Gold Coast Light Rail

[colinw]

My jaw hit the floor when I saw him suggest that the LRT should double back from Burleigh to Varsity, then proceed down the heavy rail corridor to Cooly.  What?!!!!!

IMHO the LRT should carry on straight down the coast (maybe a spur inland to Elanora / The Pines), and the corridor reserved beyond Varsity Lakes should be used for its intended purpose - heavy rail!

[colinw]

GoldLinQ: Track laying commences in Queen Street

How ironic that the first new tram tracks in SEQ for decades are to be laid in a road named Queen Street.

[SurfRail]

^ Subsequent to this, the GoldlinQ guys told me they would be aiming at first actual bona fide "rail" in the ground around early July (so around 4 weeks), although the prep work to allow that is now happening.

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Rapid Transit project Lessons Learned online resource

--> http://gcrtlessonslearned.com.au/

[SurfRail]

Had a chat with Michael Hart MP yesterday.  He is genuinely interested in improving the network, but seems to have only limited knowledge of (he confesses to no knowledge of the bus system outside the existence of the GC Hwy corridor).

I think we need to get stuck right into as many of them as possible to reinforce good transit planning principles.  He started discussing terminating the railway at Helensvale and having a physical light rail loop between Helensvale, Varsity, Burleigh and Southport.  This obviously is not going to go anywhere, but it does detract from them pushing for more tangible and useful things like buying more buses and fixing capacity issues.

I'm going to be putting out one-page releases (1 or 2 pages, but I use a larger 12pt font) explaining to the local MPs what PT exists in their electorate and what can be done to improve it, plus some observations on system wide things.  Will post up here for comment - something to look at on the weekend.

[colinw]

What? He was seriously suggesting truncating the near new line to Robina & Varsity back to Helensvale & converting it to LRT?

The L in LNP definitely stands for Learner.

[ozbob]

Good work SurfRail 

It all takes time ... lol

[colinw]

The Gold Coast Bulletin -> Engineer says light rail should go south

STAGE Two of the Gold Coast light rail should run south to Burleigh Heads not north to Helensvale train station, says a leading transport engineer.

Glen Holdsworth, who worked on the tram system in Melbourne and has more than 40 years experience in transport engineering, said light rail was for the short trip market and would be better suited linking to Burleigh Heads.

He said a proposed route to the Helensvale train station would be better serviced by busses which connect better with heavy rail.

Stage two of the project has been planned for Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads in the south and Helensvale via Harbour Town to the north.

However, the Bulletin understands that funding constraints means it is unlikely both will go ahead at the same time.

Last month, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said he supports a system heading to Helensvale as part of his vision for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, which will be hosted predominantly around Southport.

The previous council had already committed funds to the development of the second stage.

Stage One is running from Broadbeach through Surfers Paradise and Southport to Griffith Univeristy at Parkwood.

The new State Government acknowledged the future stages, which would include an eventual link to the Gold Coast Airport, but has not committed funding.

"People need to understand the planning of this things. It is many users taking short trips, said Mr Holdsworth.

"There is hardly a tram in the world which doesn't operate in a high density area. You look at Melbourne, and some of the European cities - they rely on high density, " he said.

"It makes much more sense to send it south where you have higher density living in the areas of Mermaid Beach, Miami and Burleigh Heads."

He said the trams were better suited to areas which had multiple-unit buildings and less car parking available.

In the past, transport was built to drive development, but now it was the opposite, said Mr Holdsworth.

"I don't see it as a planning driver so much now. It fits in and works better when the fundamentals (high density living and activity areas) are already there."

Mr Holdsworth, who lives in Sanctuary Cove and established enginnering company TTM Group in 1982, said short trips were also the key to the success of the trams.

"People use trams for short trips at high frequency. Trams don't traditionally have a timetable. People leave their buildings and run to catch a tram as it comes, knowing there will be one soon if they miss it."

He said the trams would be attractive for the city's tourism market.

"This will service people coming out of their hotels and jumping on a tram to go a restaurant 1km down the road."

He said he though the current route "made sense" but said there needed to be more tram stops along it.

[colinw]

I partially agree with what is suggested in this article, in that I think a southward extensions first would be a good thing. The LRT's main function is as an internal transit system within the densest part of the Gold Coast.

However, I disagree completely with Mr Holdsworth on two points:

1. I reject completely his assertion that there should be more stops. No way! That will just slow the system down and make it less attractive to users.  The current 800 metre average spacing, with some closer stops in downtown Southport, is fine. An average walk of 400 metres or less to a stop is not excessive.

2. I disagree with his assertion that buses for the link to Helensvale are a better choice, and that buses work better for rail integration. I don't see how the mode effects the quality of a SERVICE integration at all, it comes down to service frequency & interchange design, not the type of wheels the vehicle has! I think the LRT should go to Helensvale in the short to medium term, and that the extension to Helensvale should have relatively sparse station spacing & high operating speeds. Also, the Helensvale extension will pick up Harbour Town as a destination reachable by tram - a major trip generator and tourist destination.

[#Metro]

Helensvale should be done next, not anywhere else. And that is even if higher patronage can be gotten from Burleigh heads or whatever. You need it for decent connection to the wider rail network. And to eliminate double interchange.

[colinw]

I could go either way on this one, mainly because I primarily see the LRT as an internal transport system for the Coast, not as something to facilitate the long commute to Brisbane CBD.

Still, I agree that the Helensvale link is important and must be built. I would hate to see the double transfer become a permanent feature.

[Gazza]

not as something to facilitate the long commute to Brisbane CBD.

That gets brought up a lot, but I prefer to think of it benefiting people living in Coomera and the northern suburbs etc, commuting into the GC proper.

[colinw]

Good point Gazza. To clarify, I am definitely not against LRT extending to Helensvale, quite strongly in favour of it in fact.

Just open to discussion about the correct order of extension.

[SurfRail]

Helensvale should be done next, not anywhere else. And that is even if higher patronage can be gotten from Burleigh heads or whatever. You need it for decent connection to the wider rail network. And to eliminate double interchange.

Arguable at best.  The fastest way to get to Surfers will still probably be by bus from Nerang, and it is quite possible people will visit Surfers from north of the city and never actually need to hop on a tram other than to travel in an around Surfers itself.

The Gold Coast line has patronage of around 4-5 million per year out of the entire rail system, compared with somewhere between 17-20 million for the local bus network - much higher proportion of bus to rail than Brisbane.  There are bucketloads of people catching buses between Broadbeach and Burleigh in both directions all day, while rail patronage is heavily peak oriented.

Both need to be done, but I generally favour heading south first.

[colinw]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Helensvale extension actually gained most of its patronage from passengers to Harbour Town & the shopping centre at Helensvale, and from Helensvale to Uni/Southport/Surfers commuters.  The rail transfer will be important, but I still think the intra-coast journeys will dominate.

[SurfRail]

Fortunately this article is not as bad as it sounds.  He is probably right when he says it "could have been handled better" - but when is that ever untrue of anything?

Newman admits 'misgivings' about light rail
Matthew Killoran   |  10:46am June 12, 2012

PERSONAL correspondence from Queensland Premier Campbell Newman shows he had "misgivings" about the Gold Coast's light rail project but it was beyond the point of no return.

In a handwritten note to a light rail opponent, Mr Newman shared frank thoughts on scrapping the $1 billion project.

"To cancel it now would see the State Government pay out large sums of money for nothing," he wrote.

"I certainly had my own misgivings about the project but we passed the point of stopping this a long time ago."

It is the first time Mr Newman has revealed his views on the project so publicly.

Yesterday he said his concerns were about the public transport project's sky-high cost.

"Queensland is staring down the barrel of an $85 billion debt and a $2.8 billion deficit left by Labor and the project could have been handled better by the previous government," he said.

However Mr Newman said he believed the light rail would work and was a solution to the Gold Coast's public transport issues.

His comments dash the hopes of traders trying to stop the project before the construction cuts through Surfers Paradise.

Protesters, and Mayor Tom Tate, had called for a moratorium on the light rail while more reports were done.

Surfers Paradise businessman Matthew O'Sullivan, the owner of Condom Kingdom, received the letter from the Premier after writing to him, asking for the project to be stopped.

Mr O'Sullivan said he was disappointed the project would not be halted, despite Mr Newman's concerns about the cost.

"We have lived through Surfers Paradise being a construction site for almost nine years, first with Circle on Cavill, then Soul and the Hilton," he said.

"People who have been here for 30 years haven't seen it this bad.

"There's no way to mitigate it."

A spokesman for Mr Newman said the handwritten note was a reflection of "his belief of being upfront with Queenslanders".

Part of the plan to mitigate the impact of the light rail construction on businesses in Surfers Paradise includes recruiting 100 volunteer "way finders", dressed in bright pink shirts, who will direct tourists around hoardings.

Construction in Surfers Paradise is expected to begin this month.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2012/06/12/423791_gold-coast-news.html

[#Metro]

Pfft! This article is nothing but a SOP piece and a load of BS.

The real purpose of this article is to make us think Campbell Newman public image is one of great consideration, concern for cost (BS! Cost didn't stop all those tunnels which went bankrupt and are now worth less than the money invested in them), personalisation with the hand written note (every other piece of correspondence we have ever sent has been an e-mail or autoreply with little or zero information content), and as usual, like every other politician that went before him, they do COST-ONLY ANALYSIS.

The project wouldn't be built if it didn't have a BCR above 1!
It's being built because the benefits outweigh the costs on this! And not only that much value will be recaptured by the council when all the development is stimulated around the system.

Surfers Paradise businessman Matthew O'Sullivan, the owner of Condom Kingdom, received the letter from the Premier after writing to him, asking for the project to be stopped.

What is so special about Condom Kingdom that this ONE SHOP selling adult stuff should justify the cancellation of a $1 billion dollar project? Is the shop worth $1 billion? Didn't think so. I have an idea - move to another shop! There is a new building behind the McDonald's there which is going to need tenants in it soon.

[SurfRail]

What is so special about Condom Kingdom that this ONE SHOP selling adult stuff should justify the cancellation of a $1 billion dollar project? Is the shop worth $1 billion? Didn't think so. I have an idea - move to another shop! There is a new building behind the McDonald's there which is going to need tenants in it soon.

I have little sympathy for him, considering that they moved from premises which were not directly on Surfers Blvd and the route has been a matter of public record for over half a decade now.

(Not that I pay close attention to this shop's location(s)... )

[Jonno]

Funny how there were no misgivings about spending $770M of tax payers money on the epic failure they call Clem 7 and other bound to fail road tunnels.  Bet he does now but of course the tunnels are a private vendor... backed to the hilt by Govt and completely funded at rate payers risk in Legacy Way's case. 

This guys a goose!!!

[SurfRail]

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2012/06/16/425101_gold-coast-news.html

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2012/06/15/424881_gold-coast-news.html

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2012/06/16/425141_gold-coast-news.html

Various articles (too tired to completely extract them).  A lot of the commentary spurred on by the "Costello Solution".

[SurfRail]

Spoke to Shannon Willoughby this afternoon - raised our position that the commission of audit comments are effectively creative accounting (eg comparing 24% cost recovery TransLink wide with high-density Asian cities and assuming GCRT will not exceed the TransLink average even though the operating environment is closer to those cities than anywhere in SEQ). 

There may be some more of my comments in the paper soon.

[colinw]

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2012/06/16/425101_gold-coast-news.html

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2012/06/15/424881_gold-coast-news.html

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2012/06/16/425141_gold-coast-news.html

Various articles (too tired to completely extract them).  A lot of the commentary spurred on by the "Costello Solution".

Costello's comments are entirely consistent with his record as Treasurer. During his term, there was basically no Federal money for public transport projects anywhere in the country. Even the $65 million BrizTram/Brisbane Light Rail money ended up going to the Bruce Highway, with a few million wasted on the Beaudesert Rail debacle.

I don't know what is more disturbing, that Newman has commissioned a blatantly biased & political report to be used to bail out of commitments while blaming Labor for everything, or that a large slice of the SEQ media is swallowing it hook line & sinker then regurgitating it as fact.

Looks to me like we are entering a period of major dysfunction in SEQ planning. If you thought what went on before was bad, just keep watching ...

[Mr X]

The Courier Mail has never/rarely ever reports anti-LNP news. When Anna Bligh was premier they jumped on every little mistake she made while for Newman, he's basically getting a free ride. I wonder how long this honeymoon period will last?

[SurfRail]

Spoke to Shannon Willoughby this afternoon - raised our position that the commission of audit comments are effectively creative accounting (eg comparing 24% cost recovery TransLink wide with high-density Asian cities and assuming GCRT will not exceed the TransLink average even though the operating environment is closer to those cities than anywhere in SEQ). 

There may be some more of my comments in the paper soon.

I was quoted in yesterday's paper (not online) - will take a copy and scan in tomorrow.

[achiruel]

Just wondering...is there any plan for a spur Broadbeach-Nerang?  Would there be any benefit in doing  so?

[SurfRail]

Just wondering...is there any plan for a spur Broadbeach-Nerang?  Would there be any benefit in doing  so?

1. No.

2. I doubt it.

[#Metro]

Less concrete, more service.

If they want LRT out that way eventually, make Nerang have major CBD and business facilities and large building heights.

[SurfRail]

Less concrete, more service.

If they want LRT out that way eventually, make Nerang have major CBD and business facilities and large building heights.

Agree.

Nerang is never going to happen as a high-density centre.  We already have the entire coastal strip from Southport to Broadbeach, plus the areas around Burleigh Heads, Palm Beach and Coolangatta, plus Robina (and in future Coomera, plus some more intensification of use at Helensvale and Varsity Lakes).  The centre of Nerang is pretty much walking distance from State forests.

More to the point, there is nothing on the way to Nerang except the Carrara Markets and Metricon Stadium, neither of which justifies it.

[colinw]

Nerang to Broadbeach is perfect for a high frequency bus. No need for an LRT spur that way. I'd rather see the core Helensvale to Coolangatta/Tweed route developed, then maybe an inland spur to Robina.

[SurfRail]

Robina would be spur 1, north of Harbour Town would be spur 2 (either north from Southport via Labrador or branching from Harbour Town and going up Oxley Rd towards Runaway Bay/Hope Island).

Beyond that I'm doubtful we would need anything else for a very long time.  If the resulting network and bus grid can help us get up to 15% PT patronage I'll be a happy camper.

[SurfRail]

Article in Monday's Bulletin:

[colinw]

 

[Fares_Fair]

Article in Monday's Bulletin: Story in post above.

Well said.

[O_128]

How much revenue will the bruce highway bring us 

[Fares_Fair]

How much revenue will the bruce highway bring us 

Touche 

[Stillwater]

In future, will there be a newspaper in which to publish the report?

[colinw]

In future, will there be a newspaper in which to publish the report?

There'll be news, not so sure about the paper bit.

[WTN]

How much revenue will the bruce highway bring us 

Or the Airport Link, also mentioned in Costello's report, after GCRT.

[achiruel]

Article in Monday's Bulletin:

It mentions construction of park'n'rides in that article.  I certainly hope they're not planning on building them along the light rail route!  I could understand the need at say Elanora to service low density acreage areas along Currumbin/Tallebudgera valleys etc.

[SurfRail]

It mentions construction of park'n'rides in that article.  I certainly hope they're not planning on building them along the light rail route!

They aren't.