Gold Coast Frequent Network

[SurfRail]

http://www.sendspace.com/file/zj7iuk

Google Earth KMZ file for discussion purposes.

The basis network parameters are:

Light Rail - planned GoldlinQ operating standard (and assuming no extension beyond Parkwood or Broadbeach):
- 5am-7am - every 15 minutes
- 7am-7pm - every 7.5 minutes
- 7pm-12am - every 15 minutes
- 12am-5am Saturday, Sunday and public holidays - every 30 minutes
- Can ramp up for special events

Because of its particular frequency, it is a thicker line.

Heavy Rail
- 4am-6am - every 30 minutes to Brisbane City and beyond
- 6am-9pm - every 15 minutes from Varsity Lakes to Coomera only - in peak period, peak flow direction services extend to Brisbane at 15 minute frequency, with 30 minute service between Brisbane and Gold Coast outside peak and 15 minute local frequency at minimum.
- 9pm-1am - every 30 minutes to Brisbane City and beyond.

Buses
- All buses - 5am-9pm - every 15 minutes
- Selected buses - 9pm-1am - every 30 minutes (to be determined which)
- Some of those selected buses - 1am-5am Saturday, Sunday and public holidays - hourly services (to be determined which)

I have gone for cross-town links which fold into major centres - what we have here is basically 21 BUZ type routes plus frequent rail and very frequent light rail.  I have not plotted any other services, but they would exist (and probably take up maybe between 30-40% of the operating budget).

I have listed rail and tram stops only for now, as there will be changes and the number of major bus stop locations will vary (as will connections, as not all services will necessarily be able to connect due to stop placement issues even if they actually cross).  I will probably finalise bus interchanges and all crossing points where interchange is possible, once the concept is refined.

The vast majority of all possible journeys would involve no more than 2 transfers to get anywhere else, generally by hubbing into the light or heavy rail lines.

Route numbering assumes the BUZ type services would be in the low 700s (with room to expand if necessary), coverage services would be in the 730-760 range and the rail and LRT lines get a notional route number for plotting purposes.

Discuss.

[Gazza]

Here's the map: http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/10/gcmap1hicontrast.jpg/



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

You may find it easier to right click save as, and then view it in Windows Photo Viewer, so you can pan.

My thoughts.

-Switch the routings of the 706 & 708 between Helensvale & Parkwood. 708 should be a Helensvale to Robina flagship, staying direct on Olsen ave. 706 should do the work of staying more to the west, and ducking into those bits of Suburbia.

-Steam iron the 703 between Southport and Benowa. Stay on Ridgeway Ave. Also stay on Queen St & Southport Burleigh Rd, because that dog leg seems to avoid an area of more activity.

-Could the end of the 701 be a full loop, returning to Coomera after DW, but also loop further south into Coomera township?

-703 & 704 should both go right to Paradise Point Esplanade, rather than the baseball field. If routes like the 714 are gonna deviate to serve shopping districts then this should too.

-719 should go via Glastonbury Drive & Langport Pde in Somerset Park...Doesn't seem like much of an imposition to serve this area.

-Should there be a Makeri St route in Mermaid Waters?

-Following from that. Once the 712 from Robina has gone to Bond, it should continue to Bermuda St rather than backtracking.
Because Ron Penhaligon Way gets missed due to this action, so you'd have a Makeri St > Ron Penhaligon Way > Cheltenham Drive > Robina Bus.

Also, bus operating standard...Why 15min frequency from 5 am...Beachgoers? Brisbane commuters? I woulda thought 6am start for 15 min frequency?

[SurfRail]

Wow - exceeded my expectations with the conversion work!

This is easier to read in so many ways than the KMZ - I will have a look at comments and revert later today.

[somebody]

Does the 720/current 761 need to deviate into the Airport?

Why the numbering "system" with no gaps?

Only 21 routes seems like a positive.

[Gazza]

I don't think pax take much notice of numbers tbh.

[#Metro]

WHOA!!
BLOWN AWAY!!

This should go into our gallery of fame!


A few questions.

Is this more or fewer than the number of routes currently?
What order of staging is required. CFN is all about doing the absolute minimum and doing the critical things first, which ones *MUST* be done
as a matter of priority?

[Gazza]

CFN is all about doing the absolute minimum and doing the critical things first, which ones *MUST* be done
as a matter of priority?

Gold Coast is polycentric, so its harder to pin down areas of importance.

713 & 706 & 709 & 704 & 720 I hhink are the #1 priorities.

700, 701 & 702 I think are the lowest.

[STB]

I can honestly say that I am actually impressed by that suggested network posted up by Gazza.  Most areas that are currently covered are still covered and the clutter has been sorted out.

Numbering wise, generally in the TL network (not all cases), anything with a '0' is a major route, anything with a '5' is generally a secondary route to that major route, any route number ending with a '1', '3', '5', '7' or '9', is generally a peak hour only service, while even numbers are generally local services.  The first number denotes the region, and the second number denotes the sub region that the route services.

In terms of numbering for the Gold Coast, my way of numbering the routes would be, keeping main connector routes ending with a '0' or a '5', and work from north to south from 70x to 79x.  I'd keep route 700 as the main north south coast route.

Quick question, are those local routes around Elanora still there?  The 762/3/4/6/7?

[Gazza]

It's Surfrails design, STB... I just did a map based on the google earth file.

Also, with the 15 min shuttle terminating at Coomera, doesn't that mean pax at Ormeau get spited?

[STB]

It's Surfrails design, STB... I just did a map based on the google earth file.

Noted correction.  Ta Gazza, sorry SurfRail.

[Arnz]

Slightly OT, but does anybody know the site (or part of google) where you can draw the route.  I'm considering using part of my time to create the Sunshine Coast bus network equivalent.

[#Metro]

You need to download Google Earth IMHO. Not sure how you get a map like gazza's though in 2D JPEG.

Let the mapping begin!

[Gazza]

The 2D map was drawn using a vector graphics program (Corel Draw)

[somebody]

Slightly OT, but does anybody know the site (or part of google) where you can draw the route.  I'm considering using part of my time to create the Sunshine Coast bus network equivalent.

Google maps is pretty useful.  Google Earth doesn't allow you to have multi leg journeys very easily.  It used to be possible to convert from Google Maps into Google Earth where you can change colors/width/opacity - actually you still can.

[SurfRail]

Few minor tweaks and differences between the KMZ and the JPEG.  In the JPEG:

- 701 has slightly different routing in Upper Coomera, but I think its fine the way Gazza has it.

- 703 does not serve the Runaway Bay shops - I actually think this is needed.

- Not sure if this is an issue with versions at my end, but the KMZ I have saved routes the 703 via Ferry Rd and Benowa Rd a bit more directly so it interchanges with the 704 at Southport Park shops.  I think that is a less fiddly route than Ridgeway, which could be served by a local/coverage route.  Mainly oldies and retirement homes along there - there is a TAFE campus but it isn't huge (nowhere near the size of the Benowa or Southport ones).

- Sorrento end of the 704 needs to be amended a bit to match the street pattern (currently it goes into the drink!).  It pretty much has to be Campbell/Panitz/Foster/Blair Athol.

- 705 turns into Seaworld - it should terminate out the front of Seaworld before the roundabout as the current 715 and 750 do.  Carpark is too much of a pain to navigate.

- 706 goes from Ross St to Nerang Broadbeach Rd - this move is not physically possible due to placement of the bus lane and service road, which is why I sent it straight via Birmingham Rd.  Birmingham is also better because it serves the density in the (laughably named) "French Quarter" at Emerald Lakes, just behind Emmanuel College.

- 710 serves Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd.  McLaren/Mortenson Rd and Cayuga St is better because you have higher population, and it allows you to serve the shopping centres at Nerang Mall and Nerang River Plaza.  You can just change for Southport at Nerang Station with this routing.  (Nerang is a royal pain in the arse due to the disaggregated land use, lack of river crossings etc.)

- 711 goes via the 709 routing at the Carrara Markets, which is not possible due to road layout - it needs to mirror the 715 and turn at the big roundabout.

- 712 goes via Cottesloe to Bond in both directions, rather than via Manly Dr from the north and Cottesloe from the south.  Also goes via Robina Parkway rather than the denser area around Cheltenham on the way to Robina Station.

- 713 and 714 do not do the Jupiters/Broadbeach loop. Broadbeach is an important likely destination for somebody coming from the airport or from that direction generally.  It also connects the Broadbeach South interchange into Jupiters.  (The 713 would likely be a 24hr route as the current 700 is, so a connection to Jupiters is desirable.  The old 1 and 1A used to deviate in there which was possible because everything ran via Pacific Fair - the 700 can't because you can't turn from the highway into Jupiters, but with the road changes likely needed to facilitate the bus interchange this may become possible again.)  I think it is also necessary so as to prevent off-loading people with luggage and making them travel only one stop up the road to Broadbeach where all the hotels are - we have to suck up to tourists here!

- 716 has a little kink at Bond Uni which does not match the road layout - basically zigs right where it should be a mirror image and zag left.

- 718 needs to follow the 716 routing along Cottesloe (as per current 750 routing) so they can interchange - current depiction also does not match the road layout.

These are all really minor and pedantic - its a fantastic piece of work.  Just want us to look as legitimate as we can (and frankly this is already better than TransLink commissioned stuff I have seen!)

[SurfRail]

Responses to Gazza's thoughts:

-Switch the routings of the 706 & 708 between Helensvale & Parkwood. 708 should be a Helensvale to Robina flagship, staying direct on Olsen ave. 706 should do the work of staying more to the west, and ducking into those bits of Suburbia.

Absolutely agree.  Goes to show you don't always notice these things until somebody else looks at them!

-Steam iron the 703 between Southport and Benowa. Stay on Ridgeway Ave. Also stay on Queen St & Southport Burleigh Rd, because that dog leg seems to avoid an area of more activity.

As per my post above I actually think we just keep this as per the 18 and run it straight down Ferry Rd and Benowa Rd to Southport Park.  Then instead of doing a safari like the 18 does via western Ashmore, we just keep it going all the way down Benowa Rd.

This part of the 703 is basically my dream conversion of the core of the 18, so it is a much more legible and easy to follow route.

-Could the end of the 701 be a full loop, returning to Coomera after DW, but also loop further south into Coomera township?

Possibly.  I was guided mainly by the existing 725, just with a bit less deviating here and there.  This could work.

-703 & 704 should both go right to Paradise Point Esplanade, rather than the baseball field. If routes like the 714 are gonna deviate to serve shopping districts then this should too.

Fair point.  I would run it as per the 704 route and use Matthew Flinders Drive to get back to Oxley Dr.

-719 should go via Glastonbury Drive & Langport Pde in Somerset Park...Doesn't seem like much of an imposition to serve this area.

I always had this suspicion it was actually a gated community, but if not then yes.  I would also potentially include Swanton Drive and Somerset College.  There isn't a huge amount of patronage served in this stretch by going the absolute most direct route, so maybe both could be done.

-Should there be a Makeri St route in Mermaid Waters?

Yes.  I think GC Hwy/Markeri, then current 751 route via Yarraville St (see the timetable) to Robina Parkway, then Cheltenham direct to Robina Station, then Robina Town Centre.  For arguments sake call it the 721.

http://translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/network-information/timetables/080728_751,752.pdf

-Following from that. Once the 712 from Robina has gone to Bond, it should continue to Bermuda St rather than backtracking.
Because Ron Penhaligon Way gets missed due to this action, so you'd have a Makeri St > Ron Penhaligon Way > Cheltenham Drive > Robina Bus.

I'm inclined to leave it on RPH Way, just because sending it via Bermuda Street doesn't really serve anybody (there would probably still be a local service along Barrier Reef Drive).  Probably their reasoning for sending the 747 up there.

Also, bus operating standard...Why 15min frequency from 5 am...Beachgoers? Brisbane commuters? I woulda thought 6am start for 15 min frequency?

6am would be fine, agree.

[SurfRail]

Also, with the 15 min shuttle terminating at Coomera, doesn't that mean pax at Ormeau get spited?

I didn't think anything more than the basic 30min intercity run would be needed for there, but it could happen - the crossovers just south of Ormeau would permit it with no issue.  

It would be a good way for instance of encouraging people to shop at Helensvale or Robina rather than Beenleigh or the Hyperdome.

[SurfRail]

A few questions.

Is this more or fewer than the number of routes currently?
What order of staging is required. CFN is all about doing the absolute minimum and doing the critical things first, which ones *MUST* be done
as a matter of priority?

There are plenty more routes than this currently - the network coverage is generally denser than this (just at low frequency). 

I have not given a lot of thought to coverage routes, but there will still be any number of them - for instance, I would actually be living on one hanging off the 711.

This probably does not fit the CRN model perfectly.  For that, you would probably look at converting a number of existing bus routes to run every 15 minutes before playing with this structure, because you would need routes which are more CBD centric than these.  For instance, I would prefer a BUZ type upgrade to the existing 706 Paradise Point service rather than creating the 703 and 704 proposed above. 

A real CFN type system is probably one step before this map, in other words.

[Gazza]

With any changes...wether you could doodle over the map in MS paint with a markup of errors etc....im looking through, but some local knowledge im lacking so its harder to know exactly what you mean.

[#Metro]

This probably does not fit the CRN model perfectly.  For that, you would probably look at converting a number of existing bus routes to run every 15 minutes before playing with this structure, because you would need routes which are more CBD centric than these.  For instance, I would prefer a BUZ type upgrade to the existing 706 Paradise Point service rather than creating the 703 and 704 proposed above.

A real CFN type system is probably one step before this map, in other words.

A frequent network is like the finished vision. A core frequent network map is the bare basics to move north, south, east, west and around...

This is an excellent map and a huge effort!

[SurfRail]

Numbering wise, generally in the TL network (not all cases), anything with a '0' is a major route, anything with a '5' is generally a secondary route to that major route, any route number ending with a '1', '3', '5', '7' or '9', is generally a peak hour only service, while even numbers are generally local services.  The first number denotes the region, and the second number denotes the sub region that the route services.

In terms of numbering for the Gold Coast, my way of numbering the routes would be, keeping main connector routes ending with a '0' or a '5', and work from north to south from 70x to 79x.  I'd keep route 700 as the main north south coast route.

I actually took this into account when trying to do it the first time through (not the odd number suffixes as those aren't that relevant down here as I know you appreciate), but I went nuts trying to deal with longer cross-town services and making all of the depicted routes end in 0 or 5, and trying to figure out what should and should not be so numbered.  Long story short - the numbering I have ended up using is purely for shorthand and just increases as you go further south.  Maybe we should have used 770+ for everything, purely because those routes are currently unoccupied - or maybe just "A", "B" etc.

Quick question, are those local routes around Elanora still there?  The 762/3/4/6/7?

Some equivalent services would be, yes.  None of those are really 15 minute frequency material though, so I have just not dealt with them for this exercise.  (Same as my own poor bus route, which is a deviation off the 711 in Boonooroo Park.)

[SurfRail]

With any changes...wether you could doodle over the map in MS paint with a markup of errors etc....im looking through, but some local knowledge im lacking so its harder to know exactly what you mean.

I'll get stuck into it tomorrow evening.

[Gazza]

I'm inclined to leave it on RPH Way, just because sending it via Bermuda Street doesn't really serve anybody (there would probably still be a local service along Barrier Reef Drive).  Probably their reasoning for sending the 747 up there.

I suppose Bermuda St has a waterway on one side...Just that really hate backtracking (pax would too i imagine), plus there could be a travel speed benefit by using Bermuda St.

Just going through the list again now....will highlight the ones I need help with.

[Gazza]

- 703 does not serve the Runaway Bay shops - I actually think this is needed.

Hmm, but they could stay on the bus till Harbour Town and shop there...or just interchange onto the 704.

- Not sure if this is an issue with versions at my end, but the KMZ I have saved routes the 703 via Ferry Rd and Benowa Rd a bit more directly so it interchanges with the 704 at Southport Park shops.  I think that is a less fiddly route than Ridgeway, which could be served by a local/coverage route.  Mainly oldies and retirement homes along there - there is a TAFE campus but it isn't huge (nowhere near the size of the Benowa or Southport ones).

Got it. Southport shops has the grid of shade sails in the carpark right?

- Sorrento end of the 704 needs to be amended a bit to match the street pattern (currently it goes into the drink!).  It pretty much has to be Campbell/Panitz/Foster/Blair Athol.
Lol, I see what i did. I think i just doodled a similar shape because it was hard to see the streets (thin lines)

- 705 turns into Seaworld - it should terminate out the front of Seaworld before the roundabout as the current 715 and 750 do.  Carpark is too much of a pain to navigate.
Got it.

- 706 goes from Ross St to Nerang Broadbeach Rd - this move is not physically possible due to placement of the bus lane and service road, which is why I sent it straight via Birmingham Rd.  Birmingham is also better because it serves the density in the (laughably named) "French Quarter" at Emerald Lakes, just behind Emmanuel College.

Took me a lil while to find the turn restriction in question, but got it now.

- 710 serves Nerang-Murwillumbah Rd.  McLaren/Mortenson Rd and Cayuga St is better because you have higher population, and it allows you to serve the shopping centres at Nerang Mall and Nerang River Plaza.  You can just change for Southport at Nerang Station with this routing.  (Nerang is a royal pain in the arse due to the disaggregated land use, lack of river crossings etc.)

My mistake, I think when drawing i had seen that other business district in nerang and thought it went through there.

- 711 goes via the 709 routing at the Carrara Markets, which is not possible due to road layout - it needs to mirror the 715 and turn at the big roundabout.

Got it.

- 712 goes via Cottesloe to Bond in both directions, rather than via Manly Dr from the north and Cottesloe from the south.  Also goes via Robina Parkway rather than the denser area around Cheltenham on the way to Robina Station.
I see what I've done. So its not such a backtrack after all.

- 713 and 714 do not do the Jupiters/Broadbeach loop. Broadbeach is an important likely destination for somebody coming from the airport or from that direction generally.  It also connects the Broadbeach South interchange into Jupiters.  (The 713 would likely be a 24hr route as the current 700 is, so a connection to Jupiters is desirable.  The old 1 and 1A used to deviate in there which was possible because everything ran via Pacific Fair - the 700 can't because you can't turn from the highway into Jupiters, but with the road changes likely needed to facilitate the bus interchange this may become possible again.)  I think it is also necessary so as to prevent off-loading people with luggage and making them travel only one stop up the road to Broadbeach where all the hotels are - we have to suck up to tourists here!

Was a bit of a mapping desicion, just showing everything hubbing into the Broadbeach LRT stop..will fix.

- 716 has a little kink at Bond Uni which does not match the road layout - basically zigs right where it should be a mirror image and zag left.
I see, buses cant even get around through where id done it.

- 718 needs to follow the 716 routing along Cottesloe (as per current 750 routing) so they can interchange - current depiction also does not match the road layout.

Whoops, there was a house in the way there!

[SurfRail]

^ I think you've pretty much got it all - can't wait for Mk II with these and the other fixes/additions you have suggested.  I am seeing some people at GCCC next week and I expect they will be enthused.

[Gazza]

Fixed:

http://img14.imageshack.us/img14/9800/gcmap030412.jpg



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I played with the routings at Runaway bay for something more satsifying, and in the end, yes they should both serve runaway bay shops.
Also added the Mermaid waters 721.

Did you want me to email an larger A2/A1 pdf for your GCCC meeting?
The current jpg is A3 sized.

[SurfRail]

I played with the routings at Runaway bay for something more satsifying, and in the end, yes they should both serve runaway bay shops.
Also added the Mermaid waters 721.

Did you want me to email an larger A2/A1 pdf for your GCCC meeting?
The current jpg is A3 sized.

Only minor fix is the 716/718 bit at Bermuda/Cottesloe which needs updating - otherwise very very nice.

A2 will be good as long as it is still email-able.  I might send it through to them as a talking point in advance.

Could we also have a blank version of the base map?

[Gazza]

Final versions.

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/4302/gcmapfinal.jpg



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

http://img52.imageshack.us/img52/1755/gcmapblank.jpg



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

I must say (havent said till now), I really like how disciplined you were in making sure people transfered to the LRT, rather than having routes through surfers.

[SurfRail]

[SurfRail]

Few minor changes I think could be made now I have sat down with a printout - doing them in number order as I have them here will make more sense.

1. Route 703 - split in half at Southport.  Give the southern half a different colour and renumber to 722.

2. Route 704 - split into 2. 

Route 704 (northern half) has the same route from Paradise Point to Runaway Bay, then follows the route of the existing Surfside 706 (slightly different to what is in our map) then follows the 705 into Southport where they join up. 

Route 723 (southern half) originates at the Runaway Bay Shops and runs down Morala Avenue/Hollywell Road, then as per the rest of the existing 704.

Reason for this is that I think Paradise Pt needs a more direct service to Southport than the 703, as it will be where most of the passengers are actually going.  The 723 will do the cross-town thing instead.

3.  Once change no. 2 is implemented, change the southern end of the 723 so instead of going via Upton St and finishing up in Sorrento, it goes all the way down Bundall Rd to Nerang-Broadbeach Rd, then to Pacific Fair and the last LRT stop and terminates.  (I think the solution for Sorrento needs to be a coverage route at best.)

4. Route 707 – just before it joins up with the 705 at Labrador, it should instead turn right (south) into Ahern St.  Big retirement complex there which is currently on a coverage route, and easy to serve it this way.  It can then turn left (east) onto Robert St and rejoin the current route.  The interchange dot would be moved down to where the creek is.

5. Route 708 - route via Heeb Street to follow the 710 and then Benowa Rd to follow the 722, then existing route (instead of following Ashmore Rd the whole length - this way you end up at the TAFE and serve the same other destinations).

6. Route 719 – at Tallebudgera – turn into Tallebudgera Dr, then Townson Drive, then current route along 19th Avenue – instead of following the highway all the way down to 19th Ave.  This is the route taken by the 769 – I believe there is a particular reason for this, just can't remember what.

I have had positive feedback from GCCC already...

[Jonno]

Must be matched with bus lanes to allow it to be fast, frequent and direct.

[SurfRail]

I've created a stripped down interim version which pares out some of the more marginal routes from the high frequency grid.

The list is:

770 - Helensvale to Coomera via Upper Coomera
771 - Helensvale to Sanctuary Cove via Hope Island
772 - Paradise Point to Southport via Runaway Bay
773 - Helensvale to Seaworld via Labrador and Southport
774 - Runaway Bay to Broadbeach via Parkwood and Benowa
775 - Helensvale to Southport via Parkwood
776 - Southport to Broadbeach via Nerang
777 - Parkwood to Broadbeach LRT
778 - Nerang to Surfers Paradise via Benowa
779 - Southport to Robina via Bundall
780 - Broadbeach to Robina via Varsity Lakes
781 - Robina to The Pines via Burleigh
782 - Robina to Tweed Heads via M1
785 - Broadbeach to Airport via Burleigh and The Pines
790 - Broadbeach to Tweed Heads via Burleigh
799 - (Brisbane) and Coomera to Varsity Lakes HR

[somebody]

Must be matched with bus lanes to allow it to be fast, frequent and direct.

Not happening without a reasonable PT market share.

Shouldn't we focus our efforts on achievable gains?

[Gazza]

Route 704 (northern half) has the same route from Paradise Point to Runaway Bay, then follows the route of the existing Surfside 706 (slightly different to what is in our map) then follows the 705 into Southport where they join up. 

Route 723 (southern half) originates at the Runaway Bay Shops and runs down Morala Avenue/Hollywell Road, then as per the rest of the existing 704.

Reason for this is that I think Paradise Pt needs a more direct service to Southport than the 703, as it will be where most of the passengers are actually going.  The 723 will do the cross-town thing instead.

3.  Once change no. 2 is implemented, change the southern end of the 723 so instead of going via Upton St and finishing up in Sorrento, it goes all the way down Bundall Rd to Nerang-Broadbeach Rd, then to Pacific Fair and the last LRT stop and terminates.  (I think the solution for Sorrento needs to be a coverage route at best.)

4. Route 707 – just before it joins up with the 705 at Labrador, it should instead turn right (south) into Ahern St.  Big retirement complex there which is currently on a coverage route, and easy to serve it this way.  It can then turn left (east) onto Robert St and rejoin the current route.  The interchange dot would be moved down to where the creek is.

5. Route 708 - route via Heeb Street to follow the 710 and then Benowa Rd to follow the 722, then existing route (instead of following Ashmore Rd the whole length - this way you end up at the TAFE and serve the same other destinations).

6. Route 719 – at Tallebudgera – turn into Tallebudgera Dr, then Townson Drive, then current route along 19th Avenue – instead of following the highway all the way down to 19th Ave.  This is the route taken by the 769 – I believe there is a particular reason for this, just can't remember what.

I have had positive feedback from GCCC already...

Would you be able to doodle the following onto the map in paint? I'll then just copy the modifcations.

[SurfRail]

Would you be able to doodle the following onto the map in paint? I'll then just copy the modifcations.

Available at the link below (rather than spam the thread with too many work-in-progress versions of the map):

http://www.sendspace.com/file/1x89ss

As an absolute last final no further change from me suggestion (for the foreseeable future  ), I suggest we abandon my attempt at numbering and maybe just give them something very neutral. 

Maybe go through and convert the numbering to "A", "B" etc to match the number order from 700 to 723 - comes out at 26 if you include the rail lines, so it is a natural fit. 

It is a shorter form of shorthand, and also avoids confusion with existing services, which I have already had queries about from some interested parties wondering why the 709 is in the "wrong" place...

[ozbob]

Media release 11 April 2012

Gold Coast: A Gold Coast Frequent Network



RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org), a web-based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers, says that it is time for Gold Coast City Council mayoral and divisional candidates to show some leadership on public transport improvements.

Steven Jamieson, Gold Coast Region spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track, said:

"The 2012 local government elections are a perfect opportunity for GCCC candidates to put forward their policy positions on GCCC's role in the funding and provision of public transport.  As the second largest local government in Australia, with a population bigger than several Australian capital cities, GCCC already makes considerable investment in public transport through its City Transport Improvement Levy and its contribution to the Gold Coast Rapid Transit project."

"We often see statements from candidates that they would like to see improvements to east-west public transport services, to the improvement of service standards generally and a host of other dot points.  However, we generally see very little policy detail on how candidates will work with the relevant agencies and members of the public to achieve those aims."

RAIL Back On Track has developed a Core Frequent Network [1] plan for the Gold Coast to encourage debate on the direction the public transport system needs to take.

"We have looked at the existing network and identified possible routes for conversion to high-frequency all-day services modelled on the successful Brisbane BUZ routes [2].  With the opening of the rapid transit system due in approximately 2 years and the Commonwealth Games 4 years after that, we need to have a clearly defined pipeline of improvements to get our network up to scratch."

"The routes we have identified use busy corridors and connect the city's major town centres and trip attractors.  We have sketched them in an open Google Earth format with an accompanying position statement for anybody to examine and respond to [3]."

Mr Jamieson said this was a starting point for determining how the bus resources which will be freed up by the rapid transit system can be used to build a strong public transport grid west of the coastal strip.  He also noted  that it was important to develop a plan to allow people to become used to transferring between bus and light rail services, to ensure that the changes do not overwhelm the network when light rail starts operating.

"The light rail system is a fantastic development opportunity for the city, both in terms of transport patronage and built form.  It is extremely important to get the fundamentals right, and that means getting our political candidates engaged with the issues.  We welcome any policy announcements which would encourage the development of the city's public transport system in a meaningful way."

"It is time to give the Gold Coast the public transport network it deserves."

References:

1.  Building a Core Frequent Network  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5173.0
2.  http://translink.com.au/resources/travel-information/network-information/maps/network/111031-buz.pdf
3.  http://backontrack.org/docs/gc/GoldCoastCFN1.docx and http://backontrack.org/docs/gc/GoldCoastCFN1.kmz

Contacts:

Steven Jamieson
Gold Coast Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

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

[Gazza]

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/338/gcbusnetwork110312.jpg/



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Just a question, but why does route E have to dogleg at Biggera Waters? Is it for that shopping center?...It should just stay on Marine Parade IMO....

Also, on the pared down version you did, I reckon route 'G' (Helensvale - Robina via Olsen Ave) deserves a place...It sits halfway between the Heavy Rail and the Coastal strip and could be a powerful north south spine.

[#Metro]

Which routes of the FN are CFN?

[SurfRail]

Broadly speaking, the one in this thread is is something like a 2031 or beyond network, whereas the CFN is what we put out today (and I in fact used that term to describe it).  That one involves a slightly different version which is much closer to bits of the existing network:  http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8103.0 - see reference 3 down the bottom.  (There was no time to convert to one of Gazza's Corel-type maps due to timing imperatives, so it is a brief position paper and KMZ.)

I don't think the one we have been working on here could reasonably be implemented any time in the next 10 years even with buckets and buckets of spending.  It would be the equivalent of full 15 minute frequency or better rail for the Brisbane metropolitan area, with around 40-50 or more BUZ routes including several private operator routes - so not something you could do in a hurry.

It is semi-revolutionary.  Bits of it would emerge over time, however to get a decent north-south grid would take time so a lot of services would continue to hub into places like Southport in the shorter term rather than there being a lot of suburban interchanging the way we have it set up.  You would need a few big redesigns to make it work.

Re this one - I'd like to think we can run every bus route depicted, and the heavy rail corridor, at 15 minute intervals from 6am-9pm, with LRT at currently planned or better levels.  "Peak" in the usually understood sense is only relevant to the railway because of the way the Gold Coast is laid out and where the hubs are, so no need for rockets and peak expresses to suck up funding - we can afford to focus on all-day consistent levels of service.