Ministerial Statement: Palaszczuk reinforces importance of regional public trans

[ozbob]

Transport and Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk
19/04/2011

Palaszczuk reinforces importance of regional public transport

Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk has used the bus industry's annual conference to reinforce the importance of public transport across the entire state.

Speaking at the Queensland Bus Industry Council annual conference in Townsville, Ms Palaszczuk said funding a broad range of transport support across the state was vital.

"Projections indicate growth in the region is going to increase over the coming years and we need to plan for the future now," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"More people than ever are using public transport in regional Queensland, with overall urban bus patronage for Townsville, Cairns, Mackay and Toowoomba up by 11 per cent over the past five years," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"The Queensland Government is committed to continuing to working in partnership with industry to promote and enhance a sustainable bus industry delivering safe, effective and efficient services."

Ms Palaszczuk used the opportunity to meet with bus industry representatives to discuss the state of the industry.

"I'm pleased to be able to meet with bus and coach owners and operators from here in North Queensland and right across the state to discuss with them the issues that they're facing on the ground.

"This is a great opportunity for Government and industry to work together to achieve better outcomes for the industry, government and the travelling public.

"I'm also pleased that QBIC has chosen Townsville for this year's conference and that so many attendees have travelled here to the event, many with their families."

Key points to be discussed at the conference include:

·developing a new strategic directions statement for passenger transport in Queensland out to 2031;

·developing passenger transport network plans with a fifteen year focus, commencing with Far North Queensland and Wide Bay Burnett this financial year;

·developing public transport service plans for the next five years, beginning with Cairns, Townsville, Mackay and Toowoomba this financial year; and

·developing passenger transport infrastructure program guidelines and manuals.

The Queensland Bus Industry Council's Annual Conference will run from 19 to 21 April 2011 in Townsville.

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

[Stillwater]

The Minister says there is a need to develop public transport in regional areas, a commendable objective.  Her plan?  A strategic network statement ... a transport network plan ... and a passenger transport infrastructure manual.

What of the plans already out there?  Will they be implemented?

Take a look at these 'strategic documents', 'plans' and 'network framework manuals' for Cairns and FNQ, one of the areas where the Minister says the state will examine as a priority.  Will there be more manuals in addition to these ones?

http://www.cairnstransitnetwork.com.au/

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/e3088fdd-7abd-4c51-a071-b287f851134f/pdf_cairns_bus_priority_study_executive_summary.pdf

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/8cd73957-a2a0-4e85-ac4c-d1e012edd1e4/pdf_cairns_integrated_public_transport_study.pdf

Cairns could do with a bus or a train or a tram, based on the ideas in these documents, surely not another round of glossy documents to hand out with the election cards at the upcoming state poll.

[#Metro]

I don't think they need more millions spent on more infrastructure.
Paint some bus lanes, put in traffic priority and get BUZ like frequency on buses going in these places. Flat fare system or two zones for these towns.

Most of the infrastructure is already there: Road lanes. They just have to be prised away from the roads lobby grip and allocated
as dedicated lanes to PT and BRT.

[Stillwater]

What is the other key regional area where the minister will focus her attention for the production of a 'strategic network statement', a 'transport network plan' and a 'passenger transport infrastructure guide/manual' (what is that).  It's Wide Bay.  Somewhere in the bowels of her department, this document is proping up the short leg of a bureaucrat's desk:

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/c612863c-68bf-43cb-8402-a7afcd376638/pdf_wbitp_part01.pdf

More documents?

[Stillwater]

More on Wide Bay transport planning:

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/W/Wide-Bay-Burnett-Integrated-Regional-Transport-Plan/Wide-Bay-Burnett-Integrated-Transport-Plan-publications.aspx

This is starting to sound a lot like part of Anna Bligh's re-election campaign for the bush -- the launch of the 'Transport plan' for FNQ, Wide Bay etc.

I wonder how the LNP's transport plan is going -- particularly when it holds some key regional seats crucial to the election outcome?

[Stillwater]

The reason why some of this documentation has to be updated and reviewed is that the government has done little or nothing since they were produced and the targets they set then for action have not eventuated.

It is a repeat of the 'Connecting SEQ' saga.  That is to be reviewed again, it would seem.

It smacks of changing the colour of the canvas on the deckchairs of the Ship of State.  Didn't get all the deck chairs recovered as planned?  Don't worry, hire another colour coordinator to produce a report to say the intention all along was to redo only half the chairs in a complementary colour to achieve a 'mix and match' effect.

[#Metro]

More documents?

I would be surprised if any heavy infrastructure really is required. What's needed are services!

Bicycle owenership (Central Queensland) 44%
Bicycle owenership (Queensland) 37%

Bicycle ownership is also really high. But people need to use their bikes- so perhaps a latent market in cycling exists here?

[Stillwater]

Scenario:

Delegation from Whoop Whoop visits Minister to seek funding for PT bus lanes, refurbishment of bus stops and wants some priority clearance for buses through major intersections controlled by trraffic lights.

Minister's response: "The State Government is thinking precisely along these lines and we have hired consultants XYZ to conduct a thorough review with a view to producing a strategic network statement outlining the objectives and plan of action.  Then we will consult you to death on production of the transport network plan because we want to drag out consultation until beyond the election.

"Until we have all the information, it would be imprudent of the government to agree to do as you ask, even in the interim, because we want to assure ourselves that it is consistent with the overall regional transport strategic plan.

"Have another scone ... the're Lady Flo's recipe, you know."  ......

[colinw]

Wonderful.  More window dressing, press releases and glossy study brochures.

We've been here before.

Translation into actual services on the ground: nil.  Public transport in these areas is following the trajectory of minimum organic growth, driven purely by population & fuel prices.

Cairns in particular has already been studied to death, and adequate network plans already exist.  What is needed is actual implementation, not another round of funds transfer to consultants.

[#Metro]

I think we should be happy the regional services are actually going to be improved.
I'm not going to complain about that. Places like Toowoomba et al. have garbage service PT.

I will be an unhappy camper though if huge megaprojects promising tonnes and tonnes of concrete and multi-billions of dollars of expenditure
taking until 2091 to finish and depending on Federal Funding from the ATM that Infrastructure Australia has become is proposed.

Local councils need to get involved as they know what their area needs inside out.
There probably should also be some element of matched funding- which will keep
any projects proposed realistic.

[colinw]

Some modest projects may be worthwhile in Cairns & Townsville, but for the most part I think anything that is done should focus on timetables, service frequency, bus lanes, and (maybe) bus priority measures.

[Stillwater]

With you on matched funding to keep projects realistic, TT.   

What the transport minister tells the bus industry:
"The Queensland Government is committed to continuing to working in partnership with industry to promote and enhance a sustainable bus industry delivering safe, effective and efficient services."

What the Primary Industry Minister tells the annual meeting of grapegrowers:
"Through our joint efforts to trail at DPI laboratories and in sample plots promising new types of award-winning wine grapes and more flavoursome strawberries, the government is working hand in glove with industry on value-adding to the state's vital horticultural industry."

What the Attorney General tells the Justice League:  "This government is committed to cracking down on crime.  We want your views on truth in sentencing laws so that if a murderer gets life, it means we throw away the key."

What the Communities Minister tells the Queensland Housewives Association:  "We understand that families are doing it tough at the moment.  That's why I am announcing today a price watch hotline to my department.  When you see excessive price rises, or exploitation by a retailer, you ring that hotline and it will be as though you are talking to me."

And so it goes on.... telling each sector in the community what it wants to hear and stopping short of action.  We are going to get lots of soap in the lead-up to an election.

[mufreight]

Not fair Stillwater, all their spin and platitudes has solved my constipation and quite sucessfully motivated me to never to vote Labor again.  

[justanotheruser]

I will be an unhappy camper though if huge megaprojects promising tonnes and tonnes of concrete and multi-billions of dollars of expenditure
taking until 2091 to finish and depending on Federal Funding from the ATM that Infrastructure Australia has become is proposed.

come off it how else are they going to continually prop up the construction industry? Don't you know they deserve special treatment while other industries have to sustain themselves!

[dwb]

The Minister says there is a need to develop public transport in regional areas, a commendable objective.  Her plan?  A strategic network statement ... a transport network plan ... and a passenger transport infrastructure manual.

What of the plans already out there?  Will they be implemented?

Take a look at these 'strategic documents', 'plans' and 'network framework manuals' for Cairns and FNQ, one of the areas where the Minister says the state will examine as a priority.  Will there be more manuals in addition to these ones?

http://www.cairnstransitnetwork.com.au/

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/e3088fdd-7abd-4c51-a071-b287f851134f/pdf_cairns_bus_priority_study_executive_summary.pdf

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/8cd73957-a2a0-4e85-ac4c-d1e012edd1e4/pdf_cairns_integrated_public_transport_study.pdf

Cairns could do with a bus or a train or a tram, based on the ideas in these documents, surely not another round of glossy documents to hand out with the election cards at the upcoming state poll.

This is to address the political concerns that SEQ gets not only the cash and infrastructure, but thought and planning. Why do you think the other regions are now getting regional plans and the SEQIPP has become the QIPP?? The whole point of these integrated planning documents is to bring the options and priorities together. Draft ConnectingSEQ did it (partly) for SEQ, but not for the rest of the State. It is a big challenge getting local governments on board!

[#Metro]

come off it how else are they going to continually prop up the construction industry? Don't you know they deserve special treatment while other industries have to sustain themselves!

Building infrastructure is only good so far as that infrastructure is needed. Building infrastructure for the sake of building infrastructure is anti-public transport because it locks up millions and possibly billions of dollars on concrete when that money could be spent on more frequent services.

Symbols of mobility vs actual mobility...
What is needed is:

* Decent routing
* Decent frequency
* Decent scope of hours
* Decent speed
* Decent connections
* Decent legibility and marketing
* Decent ticketing and zone fare structure

All of these are likely be achieved without having to spend 100 million/km on concrete monuments that take years to plan and years to build at huge cost.

[dwb]

Symbols of mobility vs actual mobility...
What is needed is:

* Decent routing
* Decent frequency
* Decent scope of hours
* Decent speed
* Decent connections
* Decent legibility and marketing
* Decent ticketing and zone fare structure

All of these are likely be achieved without having to spend 100 million/km on concrete monuments that take years to plan and years to build at huge cost.

Ahhh actually, the operation of PT is already a high cost budget item... and it occurs year after year after year. And not only that, but it requires maintenance.

[dwb]

Further we've so many societal, economic and political not to mention physical forces that means cars for people are important. It's going to take decades to change our landscape and behaviours to pre-postwar. You're living in some dictatorial dream land if you think otherwise!

[#Metro]

It costs around 100 million dollars approximately per kilometre to build busway or rail.

Let's assume that a bus route costs $3 million dollars per year to operate.
For that cost of just 1km of infrastructure, you could operate a high frequency bus for the next 30 years.

Let's say we are off and we triple the price to $10 million per year for that bus route.
We still can operate that high frequency bus for a decade!

So much money is spent on doing so little that we get infrastructure everywhere and hardly any use out if it.

[somebody]

Ahhh actually, the operation of PT is already a high cost budget item... and it occurs year after year after year. And not only that, but it requires maintenance.

Not compared to road building in SEQ.  Spending $3bn/year on roads and $1-1.5bn/year on PT isn't sustainable.  And they aren't getting value for money on what is being spent on PT.

[dwb]

Not compared to road building in SEQ.  Spending $3bn/year on roads and $1-1.5bn/year on PT isn't sustainable.  And they aren't getting value for money on what is being spent on PT.

I agree there needs to be a reallocation of funds from road to transit however you can't be a politician and expect to do this overnight... its just not the way people live nor the way our cities have been built.

[Sunbus610]

It's about time, the QConnect journey planner (via the TMR website) has been coming soon for over 12 months + QConnect regional PT information and services really needs its own dedicated website with front page access to timetables, maps etc.

[dwb]

It's about time, the QConnect journey planner (via the TMR website) has been coming soon for over 12 months + QConnect regional PT information and services really needs its own dedicated website with front page access to timetables, maps etc.

Maybe they were going to licence the planner from Translink's provider, then decided to go google maps??

Either way let's hope it comes soon!

[Jonno]

The traffic congestion over the last 2 days is evidence that regional public transport is of critical urgency. We have spent billions on roads and they are still congested.  Time to stop throwing good money after bad on more roads.
railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4349.0

[somebody]

But what do you expect over Easter?  Severe traffic congestion is normal from Thursday afternoon through to mid-Friday.

[Jonno]

Sorry My bad.  I expected our governments to learn from overseas examples of traffic congestion being avoided by building rail lines and providing services at peak times. Shame on me!   

[#Metro]

Oh, they couldn't do that. Sunshine Coast line would be overcapacity at two trains per hour!!! LOL!!!

[Fares_Fair]

 

[somebody]

Sorry My bad.  I expected our governments to learn from overseas examples of traffic congestion being avoided by building rail lines and providing services at peak times. Shame on me!   

It's not really the governments fault though.  It's the populace.  The government are just reflecting what the people want which is appropriate in a democracy.  Although it is good when they can explain there justifications for their policies better, and this was the real strength of the Kennett government.  No other government in Australia has even gone close to their communication IMO.  Although the Hawke years weren't too bad federally the way I remember it.

[Jonno]

So if the populace want to have cheap smokes even though it will kill them then the Govt should just give them what they want?

Govt should be educating the benefits of public transport and freight rail as the benefits are significant economically, environmentally and socially!!

[#Metro]

Hi Jonno,

I usually don't disagree with you, but on this occasion I will, but for a different reason.

There is no need for public education for public transport benefits and freight on rail, because given the current, dilapidated and simply
terrible state of the train system, because there are no benefits.

People are not dumb. If you provide a decent service, whether that be freight business or passenger service, passengers will be falling over
themselves to use it. Do the exact opposite (low frequency, no bus to train station, single track on sunshine coast line, slow freight) then you
can expect mass exodus or stagnation from these services.

It is akin to a restaurant making you wait for half an hour and then serving rotten mouldy apples for main course. It is enough to make you sick!
If freight moves to rail, sunshine coast line will reach capacity. Which will put more people on buses or have slower freight or both.

So ridiculous is the train system that it is incapable of supporting LOW FREQUENCY (trains every 15 minutes) on lines in both directions at the same time.
Places overseas have trains every 5 minutes and melbourne is trying to move to a 10 minute timetable in both directions.

It is a shame, a real shame.

[#Metro]

(That said though, heaps of possibility for regional PT on buses etc). I've always wondered why they don't just do flat fare instead of these heaps of zones in QConnect. The town is so small, does it really need 12 different zones?

[somebody]

So if the populace want to have cheap smokes even though it will kill them then the Govt should just give them what they want?

Govt should be educating the benefits of public transport and freight rail as the benefits are significant economically, environmentally and socially!!

Agree about the education, but didn't I already make that point in my previous post?

[justanotheruser]

People are not dumb. If you provide a decent service, whether that be freight business or passenger service, passengers will be falling over
themselves to use it. Do the exact opposite (low frequency, no bus to train station, single track on sunshine coast line, slow freight) then you
can expect mass exodus or stagnation from these services.

gotta disagree. there is a real culture in Oz that if you earn a certain amount of money then you should drive no matter how convienient PT may be. I have known people who live and work within 300m of a train station and could easily get a seat and train in peak hour but still drove. Even in NSW when the government announced a new tax on city car parks and companies told their employess unless they needed their car for work they would have to pay the tax plenty still drove. This despite so many coming from an area with trains so often you didn't need to look at the timetable. Further evidence people are dumb is no matter how many times Howard was caught telling lies people still voted for him because he offered the biggest tax cuts.

[mufreight]

People are not dumb. If you provide a decent service, whether that be freight business or passenger service, passengers will be falling over
themselves to use it. Do the exact opposite (low frequency, no bus to train station, single track on sunshine coast line, slow freight) then you
can expect mass exodus or stagnation from these services.

gotta disagree. there is a real culture in Oz that if you earn a certain amount of money then you should drive no matter how convienient PT may be. I have known people who live and work within 300m of a train station and could easily get a seat and train in peak hour but still drove. Even in NSW when the government announced a new tax on city car parks and companies told their employess unless they needed their car for work they would have to pay the tax plenty still drove. This despite so many coming from an area with trains so often you didn't need to look at the timetable. Further evidence people are dumb is no matter how many times Howard was caught telling lies people still voted for him because he offered the biggest tax cuts.

Have to agree about the culture point raised but pathetic levels of service and a government failure to provide the levels of infrastructure also contribute to and reinforce that culture.

[Jonno]

It is a very sad state of affairs indeed.  Govt is not really trying to change the people's behaviour through service provision nor increased awareness of benefits.  Tinkering at the edges is what I see their approach is. No paradigm shift is on their radar.  They still believe they can build enough road space to fix congestion and public transport is a social service!! That has to change before we will see any significant change in transport planning!

[dwb]

It is a very sad state of affairs indeed.  Govt is not really trying to change the people's behaviour through service provision nor increased awareness of benefits.  Tinkering at the edges is what I see their approach is. No paradigm shift is on their radar.  They still believe they can build enough road space to fix congestion and public transport is a social service!! That has to change before we will see any significant change in transport planning!

This might be semantics, but I think many politicians understand what they're doing (and not doing)... but they're ok with short term politics, its what keeps them elected!

[Stillwater]

For a forum such as this, the trick is to recognise in advance the impending juxtaposition of an effective policy or program outcome and the political objectives of the government, or a minister in a position to bring about worthwhile change.  It is an artform, but it is worth chasing.

[dwb]

For a forum such as this, the trick is to recognise in advance the impending juxtaposition of an effective policy or program outcome and the political objectives of the government, or a minister in a position to bring about worthwhile change.  It is an artform, but it is worth chasing.

So very true!

[SteelPan]

Did anyone ask the Minister - maybe it's there, sorry but I've given up reading pollie spin - about the lonngggggg overdue New Toowoomba Rail Crossing, so the nations largest inland city (ex Canberra) can actually be linked to the inter-urban network???   :conf