South East Busway Extension

[colinw]

Construction of the short Eight Mile Plains to Rochedale (Underwood Road) extension of the South East Busway was due to commence in the 2nd half of this year, along with the planned changes to the Gateway Motorway to South East Freeway junction.  Click here for details.

The last project update was in March 2012, before the election.

Has anyone heard anything about this project?  Is it still happening?

A search of ministerial media releases for the new Government reveals nothing, the only time the word "busway" appears is with reference to the Northern Busway opening.

[ozbob]

The Fat Controller responds:  "  2031!  " ....

[colinw]

Isn't it about time we "moved forward" our target date for unfunded pie-in-the-sky projects to 2037?

As an aside, it is aesthetically pleasing if the delivery date for such projects is always of the form 20xx, where xx is a prime number.  Thus 2031, then 2037, 2041, 2043, 2047 ... 

[somebody]

NSW's date is 2036, so xx is a perfect square.

The Springwood extension has been talked about for so long it isn't funny.  I'd like to see it happen, and have a 111 extension to Springwood.

[colinw]

Didn't know NSW was using 2036.  I'm sure I've seen 2031 somewhere else as well - Perth perhaps?

I agree completely about extension to Springwood.  The Rochedale South bit by itself seems a tad useless, and was really just to dovetail with the Gateway merge works, but Springwood with an extension of the 111 would be a real winner!

The reason I mention it is because TransLink still link to the project, and the project pages are still up on TMR.  In March the construction of the Rochedale bit was announced as being "fast tracked" to the 2nd half of this year.

But since the LNP got in ... silence.  Nothing to say if it is proceeding as planned, deferred or cancelled.

[achiruel]

I agree completely about extension to Springwood.  The Rochedale South bit by itself seems a tad useless, and was really just to dovetail with the Gateway merge works, but Springwood with an extension of the 111 would be a real winner!

While I would prefer extension to Springwood, Rochedale by itself is not useless as it would allow buses to bypass the worst of the traffic jam occurs where 3 lane of M3 and 3 lanes of M1 get squashed into 3 lanes within the space of 2km.

[colinw]

Good point. I was thinking in terms of that part of Rochedale as a destination, not in terms of operational benefit to buses to Springwood & Loganholme.

[nathandavid88]

From today's Local Quest Rag (Albert & Logan News):

Councillor concerned by busway

A LOGAN Councillor has raised concerns over the safety of school children after seeing detailed plans for the extension of the South East Busway to Rochedale.

Cr Lisa Bradley (Division 1) said she believed the extension could increase traffic pressures on already congested local roads and intersections due to exiting buses.

She said with local schools situated around the busway end- point at School Rd, Rochedale, she was concerned for the safety of school children.

''The number of schools in the area already generates a lot of traffic,'' she said.

''I voiced my concerns to the department in January but they've refused to tell me how many more buses will be in the area when the extension is finished.''

Cr Bradley said she wanted an upgrade of the blackspot intersection at School and Underwood roads to alleviate the pressure of exiting vehicles. ''It's already a bad intersection and I have asked for a (council) report.''

Cr Bradley said extending the busway to Springwood would be a long-term aim but in the interim, an intersection upgrade including traffic lights was her main priority for Rochedale.

A spokesperson for the Minister for Transport and Main Roads would not say how many more buses would use the Rochedale extension but that the bus network review was now open for public comment.

Construction on the extension is due to begin this year.

[colinw]

Yeah, that's right councillor. Improved public transport is going to make the roads worse.

Remember that WE vote these buffoons in, and they reflect the views of society as a whole.

I bloody give up!  :conf

The new busway station being planned will be very close to Eight Mile Plains State School, but also very handy to the just opened and somewhat poorly named "Freeway Office Park", which is actually only accessible by road from the southbound lanes of Logan Road.

This busway section will also somewhat speed up bus services to Rochedale & Springwood, avoiding the horrible freeway merge or the big loop around Miles Platting Road.

[somebody]

Remember that WE vote these buffoons in, and they reflect the views of society as a whole.

Hear here!  About time that the voters take responsibility for the standard of the politicians that they elect.

[ozbob]

Remember that WE vote these buffoons in, and they reflect the views of society as a whole.

Hear here!  About time that the voters take responsibility for the standard of the politicians that they elect.

[nathandavid88]

Yeah, that's right councillor. Improved public transport is going to make the roads worse.

Remember that WE vote these buffoons in, and they reflect the views of society as a whole.

I bloody give up!  :conf

The new busway station being planned will be very close to Eight Mile Plains State School, but also very handy to the just opened and somewhat poorly named "Freeway Office Park", which is actually only accessible by road from the southbound lanes of Logan Road.

This busway section will also somewhat speed up bus services to Rochedale & Springwood, avoiding the horrible freeway merge or the big loop around Miles Platting Road.

Actually, she does have a point... possibly. This project will essentially create a link from the South East busway which funnels directly onto Priestdale Road and intersects with School Road. It's the possibility of there being additional buses that would be funnelled onto these roads that she has an issue with, mainly because she can't get an answer from the Dept. Is it proposed that the 555 will be rerouted along School Road and via the connection to Eight Mile Plains, for example.

Also, there's no busway station included with this project at all. It's purely the road link, which is being bundled in with upgrades to the Gateway Connection. It's mainly just to create the connection needed for a future Busway Extension to Springwood. There's no huge benefit to it on it's own, except for services going to/through Rochedale.



http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/G/Gateway-Upgrade-South-GUS-projects.aspx

[Andrew]

They've started works on the busway extention now with piling and drainage works it would appear at the southbound onramp to the Gateway at Miles Platting Road.  FYI there is another busway station planned at Rochedale South but it puzzles me why they don't put it in as part of this project, even if the buses had to use the road to get to it.  I remember being told that many people from that area use 8MP busway Park & Ride.  It would seem logical to me to put in Rochedale South in at the same time (it's location is at the far right of the map nestled between Underwood Road, the M1 and School Road where the North indicator is). It should be easy enough to extend say the 111, 162 and 169.  That should provide an excellent service seven days a week in conjunction with the 555 and P88 (if they don't axe the weekend service).

[Set in train]

there is another busway station planned at Rochedale South but it puzzles me why they don't put it in as part of this project, even if the buses had to use the road to get to it.  I remember being told that many people from that area use 8MP busway Park & Ride.  It would seem logical to me to put in Rochedale South in at the same time (it's location is at the far right of the map nestled between Underwood Road, the M1 and School Road where the North indicator is).

John Grant is the man, the MP that should be championing this idea, they're his commuters/voters:

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/members/current/list/bio?member=Grant+John

Have you suggested this idea to his office?

Of course, be prepared for the usual, "Queensland's dire budgetry position" as a reason against doing it at this time.

[nathandavid88]

Running high frequency buses along School Road to a bus station up there would be a recipe for disaster, and it's exactly what Cr Bradley was worried about in that Quest story a few posts back.

There are 4 reasonably large schools very near each other in the immediate area (Rochedale Primary, Rochedale High, St Peter's and Redeemer), and as a result, these roads tend to get incredibly congested at the start and end of the school day, let alone in the afternoon peak if the highway is blocked! Add to that the fact that School Road, in it's current state as a semi-rural road, would probably disintegrate under the weight of a large number of buses going over the top and would need to be extensively upgraded to cope. Then there's the issue that to get to Springwood from there, you'd need to running the buses down Rochedale Road, a two lane suburban road with a considerable number of houses on either side that is already the main drag for the whole suburb. It would take considerably longer than using the highway, and only for a marginal benefit!

The only reason they're even doing this upgrade is so that the connection is there for any future busway extension (ie they don't have to mess with the Gateway connection). The only buses that will see any change from this will be the 576, 577, 578 and 579 Rochedale South routes, and of them it will only advantage the 2 of them that go via School Road – the other two go via Miles Platting Road and will either drive out the way it does, or will need to backtrack. 

[achiruel]

So what really needs to happen for the majority of Logan services to get any benefit is fastracking the extension of the SEB to Springwood ASAP!

When is that planned to happen does anyone know?

[nathandavid88]

^^ Isn't 2036 the going date for anything transport-related being built? 

[transnerd]

Hi,

I couldn't find another thread regarding this so I'm sorry if I've duplicated.

Obviously last year the Qld Government announced the M1/M3 Merge project, which as per the Fly Through Video on this site: https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/P/Pacific-Motorway-Upgrade-M1-M3-Gateway-merge, includes a new bus lane to access the M1 going southbound to Springwood.

Building Queensland have stated on their website, that as part of the business case they are doing for the M1 Upgrade (Eight Mile Plains to Daisy Hill), that they are investigating either: widening the M1 to eight/ten lanes, or widening the M1 to eight/ten lanes and busway extension to Springwood, including cycle infrastructure. http://buildingqueensland.qld.gov.au/projects/m1-pacific-motorway-eight-mile-plains-to-daisy-hill-2/. Apparantly the business case is due Q3. But the Feds have given money towards this and it appears the state will too. It's just a matter of whether the busway is included.

Land on the corner of School Road and Underwood Roads has started to be cleared. Additionally, a lot of houses adjoining the M1 corridor on the Rochedale South and Underwood sides have been demolished (this is visible on nearmap too).

I was just curious as to whether the govt is going to go ahead with the busway extension? The M1/M3 flythrough video shows a bus lane going through the site that is cleared on the Cnr of School and Underwood Roads, but that is also the site earmarked for the Rochedale Busway Station. I think it would be a no-brainer to go ahead with the busway now while the M1 upgrades are being done. Especially with how at capacity Eight Mile Plains and the park n ride facilities are. Does anyone have any insight as to whether the busway is still being investigated to Rochedale and Springwood? Or should we have to wait and see until budget time?

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1179197235176697856

[Cazza]

How fuking big is that car park at Rochdale Busway Station (about 20 seconds in)? If the Metro is going to go down to Springwood, build a crap ton of apartments and new shopping village here instead. TODs aren't hard to do. With all the development happening just north of here, it looks to me like a new supermarket will definitely be required. Here will be the perfect place.

Edit: Just realised there has been a new Rochdale Village built on Miles Platting Road. However, my point still stands.

[timh]

https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1179197235176697856

FINALLY. New busway extension design released. Some thoughts:

-Rochedale seems to be as per the original 2009 plans, but with some stabling for buses included. Again though this REALLY should have been done with the existing roadworks as it will make squeezing the busway in between School Road and the highway much easier to do all at once.

- Cazza: not surprised that they want an enormous carpark. Look at EMP (approaching 2500 carparks now), and a lot of that traffic comes from Rochedale/Rochedale South. This will relieve that somewhat. The better solution would be feeder bus services through Rochedale and Rochedale south as I have brought up repeatedly, but that is unlikely to happen.

- Tunneling under the Rochedale road offramp is gonna be expensive and very disruptive, I imagine this will need to be cut and cover. Again, should have been done with the existing roadworks so that it was done all at once. They'll finish surfacing that section and will just have to rip it up again...

- Springwood busway station design has changed significantly from 2009 plans. Seems like they are intending to close the Service road highway exit near Centro and turn it into busway. That's fine considering the Rochedale road exit is only like 1km back up the freeway. HOWEVER I really don't like that they've removed the in-line elevated busway station design that was originally included in the 2009 plan. Seems like now with southbound 555 services, to get to Springwood station buses have to go round the roundabout and go into the existing station, then go back onto the busway?? Seems annoyingly convoluted AND kinda precludes any further extensions of the busway to the Hyperdome (where it should ultimately terminate IMO). However it looks like the design is large enough to accommodate bi-artics.

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2019/10/2/first-look-at-logan-m1-and-busway-upgrade

Media Statements
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Mark Bailey

Wednesday, October 02, 2019

First look at Logan M1 and busway upgrade

M1 motorists have been given a sneak peek at the $749 million M1 upgrade from Eight Mile Plains to Daisy Hill.

Ahead of community consultation next week, new concept footage has been unveiled for the jointly-funded eight kilometre project which will feature more lanes on the M1, a new busway to Springwood and bikeway to Paradise Road.

Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said the footage would allow motorists to experience the state-of-the-art upgrade before it happens.

"Construction will begin next year and will eventually mean this section of the M1 will be widened from six to eight lanes," Mr Tudge said.

"That means quicker travel times for motorists, and most importantly it will get everyone home sooner and safer."

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said with locals already starting to reap the benefits of a $195 million upgrade of the M1/Gateway merge, the Queensland Government would put its foot on the pedal with a 721 job project to tackle congestion in the growing Logan area.

"The Queensland Government is building a bigger and better M1, with $2.3 billion locked in to get people home sooner," Mr Bailey said.

"This upgrade will take local traffic off the motorway, get more people on buses and bikes, and cut congestion with more lanes through the busy Springwood section."

Federal Member for Bonner Ross Vasta said over the coming weeks, around 110,000 residents will receive information in their letterboxes with the most up-to-date information on Stage 2 of the M1 upgrade from Eight Mile Plains to Daisy Hill.

''The four-page newsletter explains the project and what they can expect. It will show the exciting plans for the new park 'n' ride and bus station at Rochedale, connecting the busway through to Springwood," Mr Vasta said.

"The design is now at a point where we can provide an early update for the public to see what this new upgrade may look like, and what it will mean for the entire community."

Member for Springwood Mick de Brenni said a key feature of the multi-million dollar upgrade would be the 6.6km extension of the south east busway to Springwood and a brand new bus interchange as Rochedale.

"Locals are always telling me they want better public transport in their area and to major hubs in Brisbane and Logan – and we're delivering," Mr de Brenni said.

"The dedicated busway to Springwood means quicker travel times, less competition with buses and cars on local streets, and room for an additional 1.7 million passengers."

Member for Waterford Shannon Fentiman said Logan residents would soon receive details of the upgrade in their letterboxes, and could find out more about the project at upcoming community information sessions.

"This is fantastic news for the community, with every bus taking 40 cars off the road, it'll have benefits for both locals taking public transport and motorists travelling on the M1," Ms Fentiman said.

"Residents will also find out more information on plans to combine the two M1 on-ramps at Paradise and Loganlea roads, which will mean freer flowing traffic on the M1, as well as a new on-ramp at Lexington Road."

Public Information Display Sessions – October 8 to 19:

Underwood Marketplace Shopping Centre, cnr Beenleigh & Logan Roads, Underwood: Tuesday 8 October: 10am – 1pm, Thursday 10 October: 3pm – 6pm, Saturday 12th October: 1.30pm – 4.30pm
Logan North Library, cnr Sports Drive & Springwood Road, Underwood: Wednesday 9 October: 10am – 1pm, Friday 10 October: 10am – 1pm, Monday 14 October: 10am – 1pm
Springwood Shopping Mall,  cnr Rochedale Road & Fitzgerald Avenue, Springwood: Tuesday 15 October: 10am – 1pm, Thursday 17 October: 3pm – 6pm, Saturday 19 October: 1pm – 4pm
Alternatively, you can drop in at one of the following locations where large-scale maps with key features of the project will be on display:

Underwood Scout Group Camelot Park, Camelot Street, Underwood: Tuesday 8 October to Wednesday 16 October
Transport and Main Roads Customer Service Centre, Kessels Court, 567 Kessels Road, Macgregor: Tuesday 8 October to Friday 18 October, check TMR's Customer Service Centre website for opening hours.
Member for Macalister Melissa McMahon said construction would commence next year, linking in with the M1/M3 merge upgrade at Rochedale and marking the third of four-fully funded M1 upgrades under the current Queensland Government.

"Motorists are seeing a lot of changes on the M1, with the $195 million merge upgrade on-track for completion next year, upgrades well underway on the Gold Coast and progress on this vital $749 million upgrade through Logan," Ms McMahon said.

"It means not only are we cutting the amount of time people and businesses spend on the M1, but we're also creating thousands of jobs in construction for locals."

The $749 million upgrade is jointly funded by the Commonwelath and State Governments.

To find out more visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects
Project info:

Eight kilometre upgrade between the Gateway Motorway at Eight Mile Plains and Loganlea Road at Daisy Hill
Extension of busway to Springwood with new bus interchange and park 'n' ride facility at Rochedale
Complete the missing V1 cycleway link on the western side of the M1 from the Gateway Motorway to Paradise Road
Business case approved in 2018, design underway and construction to begin in 2020
Will include a new M1 on-ramp at Lexington Road and combined on-ramp to ease congestion at Loganlea and Paradise roads
Smart motorways technology including variable speed signs as well as a fish passage at Bulimba Creek to be included
ENDS

Link to download footage: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/1bzptg4pma4bkj0/AADt2-RAmR-4Y9TIlYtCbxX5a?dl=0 (external site)

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> State Government releases vision of Eight Mile Plains to Springwood M1 and busway upgrade

The Government has released the first vision of a long-awaited upgrade to one of southeast Queensland's worst traffic bottlenecks, promising to cut travel times for motorists and public transport users alike.

MOTORISTS have been given first glimpse of the long-awaited fix to the Eight Mile Plains M1 bottleneck and new Busway extension to Springwood that's predicted to bust travel times south of Brisbane.

The new concept footage of the state and federally-funded $749 million M1 upgrade was released today ahead of community consultation next week.

It reveals four extra lanes, a dedicated Busway between Eight Mile Plains and Springwood and a bikeway to Paradise Road in stage 2 of the Eight Mile Plains to Daisy Hill upgrade.

Federal Urban Infrastructure Minister Alan Tudge said construction would begin next year.

"That means quicker travel times for motorists, and most importantly it will get everyone home sooner and safer," he said.

State Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the project would create 721 jobs.

"The upgrade will take local traffic off the motorway, get more people on buses and bikes, and cut congestion with more lanes thought he busy Springwood section," he said.

State MP for Springwood, Mick DeBrenni, said a brand-new bus interchange at Rochedale with park 'n' ride facilities would be a key feature of the upgrade.

"The dedicated busway to Springwood means quicker travel times, less competition with buses and cars on local streets, and room for an additional 1.7 million passengers," he said.

There are also plans to combine the two M1 on-ramps at Paradise and Loganlea roads and a new on-ramp at Lexington Road.

The Bligh Government first promised a dedicated busway to Springwood but delivered a cut-price version in which a station was built at Springwood, but buses needed to use the freeway and enter the busway at Eight Mile Plains.

An Eastern Busway, which was supposed to shadow Old Cleveland Rd all the way to Capalaba, has been stalled at Coorparoo since 2011.

And the Northern Busway has been stranded at Kedron since 2012, well short of its final destination at Bracken Ridge.

The new busway will be in operation once the project is complete in 2023/2024.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Schrinner/status/1179281071449530369

[Gazza]

Didn't that 2009 design have this super expensive looking spiral ramp thing from the end of the busway down to  Springwood.
I do think the chosen design is much neater, but yeah it needs to have elevated inline platforms to avoid a backtrack.

What happens anyway? It looks like outbound busses do a 270 degree turn off the roundabout, loop around the interchange then continue?
How do inbound buses work?

I don't have a problem with the park and ride being huge, it would be sh%t living next to a motorway.
I think TOD can occur on the other side of school road and east on Underwood road, which looks set for redevelopment.

[timh]

Didn't that 2009 design have this super expensive looking spiral ramp thing from the end of the busway down to  Springwood.
I do think the chosen design is much neater, but yeah it needs to have elevated inline platforms to avoid a backtrack.

What happens anyway? It looks like outbound busses do a 270 degree turn off the roundabout, loop around the interchange then continue?
How do inbound buses work?

I don't have a problem with the park and ride being huge, it would be sh%t living next to a motorway.
I think TOD can occur on the other side of school road and east on Underwood road, which looks set for redevelopment.

You are correct. Big spiral loop de loop:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/getb4ftnx3d1xpx/Springwood%20Busway%20Station%203D%20Render.jpg?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/uolyyi5brj1j6o0/Springwood%20Busway%20Road%20Layout%20from%20Traffic%20and%20Transport%20Report.PNG?dl=0

Southbound 555s currently exit at that offramp near Centro and go into the station, before going back onto the freeway at the adjacent on ramp. Inbound services are much the same. It's all a big mess. See: https://jp.translink.com.au/plan-your-journey/timetables/bus/t/555/outbound/2019-10-02

Inline station would be much better, I can only assume this is a cost cutting measure, as from what I can see from the original render that offramp was meant to stay open to cars, rather than being repurposed as a busway

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Springwood bottleneck to go after $749m motorway and busway upgrade

Relief is in sight for peak-hour commuters from Logan who chalk up 13 days a year on the M1, with stage 2 plans to upgrade the busy motorway to include a state-of-the-art busway.

RELIEF is in sight but still at least three years away for long-suffering Logan residents who use the M1 to get to work in Brisbane.

The state and federal governments released the most up-to-date details of the second stage of a $749 million M1 upgrade yesterday.

The plans followed startling revelations in February that peak-hour commuters from Logan were spending up to 13 days a year sitting in traffic on the motorway.

The plans show two new lanes along an 8km stretch of road between the Gateway Motorway at Eight Mile Plains to Loganlea Rd at Daisy Hill, which is already under way.

But the extension of the eastern busway to Springwood and this week's opening of a park 'n' ride facility at Rochedale were the major milestones for Logan.

Another component of the works was completing the missing V1 cycleway link on the western side of the M1 from the Gateway Motorway to Paradise Rd.

Transport advocacy group Rail Back on Track's Robert Dow said the joint federal-state project would go a long way to solving the M1 bottlenecks that Logan commuters suffered on a daily basis.

Mr Dow predicted Logan buses would chalk up an estimated 6 million bus trips after the busway to Springwood opened.

"There's no deadline on when that will happen but building will begin early next year and we will push for that busway to be extended again to the Hyperdome," Mr Dow said.

"There is no doubt that after that Logan will get more buses as demand increases and the articulated buses in Brisbane will free up buses to be used in the suburbs.

"More Logan people are using buses and public transport and that trend will only continue."

Mr Dow said Queensland Transport data showed the number of people catching buses in Logan rose from 4.33 million in 2017-18 to 4.38 million last financial year, a trend he expected to continue.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey agreed and said the upgrades and busway would take local traffic off the motorway and unclog the bottleneck at Springwood.

"This will get more people on buses and bikes, and cut congestion with more lanes through the busy Springwood section."

Springwood MP Mick de Brenni, who has campaigned for the busway for five years, said he expected bus capacity to leap by an additional 1.7 million passengers when the 6.6km busway opened.

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said the state government had wasted too much time trying to fix the M1 and said building a second M1 would be one of her priorities.

Southside residents and those from Logan will this week receive leaflets explaining the next stage of the motorway upgrade to Daisy Hill before a series of public information sessions around Logan this month.

Residents will also find out abut plans to combine the two M1 on-ramps at Paradise and Loganlea roads, which will allow freer flowing traffic on the M1, as well as a new on-ramp at Lexington Rd.

Public Information Sessions: October 8 to 19

Underwood Marketplace Shopping Centre, Beenleigh and Logan roads, Underwood

Tuesday, October 8 at 10am to 1pm

Thursday, October 10 from 3pm to 6pm

Saturday, October 12 from 1.30pm to 4.30pm

Logan North Library, cnr Sports Drive and Springwood Road, Underwood

Wednesday, October 9 from 10am to 1pm

Friday, October 11 from 10am to 1pm

Monday, October 14 from 10am to 1pm

Springwood Shopping Mall, Rochedale Road and Fitzgerald Ave, Springwood

Tuesday, October 15 from 10am to 1pm

Thursday, October 17 from 3pm to 6pm

Saturday, October 19 from 1pm to 4pm

Underwood Scout Group Camelot Park, Camelot Street, Underwood

Tuesday, October 8 to Wednesday, October 16

Transport and Main Roads Centre, Kessels Court, 567 Kessels Rd, Macgregor

Tuesday, October 8 to Friday, October 18.

[Golliwog]

There is some logic with limiting the number of on/off ramps along there - too many and it encourages people to use the motorway for a short trip up the road when they should be staying on the local service road.

Regarding reusing the offramp bridge for the busway, I like it as it avoids wasting infrastructure - but agree in line platforms would be good - with local services terminating at the downstairs platforms as feeders.

Something to raise at the community consultation sessions?

Are there actually long term plans for the busway to reach the Hyperdome?

[timh]

There is some logic with limiting the number of on/off ramps along there - too many and it encourages people to use the motorway for a short trip up the road when they should be staying on the local service road.

Regarding reusing the offramp bridge for the busway, I like it as it avoids wasting infrastructure - but agree in line platforms would be good - with local services terminating at the downstairs platforms as feeders.

Something to raise at the community consultation sessions?

Are there actually long term plans for the busway to reach the Hyperdome?

Agree that using the existing off ramp is fine. I just hope that it would still allow for potential extensions.

Regarding Hyperdome extension: nothing official at a State Level. Only references I've seen are pipe dream off the cuff comments from pollies, and it's listed as a long term ideal goal in the council of mayors Mass People Movement Study.

Regarding community consultation: I'd love to suggest that at a session, but I'm not sure how these work. I've only ever been to those when I live in the affected area. Can I go if I don't actually live or work in Rochedale/Springwood?

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[SurfRail]

I remember seeing an animated render of the busway extended all the way to the Hyperdome with a new station located on the M1 side.  That was some time ago and it might not have been official (possibly it was by Urban Circus).

[Gazza]

Are there actually long term plans for the busway to reach the Hyperdome?

Dunno...I reckon Hyperdome should be served by a GC Regional Rapid Rail line myself

But if you were to go to Hyperdome, id hook back after Hyperdome and link to Loganlea station and Hospital, via a short tunnel under Tanah Merah.

[City Designer]

The northern off ramp bridge is approximately 9m wide (curve widening for visibility) and the southern bridge is approximately 7.5m wide. It is going to be a challenge fitting a travel lane in each direction. I imagine the speed limit through the southern bridge will be about 30km/h. The Boggo Road busway link at Gladstone Road has a narrow carriageway as well but in practice low travel speeds maintain safety.

[timh]

The northern off ramp bridge is approximately 9m wide (curve widening for visibility) and the southern bridge is approximately 7.5m wide. It is going to be a challenge fitting a travel lane in each direction. I imagine the speed limit through the southern bridge will be about 30km/h. The Boggo Road busway link at Gladstone Road has a narrow carriageway as well but in practice low travel speeds maintain safety.

I imagined they would have to widen it somewhat but considering it's a viaduct not sure how that will be possible..

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[timh]

Okay SO I went to one of the community information sessions. It wasn't a consultation/feedback session and more just a public info popup thing, but there were TMR staff there I could ask questions of. I got some juicy bits of information:

1) The busway extension to Springwood and the upgrades to the M1 will all be completed at the same time. The busway will not be finished before the motorway works. The busway is in fact one of the last things that's supposed to be finished. Both the Rochedale and Springwood sections will be opened at the same time, with an expected time of 2024.

2) The busway extensions ARE being designed with the BCC metro plan in mind. One cool bit of info I got is that the little roundabout at the end of the busway at Springwood has actually been redesigned since the CGI render went out. That roundabout is now a larger, open intersection, and, I quote the guy from the display, "the curvature has been designed with the turning circle of the BCC Metro vehicle in mind".

- As a side note it generally seemed like the TMR staff were pretty happy to be accommodating of BCC's metro plans, and were actively ensuring the busway extension would be compatible for it.

3) TMR staff said that BCC has an alternative plan for a Metro Vehicle depot that does not involve the parcel of land at the corner of Priestdale and Rochedale roads. He couldn't tell me what it was, but it was brought up as a response to my question in asking when TMR would be done with that pocket of land. It's currently being used by Lendlease as their office/worksite thing as part of the current motorway works and I expect it will continue to be until 2024.

4) I asked why they ditched the original design from 2009 that included an Inline busway station instead of the current shitty design. I actually had to show these guys the original plans I had saved because they weren't even aware of them. The staff I talked to weren't with TMR in 2009 so they didn't know. It seems like they were trying to say the current Springwood plans were being designed from the ground up, with no reference to the 2009 design at all. They also said that at the moment Springwood was being treated as the terminus of the busway, hence why there was no real thinking of allowing for an extension beyond it in the current design. I also finally got out of one of them that they "didn't have enough money" for the design I showed them from 2009, which kinda confirmed my suspicions. Cost cutting. And as a result long term planning will suffer

5) I asked if there was any long term plans for a mass transit corridor extension to the Hyperdome. They said no. Nothing for the busway was currently planned beyond Springwood. They said that higher-ups were "looking at options" for long term mass transit corridors to the Hyperdome but couldn't say anything else.

6) Rochedale station is being designed with the idea that local bus services can terminate there, and TMR said they would consult "local bus operators" to make sure it's designed with them in mind.

7) On that note, the designs we've seen aren't even final. They're not in the detailed design phase, that's yet to happen.

8 ) Rochedale road freeway offramp will remain open during construction. The busway tunnel underneath is being dug with what the guy described as a "Box" design. Forgive my explanation coz I'm no engineer, but basically, he said that they'd make the "Frame" of the tunnel first so that it's structurally sound, then dig out all the dirt from the inside of it, making a tunnel! Again yeah forgive my horrendously simplified explanation.

9) There is no current plans to change bus priority for buses coming from the South into Springwood station. I believe that off ramp is currently remaining untouched. Again they said though that the current design is not final.

10) The busway between EMP and Rochedale will actually use the existing school road, with the busway branching off to the station just before the driveway to the trailer park. The new School road for general traffic will be realigned to the east.

[red dragin]

Number 8.

Sink pilings into the ground.

Place Bridge deck/cast bridge deck on the dirt, on top of piles.

Excavate underneath.

Where AirportLink heads under Sandgate Rd at Toombul, and Kessels Rd under Mains Rd where done this way. Requires multiple traffic lane relocations but is better than a full closure.

It was also how the right turn from Hale St westbound onto Coronation Dr was to be done, until politicians got involved.

[AnonymouslyBad]

I don't think there's *ever* been plans for a busway to the Hyperdome per se. The ten year old stuff did include a new station at Loganholme, but it was only serviced by transit lanes.

I guess it's always there as a line item on some wish list brochure that comes out around election time  but we know those aren't worth the paper they're written on!

[timh]

I don't think there's *ever* been plans for a busway to the Hyperdome per se. The ten year old stuff did include a new station at Loganholme (neither here nor there IMO - it will always have a lot of terminating services) but it was only serviced by transit lanes.

I guess it's always there as a line item on some wish list brochure that comes out around election time  but we know those aren't worth the paper they're written on!

No there's never been anything concrete. There have only ever been yes those "wish-list" mentions of it. However those wish-list requests are pretty reasonable. It's a fairly well-traversed corridor from Springwood to Hyperdome, with both being large bus hubs themselves. I think it's sensible for a long term option for a mass transit corridor between the two to be considered

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[AnonymouslyBad]

Yeah, it is sensible to consider in the long term. The Hyperdome-Springwood section of M1 actually seems more congested than the Springwood-Eight Mile Plains section. But I see transit lanes more likely than a full fledged busway at any point.

Also I'm actually ok with ditching the inline station at Springwood, and I say that as someone who grew up in this area so I'm attached to it. There's higher priorities for infrastructure spend, the amenity for transfers would be poor (without extra $), and five platforms in a place like that will just make it a ghost town. Springwood was expected to get a fair bit of infill development, and become a major activity centre, and in that context a busway+interchange format made sense. The growth hasn't happened, and there's no evidence it will happen, in fact I think the population is declining. All the Springwood bus catchments are pure suburbia and there's little prospect of it becoming a Garden City scale hub.

[timh]

I just received this VERY interesting pamphlet in the mail



This is as part of the Daisy Hill to Logan Motorway "Stage 3A" part of the M1 upgrade:  https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/pacific-motorway-m1-daisy-hill-to-logan-motorway

The website doesn't list anything at all along the lines of this pamphlet which is interesting.

They are seeking community consultation at the email address DH2LM@tmr.qld.gov.au. If anyone is keen on helping me submit some very pro-Busway feedback, would be much appreciated 

Interestingly they also say you can complete an online survey at that tmr.gov link above, but I couldn't find a survey link on the page.

As for my thoughts, I'm super keen! This is THE MOST concrete plans I've ever seen for a busway extension beyond Springwood and it makes me very happy. Beyond that:
- Interesting choice of a station at Chatswood road, I didn't see that coming.
- Great to see a proper busway station at the Slacks Creek Park and Ride, connected by a proper Pedestrian bridge.
- If this is the plan then Springwood station should DEFINITELY be built as an inline station NOW rather than the half-arse plan they have at the moment
- 5 lanes in each direction plus a busway tells me they'll probably have to resume more land and realign the service road along each side (as they've been doing around Springwood currently.)

Let me know your thoughts!

[Jonno]

This is great but the 5 lanes each way freeway is just LA Freeway absurd! Busway capable of moving as many as 2-3 lanes!