Article: Call for busway to help Logan commuters

[ozbob]

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Call for busway to help Logan commuters

Call for busway to help Logan commuters

    by: Jessica Bayfield, Albert & Logan News
    From: Quest Newspapers
    February 15, 2012 5:13PM

Motorway congestion affects more than 52,000 Logan City Bus Service passengers a week, according to the group's chief executive, Graham Davis.

Mr Davis said nine routes, including the main 555 run from Logan Hyperdome, are impacted by congestion on the M1 stretch from Loganholme to the Gateway merge.

"If you go back two to three years ago, you would see congestion maybe one day a week, but now it's at least three days out of five," he said. "Roadworks are contributing but they are not the common cause."

Mr Davis said Logan City buses had two approved deviations when the M1 was congested.

"One is along the service road, Nujooloo Rd, and the other is around the back of Daisy Hill," he said.

"The problem is there are hundreds of other motorists who also duck off to the back roads, and we get caught in that traffic as well. We get complaints about services running late, but many passengers know it's due to the congestion. Our buses don't do just one run. When we get stuck in traffic, we're running late for the next trip."

With weekly reports into services and late run-ins, Mr Davis said it was evident the M1 was a problem.

"I believe there needs to be a dedicated busway from Loganholme to Eight Mile Plains," he said.

"Look at the success of the southeast busway. Patronage quadrupled and it was because of good journey time, frequency and reliability. Intuitively, I say it (busway) would take cars off the road."

[achiruel]

I believe this is planned for in Connecting SEQ 2131 but probably unfunded like so many other projects in that document.  Would it be possible to extend the T2 lanes further south - perhaps that would help in the interim?

[Jonas Jade]

I believe this is planned for in Connecting SEQ 2131 but probably unfunded like so many other projects in that document.  Would it be possible to extend the T2 lanes further south - perhaps that would help in the interim?

That's definitely a more realistic timeframe for all the projects contained within 

[HappyTrainGuy]

Realign Bethina-Holmview so its straighter. Merge Edens Landing/Hommview together to make it a major train and bus interchange station that all trains stop at. Build a bridge to the new station to connect to trains to run behind into Logan Hyperdome bus interchange via Loganholme. Maybe build some property developments close by (Depending on its location). Run more buses from Kuraby to Springwood bus interchange. There is heavy rail close by. Use it and then utilise the hell out of it instead of providing overpriced bus infrastructure and funding crapola train services.

[achiruel]

All that doesn't alter the fact that to some destinations the 555 will be much quicker because it serves a different corridor, e.g. Springwood, Garden City

[#Metro]

All that doesn't alter the fact that to some destinations the 555 will be much quicker because it serves a different corridor, e.g. Springwood, Garden City

This is true, but curiously, the lines are about 1km or so apart as they approach beenleigh. Beenleigh line is also a basket case - long ago before I came on to RAILBOT I had to catch it and it just stopped and stopped and stopped and stopped and stopped and stopping again and oh slowing down and stopping and stopping again and stop and stopping again and stopping and stopping again and stopping, a bit of a fast section then stopping and stopping and stopping and stopping.

WHY BOTHER, jump in your car, put your foot down and fly down the M1 at 100 km / hour.

There are TOO MANY stops. The line is just uncompetitive versus car. Either CUT stations or CUT stopping patterns.  

[achiruel]

Some re-alignment would also be good - not only the BL end but also through Sunnybank.  Trinder Pk-Kingston also needs straightening.  Problem is these would require resumptions and therefore cost mega$.  Probably the busway would end up cheaper, even the way the QldGov does things.