0W4YlE2

Reforming minimum parking requirements is one of the most effective ways to support Smart Growth. Yet many planners lack the tools to develop recommendations for parking reform. The course explains some of the problems with status quo parking requirements and helps the student understand resistance to reform. The core of the course explains a 12-step process for generating recommendations to either deregulate parking or reform minimum requirements. Each analytic and policy step is explained and illustrated. Then a range of parking requirement approaches is presented, along with accompanying elements of parking regulations. The course concludes with an explanation of parking management tools that should accompany requirement reform and a discussion of strategies for addressing political and stakeholder issues.
In This Course


Introduction
Rick Willson introduces the goals and content of the course. He explains how common practices such as copying a neighboring city's parking requirements or using a national "standard" lead to poor planning outcomes.
3 min
Challenging the Status Quo
This chapter reviews three types of problems with the status quo in minimum parking requirements, in suburban, mixed use, and high density areas.
4 min
Putting Parking Requirements in Their Place
This chapter explains how parking requirements are linked to broader transportation, land use, economic development, and sustainability goals and provides a framework for understanding how parking requirements are part of a large accessibility system.
7 min
Why Change Doesn't Happen
This chapter provides a review of the reasons why some stakeholders prefer the status quo, emphasizing the need for a solid methodology to justify reforms.
6 min
A 12-Step Method for Reforming Parking Requirements
This chapter presents 12 analytical and policy steps needed to justify parking requirement reforms. The method is illustrated with an example for suburban workplaces and multifamily housing.
32 min
Requirement Options and Developer Responses
This chapter explores types of reforms for different land use contexts, ranging from suburban to dense urban areas. It reviews other parking ordinance measures that may accompany requirement reform.
10 min
Parking Management
This chapter explains the types of parking management tools that should accompany parking requirement reform, including on- and off-street parking operated by private and public entities.
8 min
Politics, Participation, and a Call to Action
This chapter provides four types of strategies for addressing the controversy associated with parking reform: tying parking reform to the broader planning agenda, education, appealing to self-interest, and attracting allies. The chapter also provides a call to action and offers additional resources to support parking requirement reform.
6 min
Published 2015

Richard Willson

Instructor

Richard Willson is a professor and chair in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. Dr. Willson's research addresses parking policy, climate change planning, land/use transportation relationships, travel demand management, and transit-oriented development.

[Jonno]

Couriermail --> It's about to get a lot tougher for inner city residents to find a parking space

Good

[pandmaster]

^ Surely North Lakes will have paid parking when the MBRL opens.

Too far away I think. There are a lot of car parks at the station as well as a new Coles complex about 150m away

Even if commuters do not use the carpark there, it is still a convenient excuse to introduce it. Who knows what will happen to commuting patterns in the MBRL area: Westfield may not want to take the chance with their carpark and bring it in anyway.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Indooroopilly Shopping Centre car parking proves a disaster

Sent to all outlets:

27th April 2015

Greetings,

Brisbane Bus Reform: Fix Indooroopilly Shopping Centre Congestion

RAIL Back on Track members  read with interest the recent media report about severe congestion affecting Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, which is wasting the time of shoppers, severely delaying bus services and driving away customers. This is being caused by:

    1. Lack of adequate bus services to Indooroopilly Shopping Centre
    2. Recent work done to Musgrave Road which has decreased road capacity, adversely affecting both bus and car users alike
    3. Recent expansion of the shopping centre, while not increasing the number of available carpark exits

In the long term, this results in lost jobs, lost productivity and significant loss of goodwill.

RAIL Back on Track is well aware of the issues which have been going on in and around Indooroopilly Shopping Centre in recent months, and low frequency bus routes which are circuitous (such as the 450), run hourly (425, 430) or don't run at all on weekends (445, 468) simply encourage higher car dependency and continue to suppress patronage. Enough is enough - something needs to be done to relieve the congestion which chokes our shopping centres and makes going to the shops a battle rather than a simple 10-15 minute trip.

The New Bus Network Proposal, developed by RAIL Back on Track members, provides improved frequency to the entire western suburbs, allowing citizens of Brisbane's western suburbs to access Indooroopilly Shopping Centre in an easy, low stress way to get to and from the shops.

New Bus Network Proposal ---> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork
Current BCC Bus Network ---> http://tiny.cc/checkyourbus

RAIL Back on Track's proposal provides the residents of the western suburbs with double or quadruple the frequency. Routes such as the 400 CentenaryGlider and routes 427 and 428 provide much improved bus routes to the western suburbs, which encourage more people bound for the shopping centre to use public transport and take cars off the road. Furthermore, improved bus services require no significant infrastructure investment from either the Centre or Government, a big win for the community.

RAIL Back on Track also believes that the current traffic arrangements in this area are grossly inappropriate and are contributing to congestion. In the medium-to-long term, RAIL Back on Track believes that the pathway beside the shopping centre should be removed and replaced with a bus lane, in order to ensure that buses do not get caught in congestion. Numerous bus services running along Musgrave Road were observed to be running up to half an hour late by late afternoon on Sunday due to the congestion madness occurring in this area.  In addition, the traffic signal arrangement present prior to the renovations (pre-2013) should return to improve traffic flow, in particular for bus services heading to UQ.

Instead of blame shifting and putting in place band-aid solutions, the Transport Minister, Brisbane City Council and Centre Management need to work together to put in place a cohesive, effective transit management system which encourages the use of public transport and minimises congestion around the centre.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

References:

1. Shoppers held up in gridlock at Indooroopilly Shopping Centre
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/shoppers-held-up-in-gridlock-at-indooroopilly-shopping-centre/story-fnihsrf2-1227322137234?utm_content=SocialFlow&utm_campaign=EditorialSF&utm_source=CourierMail&utm_medium=Twitter

2. Brisbane father and daughter caught in carpark congestion inside Indooroopilly Shopping Centre
http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/west/brisbane-father-and-daughter-caught-in-carpark-congestion-inside-indooroopilly-shopping-centre/story-fni9r1r4-1226923911007

3. Official RBoT Bus Network Proposal -> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

[Jonno]

This has nothing to with some signage and a whole lot to do with car-oriented planning!!

[#Metro]

Jonno, James etc - maybe you want to have a MR crack at Indro SC management and get them to support the CentenaryGlider. Least they could do is write a petition or letter of support to BCC. After all, it must be paying huge rates to BCC each year...

[Gazza]

This has nothing to with some signage and a whole lot to do with car-oriented planning!!

True....the center is an annoying distance from  the station, and not integrated.


But the issue is that the car park at Indro was expanded in a bit of a messy and convoluted way....Basically, wherever they could squeeze extra parking areas in.
And the new parking areas are not connected well or are "dead ends".

What it means is that if you might enter from a particular entrance, and it basically takes trial and error of entering and exiting each pocket of parking till you find a spot.

Its not like how it used to be where you just work your way up each level till you find a spot.

For a car park as complicated as Indooroopilly you really need electronic signs.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

29th April 2015

Re: Brisbane Bus Reform: Fix Indooroopilly Shopping Centre Congestion

Greetings,

Indooroopilly has the worst and most bus unfriendly interchange design of all the major Shopping Centres.  An opportunity was wasted of course in 2007 when the Indooroopilly railway station was upgraded to further encourage use of public transport by building a proper bus interchange at the rail station itself ( http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=300.msg1046#msg1046 ).  The parking chaos around Indooroopilly will not be resolved by encouraging even more cars on the limited roads.  What will is activating proper public transport solutions.

The parking and traffic chaos around Indooroopilly is merely a harbinger of what is in store for the rest of Brisbane unless we get some proper transport solutions.

Have a great day stuck in your chariots of isolation, rage and mediocrity.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Couriermail --> Indooroopilly Shopping Centre car parking proves a disaster

Sent to all outlets:

27th April 2015

Greetings,

Brisbane Bus Reform: Fix Indooroopilly Shopping Centre Congestion

RAIL Back on Track members  read with interest the recent media report about severe congestion affecting Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, which is wasting the time of shoppers, severely delaying bus services and driving away customers. This is being caused by:

    1. Lack of adequate bus services to Indooroopilly Shopping Centre
    2. Recent work done to Musgrave Road which has decreased road capacity, adversely affecting both bus and car users alike
    3. Recent expansion of the shopping centre, while not increasing the number of available carpark exits

In the long term, this results in lost jobs, lost productivity and significant loss of goodwill.

RAIL Back on Track is well aware of the issues which have been going on in and around Indooroopilly Shopping Centre in recent months, and low frequency bus routes which are circuitous (such as the 450), run hourly (425, 430) or don't run at all on weekends (445, 468) simply encourage higher car dependency and continue to suppress patronage. Enough is enough - something needs to be done to relieve the congestion which chokes our shopping centres and makes going to the shops a battle rather than a simple 10-15 minute trip.

The New Bus Network Proposal, developed by RAIL Back on Track members, provides improved frequency to the entire western suburbs, allowing citizens of Brisbane's western suburbs to access Indooroopilly Shopping Centre in an easy, low stress way to get to and from the shops.

New Bus Network Proposal ---> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork
Current BCC Bus Network ---> http://tiny.cc/checkyourbus

RAIL Back on Track's proposal provides the residents of the western suburbs with double or quadruple the frequency. Routes such as the 400 CentenaryGlider and routes 427 and 428 provide much improved bus routes to the western suburbs, which encourage more people bound for the shopping centre to use public transport and take cars off the road. Furthermore, improved bus services require no significant infrastructure investment from either the Centre or Government, a big win for the community.

RAIL Back on Track also believes that the current traffic arrangements in this area are grossly inappropriate and are contributing to congestion. In the medium-to-long term, RAIL Back on Track believes that the pathway beside the shopping centre should be removed and replaced with a bus lane, in order to ensure that buses do not get caught in congestion. Numerous bus services running along Musgrave Road were observed to be running up to half an hour late by late afternoon on Sunday due to the congestion madness occurring in this area.  In addition, the traffic signal arrangement present prior to the renovations (pre-2013) should return to improve traffic flow, in particular for bus services heading to UQ.

Instead of blame shifting and putting in place band-aid solutions, the Transport Minister, Brisbane City Council and Centre Management need to work together to put in place a cohesive, effective transit management system which encourages the use of public transport and minimises congestion around the centre.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

References:

1. Shoppers held up in gridlock at Indooroopilly Shopping Centre
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/shoppers-held-up-in-gridlock-at-indooroopilly-shopping-centre/story-fnihsrf2-1227322137234?utm_content=SocialFlow&utm_campaign=EditorialSF&utm_source=CourierMail&utm_medium=Twitter

2. Brisbane father and daughter caught in carpark congestion inside Indooroopilly Shopping Centre
http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/west/brisbane-father-and-daughter-caught-in-carpark-congestion-inside-indooroopilly-shopping-centre/story-fni9r1r4-1226923911007

3. Official RBoT Bus Network Proposal -> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Train commuters hit with big fines

Augustine Heights resident Archie Venitis was fined $227 for parking outside of designated parking bays at Springfield Central station. He says there should be more parks available given the proposed future growth in the area. Photo: Rob Williams / The Queensland Times Rob Williams

SPRINGFIELD Central Station's popularity is already starting to cause headaches for commuters and authorities alike.

An overflowing carpark has resulted in dozens of people stretching the patience of Translink inspectors.

Augustine Heights resident Archie Venitis recently discovered - the expensive way - that a parking inspector's patience can only be stretched so far.

He received a whopping $227 fine for parking illegally at the new train station, after arriving that day to find all of the legitimate car parks had been snapped up.

Regular commuters would be familiar with this situation.

By about 7.30am most working days, vehicles start overflowing from the car park onto any grassed area, traffic island or spare bit of bitumen they can find.

Translink has issued plenty of warnings to offending drivers, but Mr Venitis was one of nine people so far this year unlucky enough to cop a nasty fine.

"The Orion Shopping Centre is the only place I can park now," Mr Venitis said.

"The core issue here though, is that there is not enough parking to handle all the people who use this train station.

"If you're trying to encourage people to use public transport, this isn't a good way to do it."

Mr Venitis has written to several authorities - including Translink, Deputy Premier and Transport Minister Jackie Trad, and Member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller - seeking a reprieve. Translink turned down his request.

A spokesman for Ms Miller said creating more parking spaces didn't always solve the core issues around public transport.

An additional 400 car spaces were opened at the station early last year.

This added to the 100 spaces at Springfield Central and 200 spaces at Springfield station.

"Parking had been extended at Dinmore, Redbank and Goodna, and like Springfield, the extra spaces seem to fill up as soon as they are created," he said.

"The situation is being monitored. Some commuters are reporting they are now parking legally as close as possible and making their way to the station from there."

A Translink spokeswoman said several bus routes stopped at the station and there was also a 100-space secure bike park and 20 bike racks.

"Customers can use either the 534, 522 or 526 buses, which directly service the Springfield Central train station, or the 522 bus stop on Woodcrest Way, which is only a short walk from the station," she said.

Translink confirmed there were no plans to further increase the number of parking spaces.

[#Metro]

$2 parking fee, like Perth. Problem will disappear overnight.

Everybody will be outraged, but the simple fact will be availability will go up.

Perth has integrated it with the Perth SmartRider card. Tag on and that's it.

http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/parking

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

. @JoAnnMillerMP @jackietrad Transperth solves parking issues with decent bus feeders/paid parking $2 > http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=532.msg155492#msg155492 ... #qldpol ...

[bcasey]

I'm not really familiar with this region, so I'm not aware of the specifics, and the following suggestions might not be valid for this particular problem. I also imagine Translink has already investigated these possibilities.

Do they need to improve the frequency, reach or span of the services that connect to the station, so they would attract more people to use them rather than the park'n'ride?

Looking at the current timetables, the 526 is 2bph during peak, 1bph in off-peak (but last bus meets the train that leaves central at 6.49),  522 is 2bph all throughout the day, (last bus meets the train that leaves central at 7.43), and 534 is 1bph throughout the day, (and last bus also meets the train that leaves central at 7.43). Correct me if I'm wrong, but these services were reformed for the western region? I'm guessing Translink wanted to improve these, but the failure of the Brisbane reform compromised them?

Should they perform a survey of the people who are using the park'n'ride to find out the reasons why they can't use these connecting services? or at least hand out flyers advertising the services in case people are unaware of them (although I doubt that is probably the case).

[aldonius]

As a comparison... The Gold Coast line has a bit over 5.3 trains' worth of car park spaces (~3200 spaces, inc. half of Beenleigh); the Springfield line has just under 2.5 trains' worth (~1480 spaces, inc. half of Darra).

The Springfield line, however, has about 3 more trains in the AM peak (CBD arrivals ~7.30 through ~9:00).

Haven't done other lines, but I suspect the GC has far and away the most parking per station... and needs it.

[petey3801]

A big problem with the feeder services is that they are crap. Low frequency and give a whole new meaning to 'Urban safari'! Well, the 522 does at least.. To take the 522 from my house to the Orion SC or Springfield Central station takes around 40mins, compared to less than 5mins in the car.

[ozbob]

A big problem with the feeder services is that they are cr%p. Low frequency and give a whole new meaning to 'Urban safari'! Well, the 522 does at least.. To take the 522 from my house to the Orion SC or Springfield Central station takes around 40mins, compared to less than 5mins in the car.

^ spot on.  They are not feeder services but suburban tour services ..   

There were cuts as a consequence of the need to prop up Brisbane network.  Hardly equitable I know ...  the day of reckoning will arrive ...

[SurfRail]

As a comparison... The Gold Coast line has a bit over 5.3 trains' worth of car park spaces (~3200 spaces, inc. half of Beenleigh); the Springfield line has just under 2.5 trains' worth (~1480 spaces, inc. half of Darra).

The Springfield line, however, has about 3 more trains in the AM peak (CBD arrivals ~7.30 through ~9:00).

Haven't done other lines, but I suspect the GC has far and away the most parking per station... and needs it.

The interesting thing of course is that:

- The Gold Coast line has more bus interchange than any other line (to my knowledge); and
- None of the car parks are to my knowledge ever parked out, except maybe when there is something on at Metricon or Cbus.

[Jonno]

A big problem with the feeder services is that they are cr%p. Low frequency and give a whole new meaning to 'Urban safari'! Well, the 522 does at least.. To take the 522 from my house to the Orion SC or Springfield Central station takes around 40mins, compared to less than 5mins in the car.

Feeder services have to be cross-town services so that there is destinations beyond the station and allow cross town travel - spider-web

[petey3801]

A big problem with the feeder services is that they are cr%p. Low frequency and give a whole new meaning to 'Urban safari'! Well, the 522 does at least.. To take the 522 from my house to the Orion SC or Springfield Central station takes around 40mins, compared to less than 5mins in the car.

Feeder services have to be cross-town services so that there is destinations beyond the station and allow cross town travel - spider-web

They also need to be at least partially competitive with the car. The fact that I can walk there quicker says a lot about it. Let alone the pathetic patronage..

[#Metro]

What is wrong with 522? It seems to take the most direct path to the station (Springfield Central) by road possible. Springfield station it is not so close, but could be made a little closer to the station.

Springfield is more dense than some general suburban developments closer in. This appears to have been achieved by reducing the size of the backyard to the house. Density is around 33 dwellings/ha.

[ozbob]

LD the 522 is actually a suburban connector. It is not a good feeder by any stretch of the imagination.  Great way to go on tour from Goodna, Camira and various Springfield developments, and as Petey has pointed out takes forever.  I do it for the views.  The frequency is very poor and suffers from reliability issues.

The 522 should just run direct into Springfield Central from the Parkway.  Another frequent local feeder should run the back leg.

[hU0N]

Or, it could stop at Springfield rather than going right past, then run the Lakeside Dr / Springfield Lakes Blvd segment straight to Springfield Central, THEN run the Sinnathamby Blvd / Grande Ave / Lakes Entrance Dr segment, turning around and making the return journey.  So, Gailes and the northern part of Camira get a relatively direct bus to and from Goodna; Springfield and the southern part of Camira get a relatively direct bus to and from Springfield Station; the eastern part of Springfield lakes gets a relatively direct bus to and from Springfield Station; the western part of Springfield lakes gets a relatively direct bus to and from Springfield Central Station; and Springfield Central and Grande Ave gets a relatively direct bus to and from Springfield Central Station.

I'm not a local, so that might be a stupid idea, but could it work?

[ozbob]

I think it is best to keep it straightforward.

The 522 was not originally going to be like it has turned out.  The initial plan was a more direct 522 with another bus doing the scenic tour around Springfield and environs. The failure of the 2013 review lead to a lot of bastardised compromises. 

It needs to run more direct Springfield Central - Camira - Goodna.  Springfield developments are expanding all the time, at a very rapid rate.  It is time TransLink did the right thing and put on some local Springfield area feeders. 

The 522 is handy for people ( particularly Camira into Goodna), and as way of getting to Springfield Central Orion from Camira/Goodna, but as a commuter feeder at the Springfield end doesn't work well at all.  Hence the parking issues etc. 

It is also worth remembering that initially all the parking that was going to be provided at Springfield Central was 100 spaces!  A much better local bus feeder network was originally envisaged.

Total cluster f%k these days ..

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

1st May 2015

Pay for park and ride?

Greetings,

Parking meltdown is happening all over SEQ.  It is not just confined to Springfield Central.

Queensland Times -->Train commuters hit with big fines

There needs to be a reasonable amount of parking spaces as you move out from the inner suburbs, but we cannot as a community keep on expanding parking so that entire suburbs become car parks.

Average cost of a parking space is say around $50,000.  A 500 space park and ride costs about $25 million.  This will fill half a train.  Hopeless economics.

Bus feeder networks in SEQ are generally abysmal.  It is very difficult for people to use buses to get to and from key rail and bus stations.  These must be improved and are part of a bus reform process.

Better support for active options, bicycles and walking is also needed.

Perth has a much more enlightened approach.  They have excellent feeder bus networks, and charge a nominal fee $2 for passengers who choose to use park and ride (free parking for those with special needs).

http://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/parking

From 1 July 2014, paid parking will be extended to include all parking bays* (including motorbike shelters and u-rails) at Transperth train stations. This means when you park at a Transperth train station it'll cost you $2 a day between 5am and 9pm, Monday to Friday. Parking on weekends and public holidays will continue to be free of charge.

*Accessible bays will be exempt from the $2 charge.


The $2 parking charge is integrated with the Smartrider card (their equivalent of our go card).

This video explains how it works > https://youtu.be/BiyVqP0GST0

Would such an enlightened approach be the solution for the parking meltdowns in SEQ?  It could be, but the feeder bus networks must be fixed first.   Then it takes some political courage to drive through the necessary reforms.

We are Queenslanders!  Might be too hard!!  Chaos continues ...

Transport in SEQ is heading to terminal failure.  What's new?

Have a great day now ..

Best wishes
Robert

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

[Jonno]

Our city needs to unsprawl as much as it needs to redesign its public transport network they go hand in hand Open at grade car parking does not create places

http://dirt.asla.org/2013/07/23/the-case-for-place-making-without-the-sprawl/

The Case for Place-Making, Without the Sprawl
Posted by The Dirt Contributor
Book-Cover
What does it take to not only slow the spread of sprawl but also fundamentally change how we design and build communities? And how do we "unsprawl" communities that have already been built? A new book from our friends at Planetizen, Unsprawl: Remixing Spaces and Places, by Simmons Buntin, editor of Terrain.org and Ken Pirie, who works for Walker Macy Landscape Architects, proves that there are better ways to build communities. But this isn't a book about sprawl: It's a book about built places, "real, human scale communities by people and for people, not cars."

In the introduction, Galina Tachieva states, "sprawl as a built habitat has been failing for decades." With the recent economic downturn, the fundamental inadequacies of sprawl have become apparent. The new push to "unsprawl" is a movement towards an urbanism we can all afford — one in which amenities are located centrally and walkable, where the built is balanced with the natural.

While there are clear reasons why we need to unsprawl, this is a focused how-to book. Exploring all aspects of a project from concept to design and through to its execution, there are lots of details about how projects were financed and built. We also learn about the successes and failures along the path to that "particular moment when a project becomes a true place."

Each case study covered in the book has an accompanying question and answer section with someone who is intimately involved in the design and development of the community. Case studies of various scales are organized into four sections: new communities; in-fill and grayfield development; the redevelopment of downtowns; and examples of "green" development.

The new communities section shows that good urban design is doable in both rural and suburban communities, places that have been historically car-focused. The authors believe we can build "new and distinct places that respect the economy and heritage" of that place. One new community, Prospect New Town, located south of Longmont, Colorado, was built with a mixed-use, eclectic design aesthetic and was voted "America's Coolest Neighborhood" by Dwell magazine.

Image-1
In the in-fill and greyfield section, the authors ask: what we do when the existing form and function of our communities cease to serve us? Do we rebuild from scratch or find "innovative ways to adapt to changing social, environmental and economic circumstances?" Built on the site of Rockville, Maryland's vacant mall, a new town square "created a daytime, evening, and weekend activity center that is easily identifiable, pedestrian-oriented and incorporates a mix of uses and activities."

Image-2

Buntin and Pirie acknowledge that wonderful things have been torn down in and around American cities, ranging from "native ecosystems to historic neighborhoods" but believe that replacing what doesn't work with "dedicated planning, good urban design, and hard work" can turn redeveloped areas into "intentional and integral parts of their respective downtowns."

For example, RiverPlace in Portland, Oregon, the initial development of which was possible through the city council's 1976 decision to remove the six-lane freeway that separated the city from the Wilmette River, showcases an "early and ongoing example" of these principles in action.

Image-3
In the green development section, the authors feature a few projects with especially strong sustainable credentials. The authors state: "successful, sustainable communities are not a goal to be achieved, but a process to be followed and revised: an essential pursuit if we hope to build places that will last on landscapes that will last even longer." One such example of a green development is Prairie Crossing, in Grayslake, Illinois, north of Chicago. Prairie Crossing is transit-based, energy efficient, and community focused. The project "began as a commitment from conservation-minded investors who sought to preserve and restore native prairie and farmland being lost to suburbanization."

Image-4
The case studies provide us with an "optimistic, diverse, and common-sense direction for the future," one in which people, and their walkable communities, live in harmony with the natural world.

Read the book.

This guest post is by Heidi Petersen, Student ASLA, Master's of Landscape Architecture candidate, Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and ASLA 2013 summer intern.

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times published 5th May 2015 page 15

'Parking meltdown' a big problem across south-east

[pandmaster]

RACQ calls for more parking as shopping centres crack down on commuters
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/racq-calls-for-more-parking-as-shopping-centres-crack-down-on-commuters-20150518-gh4iqx.html

No self interest here at all. If people caught feeder buses to their local rail station they may not have much use for an RACQ membership. I find it refreshing that in Brisbane there are no massive multilevel carparks like Sydney has all over the network. Surely that money is better spent on services?

Better PT = less road congestion. Unfortunately the RACQ do not see it that way. I have no idea why the media gives so much attention to motoring associations: of course they want more roads.

[ozbob]

^

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 25s

. @RACQOfficial turn suburbs into car parks?  No, better feeder buses needed > http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=532.msg155680#msg155680 ... #qldpol ping @brisbanetimes

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

[ozbob]

Queensland Times --> Extra car parks for commuters at Ipswich train station

19th May 2015 5:00 AM

THE commute from Ipswich train station will soon be easier with the opening of a new car park at the station on Monday, May 25.

Member for Ipswich Jennifer Howard said this was great news for the commuters, providing an additional 45 new car parking spaces at the station.

"On average, there are more than 1300 boardings at Ipswich station each weekday and many of these people drive into town before their commute," Ms Howard said.

"I am pleased today to confirm an increase to the number of parking spaces at the station, which will greatly improve passenger facilities at Ipswich.

"This is a prime example of Queensland Rail's commitment to continually improve station amenities for Ipswich commuters."

Ms Howard said the new car park was located next to the existing car park, accessed via Olga St.

"This area has previously been used for operational reasons, but Queensland Rail identified that there was little need for its future use and that it could be better utilised by Ipswich customers," Ms Howard said.

"Queensland Rail will complete minor upgrades within the area to ensure that the car park has the appropriate fencing, lighting and CCTV."

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

19th May 2015

Greetings,

More Carparks? - Fix BCC bus mess instead!

RAIL Back on Track notes calls in the media for more car parking for park-and-ride purposes at shopping centres.

While we appreciate the RACQ wants to see more park-and-ride places, the bottom line is park and ride only makes sense in areas far outside the city where the density does not properly support buses.

We cannot afford the high cost of 'free' parking. For example, $6 million dollars was spent at The Gap in 2013 for 85 car parking spaces. That's more than $70 000 per car parking space, and it barely fills more than one bus. To fill a single Queensland Rail train using park-and-ride, you need to spend around 50 million dollars.

The numbers just don't work.

Brisbane's needs are changing. Major shopping centres have realised the high cost of  'free' parking. They cannot continue expanding their limited car parking, ad infinitum. Increased customer growth to these shopping centres must now be facilitated by buses, as building new car-parking is not an option.

We think Brisbane City Council needs to stop resisting reform to the bus network instead. It is becoming painfully clear that the Brisbane City Council Bus Network needs wholesale restructuring. The New Bus Network proposal on our website shows how to do this ---> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

The Lord Mayor's so called bus network 'evolution' isn't working. We estimate at four bus route changes per year, it would take five decades to reform the Brisbane Bus network. This is unacceptable, not only for passengers, but also for businesses that have constraints on expanding car parking.

It's time Deputy Premier Jackie Trad intervened and fixed Lord Mayor Graham Quirk's bus network.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Reference:

RACQ: More car parks needed
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/racq-calls-for-more-parking-as-shopping-centres-crack-down-on-commuters-20150518-gh4iqx.html

[pandmaster]

What a load of rubbish. 45 extra spaces will not make a difference at all.

[ozbob]

Letter to the editor Queensland Times published 20th May 2015 page 17

We can't afford high cost of ' free ' parking

[ozbob]

What a load of rubbish. 45 extra spaces will not make a difference at all.

You would think they have all won the lottery out Ippy way ... 

Queensland Times --> New carpark a win for all

THE NEW car park at Ipswich railway station will be a win-win for commuters and city workers.

That is the word from city councillor Andrew Antoniolli after Ipswich MP Jennifer Howard announced yesterday that 45 new car park spaces would be opened up in the new car park, accessed via Olga St.

Council had been working with Queensland Rail and Ms Howard to secure under utilised parking space in that area.

"Freeing up additional parking will be very welcome," Cr Antoniolli said.

"What was the old QR carpark off Olga St, about 70% of that was owned by QR.

"The lease had lapsed with QR so we reclaimed that car park for inner city parking and commuter parking.

"But we had noticed there was a QR car park that had been used previously for staff but had been under utilised for several years.

"It is good to see that under utilised space freed up for more commuter and inner city parking."

Cr Antoniolli said that since the advent of the new parking management system in Ipswich City Square there had been some pressure for on and off-street car spaces in the CBD.

He said the new car parking spaces would ease some of that pressure.

"As a council we knew there would be parking pressures once Ipswich City Square commenced their new parking management system," he said.

"Hence the reason whey those new off-street parking stations were built in Marsden Parade.

"These new 45 car park spaces will continue to alleviate some of that pressure.

"People who are part of the inner city work force will now be able to find parking closer to their place of work.

"Over the last six or so weeks since the new parking management system has been in operating in Ipswich City Square I think most people have started to find the best place to park that suits their needs.

"There are still some locations within the CBD in short walking distance of most people's work place that are under utilised and we hope that people will start to identify those locations."

[Jonno]

"Dad! Council says they going to solve car parking problems and improve public transport patronage by building 45 more car parks!"

"Tell e'm they're dreamin"!!!

[pandmaster]

I guess there is not much to report on transport-wise in Ipswich at present. It is looking unlikely that Ipswich services will be extended to Wulkuraka for the NGR facility.

[petey3801]

Very unlikely, as there is no train connection from Wulkuraka station to the NGR facility. Can't remember if the station will be available to turn back from either. Also, having a train blocking the mainline at Wulkuraka and at Rosewood when there is a station 2 stops away (Ipswich) that is perfectly suited for terminating trains is pointless.

[pandmaster]

IIRC there does not appear to be any impediment to link the facility to the station if it is not going to already. There is a third platform (disused) that can be brought into service to avoid blocking the line. When we went out there last year for the end of year trip we agreed at least some services would be extended to serve the western parts of Ipswich. IMHO it does not make sense that the people in the west of Ipswich get such an inferior service compared with the east.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Bne city parkers to top up meters from their phones

[ozbob]

Daniel Bowen --> How do people get to the station?

^ Victoria, but basic observations relevant.