INB - QUT Kelvin Grove <--> Roma St a route 55?

[ozbob]

Reports again today have confirmed the failure of the present arrangements on the INB to cope with the surging loads between Roma St and QUT Kelvin Grove.  Apart from extending the 393, it has been suggested that a 'sweeper' service running between QUT KG and Roma St only would be of assistance.  The problem is difficulty for pax to board at Roma St and QUT KG, even in the middle of the day.  Inbound buses almost full or full when reaching QUT KG, likewise outbound, full pax loads at the Cultural Centre and KGS before Roma St.

[somebody]

The bit about this being a problem in the middle of the day really surprises me.

Extending the 393 to Roma St or beyond would be a 33% increase in capacity, ignoring bendies on the 66 run.  Current capacity is made up of 333 + 330/340 + 66, or 12/hour.  I'd be surprised if the 393 extension wasn't sufficient, at least for a while.

It was never necessary to truncate the 393 when King George Square opened.  It couldn't serve Roma St stop 125 (or is it 124?) anymore, and the corresponding northbound stop, but that's not a reason to truncate it.  Could it be that they didn't think of having it use the Roma St/Turbot St portal?

My perfect solution would be to have the 393 handle the Woolloongabba bit of the 66, possibly via the Ann St/Turbot St ramps and the Captain Cook Bridge, while the rest of the 66 is mashed with the 109.

[ozbob]

My perfect solution would be to have the 393 handle the Woolloongabba bit of the 66, possibly via the Ann St/Turbot St ramps and the Captain Cook Bridge, while the rest of the 66 is mashed with the 109.

Now that seems a good move to me!

[Bulimba30A]

Hi all,

I'm a long time lurker, so apologies for not adding to the discussion before now and please be nice.

Personally, I think the perfect solution would be to merge the 109/66 and create a inner circle loop for 393 via William Jolly Bridge and busway to the Gabba and then Main St, Brunswick St, Merthyr Rd to Teneriffe.  That would allow a more direct route over the river (although I do not know whether buses are generally held up going through the bus stations and over the Victoria Bridge/Cultural Centre).  I don't have any direct experience, but are the trips on the 66 mainly to/from the City/Roma St?

The loop will achieve a number of potential transfer points, particularly creating a way to get to/from New Farm/Valley to the southern/eastern suburbs without having to go down Adelaide St.   Also, in my view, Main St is pretty neglected for public transport particularly given its proximity to the City with only the 475/476 running down it and (assuming reasonable frequency) it would allow good transfer points east at the Gabba and also south at Mater Hill for the Southern/Eastern busway so it would also be useful for Kangaroo Pt commuters to connect to the "network".

I'm not sure whether it is possible or desirable to smooth out the route a bit between Teneriffe and RBWH given the roads between Bowen Hills and Bowen Bridge Rd are pretty confusing.

Cheers

[ozbob]

Welcome Bulimba30A!

Thanks for your comments.  Something has to be done and we have long supported merging the 109/66.

[somebody]

Personally, I think the perfect solution would be to merge the 109/66 and create a inner circle loop for 393 via William Jolly Bridge and busway to the Gabba and then Main St, Brunswick St, Merthyr Rd to Teneriffe.  That would allow a more direct route over the river (although I do not know whether buses are generally held up going through the bus stations and over the Victoria Bridge/Cultural Centre).  I don't have any direct experience, but are the trips on the 66 mainly to/from the City/Roma St?

I'm confused by this one.  Did you mean William Jolly Bridge or a different bridge?  Having it serve Roma St, it would need to double back to get to William Jolly.  William Jolly is pretty congested in peak, or at least so they say.  Of course, so is Captain Cook.