UQ Lakes bus congestion

[somebody]

I know Simon has previously reported low loadings on the 29 - perhaps the good turnout is a function of the upgrade combined with the current stand arrangements?

More the latter, I expect.

[Golliwog]

I think both. Even with the frequency, you still have some people wander over to the other routes. You can't stop them, they'll do what they want. Having the stop right in front of where everyone else is waiting is good though.

[somebody]

I've still noticed the 29 usually not carrying many UQ bound.  Obviously if it turns up at Boggo Rd when a train has just arrived it's a different matter.

[aldonius]

Well, if the train got in at least a minute before the bus...
I think it might be a good idea for the 29 to stop and wait for 30sec (UQ-bound) if there's a train at the platform. (Take this morning: first person off the train,  shooting up the stairs, heaps of people behind me... you guessed it, a mostly empty 29 goes straight past and under my feet.)

[somebody]

Well, if the train got in at least a minute before the bus...
I think it might be a good idea for the 29 to stop and wait for 30sec (UQ-bound) if there's a train at the platform. (Take this morning: first person off the train,  shooting up the stairs, heaps of people behind me... you guessed it, a mostly empty 29 goes straight past and under my feet.)

It's a solution without a problem.

All these people would get on the next 1-3 buses anyway, which won't take long to arrive.

[Golliwog]

Depends what the driver is like. I've had a few on the 29 who will sit and wait for the line of pax to come down the stairs. It is a fairly steady stream at times but most other drivers used to just wait for a small gap and leave due to the frequency.

[aldonius]

All these people would get on the next 1-3 buses anyway, which won't take long to arrive.

Yes, and those buses are what that 29 is meant to be alleviating overcrowding on.

[somebody]

All these people would get on the next 1-3 buses anyway, which won't take long to arrive.

Yes, and those buses are what that 29 is meant to be alleviating overcrowding on.

During the day, what overcrowding?  109 usually only has a few people on it for example.

[Golliwog]

All these people would get on the next 1-3 buses anyway, which won't take long to arrive.

Yes, and those buses are what that 29 is meant to be alleviating overcrowding on.

I'd also add, it's not exactly the overcrowding to UQ thats the problem. All the buses through Park Rd (except for the 104/105/etc) go to UQ and terminate, so buses being full there isn't really a problem. As I understand it, the problem the 29 increase was to target was buses leaving UQ Lakes full, with pax left behind, only to have a dozen or so pax all get off at Boggo Rd.

[aldonius]

Simon: I'm talking AM peak.
Golliwog: You make excellent points (and I think I saw a lot of people get sent across to the 29 at Lakes today).

It's not a bad situation, just an annoying one.

[somebody]

29 was increased all day, not just in peak.  It probably has some merit in the peak.

As I understand it, the problem the 29 increase was to target was buses leaving UQ Lakes full, with pax left behind, only to have a dozen or so pax all get off at Boggo Rd.

Yeah, wouldn't it be awful if people could actually board a bus at Boggo Rd!

[Golliwog]

Simon, is that now a problem after the changes to route 29?

[somebody]

Simon, is that now a problem after the changes to route 29?

I think most people at the Ecosciences Precinct have given up on PT so probably not.

[Golliwog]

Simon, is that now a problem after the changes to route 29?

I think most people at the Ecosciences Precinct have given up on PT so probably not.

Evidence of this?

[somebody]

Perhaps thin, but what would you expect?  Nothing was done about services not meeting demand when most people moved in there (2010-2011 semester break) and Uni went back.

I can report that the option of parking in violation of parking restrictions on the street has a high take up.  A few others cycle.

[Golliwog]

Not to mention that tunneling through hard rock is quite difficult.

I believe there is a notice up on the TL website about the UQ Lakes changes. I went down there the other day, I don't think they will have any issue getting the new platform ready in time.

As it turns out, I was wrong. Fairly sure the rain didn't help at all.

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1329354046
Until early March 2012 (weather permitting), there will be temporary changes to access at UQ Lakes bus station due to important upgrade works. The southern platform at UQ Lakes will be temporarily closed while works are underway. During this time, services will not be operating from the southern platform and there will also be changes to pedestrian access.

Temporary stop changes

Routes 109, 192, 139, 169 and 209

These services will use stop D. Please follow the signs to the marshalling area and queue for your service. A TransLink staff member will direct you to your service.

Route 29

Please follow the signs and queue at temporary stop E.

Ticketing information

Please make sure you have your go card topped up prior to lining up for your service. To ensure services operate efficiently during works, customers must have a vaild ticket or go card ready prior to boarding a service.

Top up locations

You can top up your go card online or at nearby locations including Campus News, St Lucia News or UQ (Chancellor Place) bus stop.

Another slight delay: http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1331603662

Same details as above, except 'early March (weather permitting)' has been replaced with 'late March (weather permitting)'. They also dropped off the part about everyone being required to already have a ticket or a go card, though I haven't seen that be a problem yet, and they still have signs on site saying tickets are required.

Looks close to being completed though.

[Mr X]

No where near completed, isn't the grand plan to have shelters on both sides of the station? Or has that part been secretly dropped?  

EDIT: Indeed, there is still a second platform shelter for them to build.

[Golliwog]

True. What I meant though was the first part that is requiring the current set up with the controlled queues. Not sure what they'll be doing with the 2nd stage when it switches.

[Golliwog]

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/bulletin/1330397037
UQ Lakes stage 3 - temporary stop changes

Until late April 2012 (weather permitting), there will be temporary changes to access at UQ Lakes bus station due to important upgrade works.

The northern platform at UQ Lakes will be temporarily closed while works are underway. During this time, services will not be operating from the northern platform and there will also be changes to pedestrian access.

Temporary stop changes

Route 109

This service will use stop A. Please follow the signs and queue for your service.

route 109 bus stop:
•UQ Lakes Stop A, College Road at UQ Lakes Bus Station

Routes 192 and 209

These services will use stop B. Please follow the signs and queue for your service.

bus stop for routes 192 and 209:
•UQ Lakes Stop B, College Road at UQ Lakes Bus Station

Routes 139 and 169

These services will use stop C. Please follow the signs and queue for your service.

bus stop for routes 139 and 169
•UQ Lakes Stop C, College Road At UQ Lakes Bus Station

Route 29

This service will continue to use temporary stop E. Please follow the signs and queue for your service.

Temporary bus stop for route 29:
•Temporary stop E

Ticketing information

Please have your go card topped up prior to lining up for your service.

To ensure services operate efficiently during works, customers must have a vaild ticket or go card ready prior to boarding a service.

Top up locations

You can top up your go card online or at nearby locations including Campus News, St Lucia News or UQ (Chancellor Place) bus stop.

Need more information?

Find out more about the UQ Lakes bus station upgrade (link to project page)

[ozbob]

UQ --> UQ Lakes temporary stop relocations

[Golliwog]

The new platform 2 was open and in use today. Much better seating arrangements, and the cover looks like it might actually give some decent shade and stop some rain, unlike the old one which hardly covered anything. The bays are back to the old arrangement, though appear to be long enough to hold the longer triaxial buses without blocking the bay behind.

My only complaint is that more cycle parking needs to be provided. UQ has put in some racks alongside the cycle path that connects the bridge to the road beside the lakes (I forget the street name, UQ people will know what I mean) though there are all full with many bikes being locked to any post, fence, tree, or object they can get a lock around. A really good sign of how well things are being used, but perhaps also a sign that more is needed. Unsure why the city cycle rack was put in over the other side of the Connifers Knoll parking lot, rather than adjacent to the bus stop though, that decision really confuses me.

[somebody]

That bus stop is in a really inconvenient location.  Why should the cycle bay be in the same place?

[Golliwog]

That bus stop is in a really inconvenient location.  Why should the cycle bay be in the same place?

It's not that bad, and it's not like they could have easily put it somewhere else. And I don't know, perhaps people borrowing a bike in St Lucia/Toowong want to ride across to UQ then catch a bus across to Carindale or something.

[somebody]

I think they could have made it about 100m closer to almost everything except the ferry without much difficulty.  It helps with having interchange with Chancellors Place.

[#Metro]

My only complaint is that more cycle parking needs to be provided. UQ has put in some racks alongside the cycle path that connects the bridge to the road beside the lakes (I forget the street name, UQ people will know what I mean) though there are all full with many bikes being locked to any post, fence, tree, or object they can get a lock around. A really good sign of how well things are being used, but perhaps also a sign that more is needed. Unsure why the city cycle rack was put in over the other side of the Connifers Knoll parking lot, rather than adjacent to the bus stop though, that decision really confuses me.

I agree. The old one was expanded and now the new one is full too. They need to go with a full blown 500 bicycle rack mega facility there, right behind UQ Lakes.
In fact, a large cycle terminal facility would be worthwhile IMHO given the huge cycle traffic volume.

A year ago RAILBOT raised the issue ---> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5881.0

Ideally:

* Shelter
* Water bubblers
* CCTV
* Lighting
* Bench
* A very high number of cycling racks
* Access card control - UQ ID cards have smartcard access
* 500 bicycle racks
* concrete floor/slab
* Two doors - an entry door and an exit door - stops people exiting getting in the way of people entering
* Short term pay storage lockers
* Vending machines for food/drink etc

* Some non-controlled racks on the outside for visitors/temporary users

[#Metro]

Some background http://helenabrahams.com/media48.html

[Mr X]

Seriously seeing the new platform, this is the biggest waste of money. The new platform has absolutely NO additional capacity. None. The only feasible difference is a new path created behind the new platform, and the platform is a bit wider and newer. The bus stop configuration remains the same, too.

They should have just built a new platform on the otherside in the same style as the old one (as they are doing), kept the old one as it was and changed the configuration of both platform bays so that they aren't indented.

[somebody]

Get rid of the sawtooth?  Why would you do that?

I don't think they ever planned to increase the capacity of the old platform.  The "upgrade" involved converting the layover area into actual stop space and providing alternate layover.  That was always my understanding.

[Mr X]

Get rid of the sawtooth?  Why would you do that?

I don't think they ever planned to increase the capacity of the old platform.  The "upgrade" involved converting the layover area into actual stop space and providing alternate layover.  That was always my understanding.

Wouldn't that make it easier to fit in more buses?

If they never planned on increasing the capacity of the old platform then why did they demolish it  :conf I believe there was plenty of space in the centre before hand for layover space..
The additional platform will be well received though 

[somebody]

Get rid of the sawtooth?  Why would you do that?

I don't think they ever planned to increase the capacity of the old platform.  The "upgrade" involved converting the layover area into actual stop space and providing alternate layover.  That was always my understanding.

Wouldn't that make it easier to fit in more buses?

If they never planned on increasing the capacity of the old platform then why did they demolish it  :conf I believe there was plenty of space in the centre before hand for layover space..
The additional platform will be well received though 

I don't know why they demolished it.  Perhaps they wanted to space out the stops slightly.

Would have been much nicer if they could have filled in the corner of the lake and made the station larger.  That way all Park Rd bound routes would be on the one side.

[Golliwog]

The sawtooth provides more capacity by allowing all 3 bays to operate independantly of each other. They have I believe made each bay longer now as there used to be issues if an artic or triaxial pulled into a bay, blocking a bus into the bay behind. This appears to have been rectified.

As for filling in part of the lake, I don't think the extra cost would have justified the benefit. As for moving the UQ Lakes bus stop 100m closer to everything, I don't think thats feasible. The area just closer to the uni from the current stop that lines up between the soccer field and the lakes is actually the flood path that water from the lakes will take when they overflow. Going any further than that and you'd be racking up costs in terms of either filling in part of the lakes and cutting into the hill.

[O_128]

The sawtooth provides more capacity by allowing all 3 bays to operate independantly of each other. They have I believe made each bay longer now as there used to be issues if an artic or triaxial pulled into a bay, blocking a bus into the bay behind. This appears to have been rectified.

As for filling in part of the lake, I don't think the extra cost would have justified the benefit. As for moving the UQ Lakes bus stop 100m closer to everything, I don't think thats feasible. The area just closer to the uni from the current stop that lines up between the soccer field and the lakes is actually the flood path that water from the lakes will take when they overflow. Going any further than that and you'd be racking up costs in terms of either filling in part of the lakes and cutting into the hill.

look at all the fat people everywhere, gives them at least a bit of exercise 

Will Inbound buses use the platform now being built?

[Golliwog]

Unsure. It may be that route 29 is just going to be shifted onto that whole platform, and maybe share with unloading buses? If you have a look at the route timetables, pretty sure they list the UQ Lakes bus stop bays (A, B, C, D) for each route with 109 @ A; 192, 209 @ B; 139, 169 @ C and 29 @ D. If they're trying to get people to use 29 rather than routes that go further, I'd be tempter to suggest that the 109 and 29 should swap stops to make 29 as convenient as possible, but we'll see how it turns out.

[O_128]

Unsure. It may be that route 29 is just going to be shifted onto that whole platform, and maybe share with unloading buses? If you have a look at the route timetables, pretty sure they list the UQ Lakes bus stop bays (A, B, C, D) for each route with 109 @ A; 192, 209 @ B; 139, 169 @ C and 29 @ D. If they're trying to get people to use 29 rather than routes that go further, I'd be tempter to suggest that the 109 and 29 should swap stops to make 29 as convenient as possible, but we'll see how it turns out.

Moving the 109 to the old 192 stop would well, that way people can line up under shelter rather than the previous setup where u were screwed if it rained

[O_128]

The upgrade was a complete waste of money, the ridiculous line for the 109 still exists, at least build shelter along where people line up, worst of all I've been waiting 20 mins for a 109, not cool

[Golliwog]

The upgrade was a complete waste of money, the ridiculous line for the 109 still exists, at least build shelter along where people line up, worst of all I've been waiting 20 mins for a 109, not cool

Now that there actually a decent cover, I think people might actually start lining up the other direction. Pretty sure the existing line only evolved like that because there was little point lining up under the pointless cover, so they just lined up as they arrived. The lines at B and C always looked to be a bit more like a crowd than a line.

Were there many people from the 109 line changing across to catch a 29? Also, when you were on the 109, did anybody get off at Park Rd?

[O_128]

Most are using 29, only one person (idiot) got off at park road

[#Metro]

I think TransLink should retain stop E, the one where route 29 currently uses as a lay-over bay, drop-off only stop, maintainence or patrol vehicle stop or a bus stop.
Mark my words, UQ Lakes will fill up quickly even after the reno...

[Golliwog]

I think TransLink should retain stop E, the one where route 29 currently uses as a lay-over bay, drop-off only stop, maintainence or patrol vehicle stop or a bus stop.
Mark my words, UQ Lakes will fill up quickly even after the reno...

It's really not a very good spot. Because it's on the curve, buses that use it typically have their arse hanging out which is ok, but still isn't great. Once the second layover bay opens in the center, I expect buses using stop E would cause issues for buses trying to use that layover spot, and for those trying to pull out of the one that is being used currently. As it is now, most 29 buses don't stay at stop E any longer than they have to.

My favoured option would have been for the platform now under reconstruction to have also been redone as a sawtooth platform. I think the main reason for not doing so may have been UQ not wanting to give up their gardens that it backs onto. Currently they're installing a small concrete retaining wall (at least thats what it looks like) so that the stop can back right onto the fenceline of the gardens, minimsing any take from the gardens.

[somebody]

My favoured option would have been for the platform now under reconstruction to have also been redone as a sawtooth platform. I think the main reason for not doing so may have been UQ not wanting to give up their gardens that it backs onto. Currently they're installing a small concrete retaining wall (at least thats what it looks like) so that the stop can back right onto the fenceline of the gardens, minimsing any take from the gardens.

That isn't happening?

Urgh!

Most are using 29, only one person (idiot) got off at park road

Where might you be going that the 109 is a reasonable option?