23 Nov 2011: SEQ: Cultural Centre Bus Congestion Capacity Crisis - solutions?

[ozbob]

Media release 23 November 2011

SEQ: Cultural Centre Bus Congestion Capacity Crisis - solutions?

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters calls for solutions to the congestion crisis at Cultural Centre to be implemented.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The Cultural Centre busway station is at capacity with a bus every 20 seconds or less, and 9000 passengers per direction per hour, this means proper solutions need to be found to ease congestion at this location. Waiting for an unfunded rail project that has an entirely separate passenger catchment area to the busway, or extolling the virtues of the Go Between Bridge are non-solutions (1, 2)."

"There are a number of options that should be considered. Creating a Green Bridge by closing two car lanes would allow terminating buses (300 series) plus West End (196/199/192/CityGlider) and Western Suburbs buses (400 series) to stop at new, separate platforms. This would be significantly cheaper and rapid to construct than an entirely new Victoria Bridge, which could easily cost around $120 million and two to three years to construct. Green Bridges work well, for example, the Eleanor Schonell Bridge (3)."

"This option has two disadvantages though - bicycles would have to use the pedestrian lanes, and car users would be offended, even though those car lanes carry nowhere near 9000 passengers/hour/direction. As an alternative, a smaller and cheaper pedestrian only bridge could be considered to take cycling and foot traffic to permit the remaining 2 car lanes are given over to buses."

"Other options include removing non-BUZ services from Cultural Centre and sending these over the Captain Cook Bridge, using more rocket buses over the Captain Cook bridge together with a bus lane on the Captain Cook Bridge and all-door boarding on buses."

"Eventually something will have to give. Unless something is done Brisbane runs the risk of a congestion cascade where buses are banked up inside Queen Street busway and Adelaide streets. Captain Cook Bridge is also not a perfect solution as a single accident or delay on that can throw the entire bus network into chaos."

"Let's see all options on the table, the benefits and disadvantages of each and solutions implemented. Constant delays and difficulty in accessing the buses are turning people away from public transport, and further compounding the congestion crisis on Brisbane's failing road system."

References:

1. Brisbane Times  http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/ban-cars-from-victoria-bridge-experts-20111122-1nrl5.html

2. Cross River Rail  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2034.msg76360#msg76360

3. Cultural Centre Congestion  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3356.0

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=3356.0

[Matt]

Re, Cultural Center at capacity,
  I reckon it's time to remove private motor vehicles from Melbourne St over the Victoria bridge, let the buses do the job.
Matt.