SEQ Bus Network Review

[#Metro]

Quick. Register the Youtube account TranslinkSEQ!!!!

Found this from TransPerth website ---> http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/ABOUT_P_PT_Plan2031.pdf

Page 30: Passenger travel on the future network will likely be more dependent on transfers
between services. This is a normal transition that occurs when a city develops from a small to a medium sized city. Perth
has already seen the first phase of this transition, with feeder buses linking to bus and train stations across the network,
particularly on the Joondalup and mandurah rail lines. This pattern will continue.

We really are "special" in Queensland!!

[#Metro]

Came across this ---> http://www.change.org/en-AU/petitions/the-newman-lnp-government-stop-the-cuts-to-queensland-bus-services
Looks like a certain political party is now running disinformation campaign where TransLink vaccum of pro active communication exists.

Vaccums are always filled with something!

Text follows

The Newman Government's overhaul of Queensland bus services will mean cuts to routes, reduced frequency and fewer weekend and evening services.

Actually it is just reallocating service hours, so that services extend to Centenary Suburbs, Yeronga, Northwest etc for the first time ever.

The Newman Government has not properly consulted with the community about cuts to their local services.

There have been two rounds of consultation and this is the third.

Additionally, any reduction in the frequency of local services will hurt those most in need of reliable bus services including, pensioners, commuters, low-income families and students.

Care to explain your annual 15% and 20% fare increases?? New network will improve high frequency coverage to the city.

[HappyTrainGuy]

  The timetables and frequencies haven't even been released or made final yet.

[Gazza]

For each route they could have done an indicative table.
Peak: Every x mins
Weekday Daytime: Every X mins
Weekday Evenings: Every X mins
Weekends: Every X mins

[ozbob]

Media release 17th March 2013



SEQ: Bus Review - World Class Public Transport Requires World Class Public Engagement

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 welcomes the SEQ Bus Network review which proposes a shift from an everything to the CBD direct network to a frequent Go Network based on connections (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back on Track would like to see pro-active engagement by TransLink to inform commuters of the Bus Review, it's purpose, goals and benefits. Simply put, the report recommends extending frequent service to more corners of Brisbane by changing the network from a direct service network to one based on connections. Connections based networks are the status quo for large cities as they can offer more frequency to more people for the same cost."

Video: Peter Klitz, Network Planner, TransLink service planning at TransLink Vancouver (Canada) explains bus service review: What is Service Optimization?

We propose that TransLink's helping hands make a reappearance and be stationed at listening 'Bus Stops' across the city at the following locations:

Rail Stations

1. Central Station
2. Roma Street Station
3. Fortitude Valley Station
4. Indooroopilly Train Station
5. Toowong Station
6. South Brisbane Station
7. Milton Station

Bus Stations

1. King George Square Bus station
2. Indooroopilly Bus Station
3. Carindale Bus Station
4. Chermside Interchange
5. Garden City Interchange
6. Queen Street Bus Station
7. Cultural Centre Busway
8. Brookside Shopping Centre
9. Toombul Interchange
10. Mt Ommaney
11. The University of Queensland (UQ Lakes and UQ Chancellors Place)

"It appears that TransLink's public engagement, communications and public relations is not well established either on the ground or on social media. Why? With a service area that contains 3+ million people in it and a budget of $500+ million per annum, there needs to be much better engagement - at the very minimum a Facebook page and a YouTube channel."

"TransLink Queensland should take a leaf out of it's Canadian counterpart, TransLink Vancouver which uses social media effectively to communicate with its passengers, even on fine grain issues such as service optimisation and standards. Managers of service planning and CEOs of TransLink Vancouver regularly appear in videos."

"Non-existent proactive communications are one of the reasons why so much feedback is being generated. We call on the Minister for Transport to rectify these deficiencies immediately, and put people on the ground."

References:

1. TransLink Vancouver Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/Translink

2. TransLink Vancouver YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/user/translink

3. Video: Peter Klitz, Network Planner, TransLink service planning at TransLink Vancouver (Canada) explains bus service review: What is Service Optimization?

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

17th March 2013

Re: SEQ: Bus Review - World Class Public Transport Requires World Class Public Engagement

Greetings,

Ottawa, Canada runs a busway system which Brisbane's busways were directly modelled on. They have the same issues that we do, including huge CBD bus congestions which has driven changes from direct service to connections based service plus upgrading the busway to metro style light rail.

Video: Vicky Kyriaco, Customer Relations OC Transpo -->

Vicky Kyriaco, Customer Relations OC Transpo explains the changes: "One of the main improvements that we introduced was the simplification of bus routes, which means fewer, but more direct and more frequent bus routes in the community. By making this change we are providing more buses along the busiest corridors which translates into a more reliable service that is easier to use."

"With some of these changes, some riders will have to transfer ..."

Bus service reviews and the addition of connections to the network are a normal part of the growth of a city, and happen worldwide. Auckland, NZ has completed their bus review and is doing the same thing. Perth, WA has embarked on staged changes, connecting buses to trains.

TransLink needs to pro-actively communicate, not sit behind an internet feedback form. In the absence of information, people will simply make assumptions.  As well as key Brisbane bus and rail stations, information on the ground at key locations such at the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Moreton Bay, Redlands and Ipswich is also needed.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Reference:

TransPerth, WA http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/ABOUT_P_PT_Plan2031.pdf
Page 30: Passenger travel on the future network will likely be more dependent on transfers between services. This is a normal transition that occurs when a city develops from a small to a medium sized city. Perth has already seen the first phase of this transition, with feeder buses linking to bus and train stations across the network, particularly on the Joondalup and mandurah rail lines. This pattern will continue.

Media release 17th March 2013



SEQ: Bus Review - World Class Public Transport Requires World Class Public Engagement

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 welcomes the SEQ Bus Network review which proposes a shift from an everything to the CBD direct network to a frequent Go Network based on connections (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back on Track would like to see pro-active engagement by TransLink to inform commuters of the Bus Review, it's purpose, goals and benefits. Simply put, the report recommends extending frequent service to more corners of Brisbane by changing the network from a direct service network to one based on connections. Connections based networks are the status quo for large cities as they can offer more frequency to more people for the same cost."

http://www.youtube.com/embed/MJ3rfxvJdxY

Video: Peter Klitz, Network Planner, TransLink service planning at TransLink Vancouver (Canada) explains bus service review: What is Service Optimization?

We propose that TransLink's helping hands make a reappearance and be stationed at listening 'Bus Stops' across the city at the following locations:

Rail Stations

1. Central Station
2. Roma Street Station
3. Fortitude Valley Station
4. Indooroopilly Train Station
5. Toowong Station
6. South Brisbane Station
7. Milton Station

Bus Stations

1. King George Square Bus station
2. Indooroopilly Bus Station
3. Carindale Bus Station
4. Chermside Interchange
5. Garden City Interchange
6. Queen Street Bus Station
7. Cultural Centre Busway
8. Brookside Shopping Centre
9. Toombul Interchange
10. Mt Ommaney
11. The University of Queensland (UQ Lakes and UQ Chancellors Place)

"It appears that TransLink's public engagement, communications and public relations is not well established either on the ground or on social media. Why? With a service area that contains 3+ million people in it and a budget of $500+ million per annum, there needs to be much better engagement - at the very minimum a Facebook page and a YouTube channel."

"TransLink Queensland should take a leaf out of it's Canadian counterpart, TransLink Vancouver which uses social media effectively to communicate with its passengers, even on fine grain issues such as service optimisation and standards. Managers of service planning and CEOs of TransLink Vancouver regularly appear in videos."

"Non-existent proactive communications are one of the reasons why so much feedback is being generated. We call on the Minister for Transport to rectify these deficiencies immediately, and put people on the ground."

References:

1. TransLink Vancouver Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/Translink

2. TransLink Vancouver YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/user/translink

3. Video: Peter Klitz, Network Planner, TransLink service planning at TransLink Vancouver (Canada) explains bus service review: What is Service Optimization?

Contact:

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

[somebody]

The timetables and frequencies haven't even been released or made final yet.

Frequencies until 7pm and span have been released for the "frequent network".  It's only the secondary routes which haven't been released.

[James]

The timetables and frequencies haven't even been released or made final yet.

Frequencies until 7pm and span have been released for the "frequent network".  It's only the secondary routes which haven't been released.

And this is where misinformation is causing people to oppose these changes so strongly. If in the bus review it was included that frequency on new routes like the St Lucia local would be every 10 minutes in peak (for example), people would be less against axing of urban safari routes like the 417 which have half-hourly peak/hourly off-peak frequency.

People see their service being terminated at Indooroopilly (for example), and unless you're increasing frequency with that, you are delivering an inferior service (not direct to CBD). TransLink needs to advertise that routes will have increased frequency as a result of these changes, and hence, show through more than just lines on a map that a better service is being delivered.

[#Metro]

And this is where misinformation is causing people to oppose these changes so strongly. If in the bus review it was included that frequency on new routes like the St Lucia local would be every 10 minutes in peak (for example), people would be less against axing of urban safari routes like the 417 which have half-hourly peak/hourly off-peak frequency.

People see their service being terminated at Indooroopilly (for example), and unless you're increasing frequency with that, you are delivering an inferior service (not direct to CBD). TransLink needs to advertise that routes will have increased frequency as a result of these changes, and hence, show through more than just lines on a map that a better service is being delivered.

I agree. Most people don't understand the importance of frequeny because it is an invisible and intangible concept. I would daresay most politicians also don't have a grasp of it because they drive - in a car the frequency is instantanous the moment they turn the key in the ignition. They think the bus journey starts when the bus arrives at the bus stop - it doesn't; it starts when the person first walks out of their front door and arrives at the bus stop and then waits.

For a translation to public transport, it is like hopping in the car, turning the key and then waiting half an hour for a timer clock to count down before you can go. Or calling a taxi to your house and being promised a trip to the CBD in 20 minutes but then not having the taxi turn up for an hour (total journey time = 60 min + 20 =80 minutes).

The large increases in passenger numbers (doubling) on Brisbane's BUZ network are not the result of buses travelling faster or greater reliability. They journey times pre- and post-improvement are identical. The faster journey times come from the doubling of frequency and the convenience and choice of departure times that offers as well as increases in service span and thus reduction in waiting time in the bus stop.

[HappyTrainGuy]

The timetables and frequencies haven't even been released or made final yet.

Frequencies until 7pm and span have been released for the "frequent network".  It's only the secondary routes which haven't been released.

Those frequent times are still being finalised. Especially the north/north-west/north-east routes that are to be implimented in late 2014.

it is like hopping in the car, turning the key and then waiting half an hour for a timer clock to count down before you can go.

I really hate that evulation as its not true.

[longboi]

Media release 17th March 2013



SEQ: Bus Review - World Class Public Transport Requires World Class Public Engagement

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 welcomes the SEQ Bus Network review which proposes a shift from an everything to the CBD direct network to a frequent Go Network based on connections (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"RAIL Back on Track would like to see pro-active engagement by TransLink to inform commuters of the Bus Review, it's purpose, goals and benefits. Simply put, the report recommends extending frequent service to more corners of Brisbane by changing the network from a direct service network to one based on connections. Connections based networks are the status quo for large cities as they can offer more frequency to more people for the same cost."

<iframe width=\"560\" height=\"315\" src=\"http://www.youtube.com/embed/MJ3rfxvJdxY\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Video: Peter Klitz, Network Planner, TransLink service planning at TransLink Vancouver (Canada) explains bus service review: What is Service Optimization?

We propose that TransLink's helping hands make a reappearance and be stationed at listening 'Bus Stops' across the city at the following locations:

Rail Stations

1. Central Station
2. Roma Street Station
3. Fortitude Valley Station
4. Indooroopilly Train Station
5. Toowong Station
6. South Brisbane Station
7. Milton Station

Bus Stations

1. King George Square Bus station
2. Indooroopilly Bus Station
3. Carindale Bus Station
4. Chermside Interchange
5. Garden City Interchange
6. Queen Street Bus Station
7. Cultural Centre Busway
8. Brookside Shopping Centre
9. Toombul Interchange
10. Mt Ommaney
11. The University of Queensland (UQ Lakes and UQ Chancellors Place)

"It appears that TransLink's public engagement, communications and public relations is not well established either on the ground or on social media. Why? With a service area that contains 3+ million people in it and a budget of $500+ million per annum, there needs to be much better engagement - at the very minimum a Facebook page and a YouTube channel."

"TransLink Queensland should take a leaf out of it's Canadian counterpart, TransLink Vancouver which uses social media effectively to communicate with its passengers, even on fine grain issues such as service optimisation and standards. Managers of service planning and CEOs of TransLink Vancouver regularly appear in videos."

"Non-existent proactive communications are one of the reasons why so much feedback is being generated. We call on the Minister for Transport to rectify these deficiencies immediately, and put people on the ground."

References:

1. TransLink Vancouver Facebook Page http://www.facebook.com/Translink

2. TransLink Vancouver YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/user/translink

3. Video: Peter Klitz, Network Planner, TransLink service planning at TransLink Vancouver (Canada) explains bus service review: What is Service Optimization?

Contact:

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

This was done in stages one and two (of course nobody could care less - "Oh it will be someone else's problem"  ) Just look at the amount of responses from stages one and two versus responses and media coverage for stage three.

Also FYI -  There is no such workforce within the TransLink organisation known as 'helping hands'. I believe you may be referring to Customer Liaison Officers (CLOs).

[somebody]

The timetables and frequencies haven't even been released or made final yet.

Frequencies until 7pm and span have been released for the "frequent network".  It's only the secondary routes which haven't been released.

Those frequent times are still being finalised. Especially the north/north-west/north-east routes that are to be implimented in late 2014.

Umm, what are you talking about?  It is clear that they want to cut back on after 7pm services.

it is like hopping in the car, turning the key and then waiting half an hour for a timer clock to count down before you can go.

I really hate that evulation as its not true.

No, it's more like walking 5 minutes or so and then having a wait of 0 to 30 minutes, for a 2/hr route.

[longboi]

The timetables and frequencies haven't even been released or made final yet.

Frequencies until 7pm and span have been released for the "frequent network".  It's only the secondary routes which haven't been released.

Those frequent times are still being finalised. Especially the north/north-west/north-east routes that are to be implimented in late 2014.

Umm, what are you talking about?  It is clear that they want to cut back on after 7pm services.

it is like hopping in the car, turning the key and then waiting half an hour for a timer clock to count down before you can go.

I really hate that evulation as its not true.

No, it's more like walking 5 minutes or so and then having a wait of 0 to 30 minutes, for a 2/hr route.

Simon, I've told you previously, those are not hard times. It's not like all buses will suddenly disappear off the face of the planet after 7pm. It's just a guide for the absolute minimum standard which will be applied accordingly based on current patronage during the evening and any other factors that need to be taken into consideration (i.e. a lower patronised route continuing to run at higher frequency to satisfy some sort of community obligation/interchange with other modes etc.). You're taking it waaaay too literally.

[somebody]

This was done in stages one and two (of course nobody could care less - "Oh it will be someone else's problem"  ) Just look at the amount of responses from stages one and two versus responses and media coverage for stage three.

Also FYI -  There is no such workforce within the TransLink organisation known as 'helping hands'. I believe you may be referring to Customer Liaison Officers (CLOs).

What was proposed in stages one and two was far less radical and didn't hint at savage cuts.

Simon, I've told you previously, those are not hard times. ... You're taking it waaaay too literally.

Well is there another way I should take it?  The concept that the words didn't really mean what they say was laughed at at the flood commission, for example.

It is clear that evening services are under threat, and there is no other way of looking at it.  Perhaps the threat will not be carried out, but it is clear that they want to remove their promise.

EDIT: I'm told there are a lot of angry people around West End organising petitions.  None of this would have been necessary if the proposal to cut back on the evening services hadn't been floated.

[minbrisbane]

We don't have timetables yet, all we do have are the go network indicative spans, and the standard (not rule) of 7-7-7. 

I think it's counter-productive to discuss anything relating to span of hours until we have timetables and solid information.

[ozbob]

Nikko, TransLink 'helping hands' were used for years.  Maybe today they might be CLOs but everyone knows what is meant by ' helping hands ' ..

eg  http://www.olderworkers.com.au/index.php?mod=search&job=1166  2010

2004

http://www.lib.uts.edu.au/gta/13961/launch-translink-integrated-ticketing

Helping hands strategy

More than 100 helping hands were recruited and trained to provide and distribute information to passengers at more than 50 train stations and bus stops across SEQ. The helping hands strategy was implemented two weeks prior the commencement of integrated ticketing and continued for two weeks after the launch to assist passengers move to the new system.

'helping hands' were used at various times for other changes eg. bus timetables etc.

A re-appearance of some ' helping hands ' might be useful to help guide folks with respect to the changes ....

[HappyTrainGuy]

No, it's more like walking 5 minutes or so and then having a wait of 0 to 30 minutes, for a 2/hr route.

Must admit I did get a really good laugh out of that one haha.

We don't have timetables yet, all we do have are the go network indicative spans, and the standard (not rule) of 7-7-7. 

I think it's counter-productive to discuss anything relating to span of hours until we have timetables and solid information.

Agreed. Too many people are getting confused around proposed information and the changes of standards (routes in the burbs vs west end/city only routes) which is still being worked on with the modified and new secondary routes now heavily feeding into the rail network and its just spreading fear into everyone like wildfire.

[ozbob]

It is very clear that the 'why' of the changes has not be sold to the public.  TransLink need to lift their game this ...

The fact is there is widespread confusion caused by a lack of pro-active information, and consequent fear mongering by more than a few.

The 7-7 issue I have raised directly with TransLink, I can only hope they move to clarify it this week.

[somebody]

We don't have timetables yet, all we do have are the go network indicative spans, and the standard (not rule) of 7-7-7. 

What is the third 7?  What is the distinction you are making between "standard" and "rule"?

[HappyTrainGuy]

We don't have timetables yet, all we do have are the go network indicative spans, and the standard (not rule) of 7-7-7. 

What is the third 7?  What is the distinction you are making between "standard" and "rule"?

7am-7pm-7 days a week.

It is very clear that the 'why' of the changes has not be sold to the public.  TransLink need to lift their game this ...

The fact is there is widespread confusion caused by a lack of pro-active information, and consequent fear mongering by more than a few.

The 7-7 issue I have raised directly with TransLink, I can only hope they move to clarify it this week.

I haven't had a good look at other regions but I can see why the frequent routes are getting a reduction at least on the northside. You have the nearby railway lines. There are  frequent routes that feed into them. There are feeder/secondary routes that link all these services together. They are simply getting getting people onto other routes/existing/modes rather than focusing all the services into one particular corridor that has a limited catchment. Someone that lives on the 340 buz can now get the Aspley Frequent to Aspley, Taigum Frequent to Taigum or the train to Carseldine and transfer onto the Chermside North loop route. People that live in West Bracken Ridge might usually catch the 330 there but they can now also catch the train to Carseldine and transfer onto the Strathpine-Chermside via Bracken Ridge secondary route. They might lose patronage on a certain route but they have just been transfered onto a train + or a different bus route. This is something that have not made very clear.

[ozbob]

Adjournment Speech - Southside Buses   K Rudd

....

[ozbob]

Adjournment Speech - Southside Buses   K Rudd



....

Political free kicks abound ..

[ozbob]

The Ipswich FlexiLink communication debacle was or should have been a learning experience for TransLink.

As a side, the region with perhaps almost zero grief with the proposed changes is Ipswich.  This is because the of the restructuring of routes that did go on with the FlexiLink implementation and subsequent reversion back to a number of bus routes, has been productive in the end. When you think about it was a harbinger of the wider changes proposed in some senses with secondary routes across SEQ  ..

Stage two only saw 12 pieces of feedback for the Ipswich region, and apart from the proposed merger of 512/513 really nothing adverse at all in stage 3 ..

[minbrisbane]

We don't have timetables yet, all we do have are the go network indicative spans, and the standard (not rule) of 7-7-7. 

What is the third 7?  What is the distinction you are making between "standard" and "rule"?

The service standard of the go network would be 7-7-7.  This doesn't create a rule that all services or high frequency services will cease, or decrease service at 19:00.  There's nothing to say that at all. 

[red dragin]

As raised earlier but possibly missed, what will happen with the frequent routes that feed to train stations when:

a) the trains they feed are already full like they can be now?
b) track work shuts that line down?

[somebody]

But who really cares about what the report doesn't say?  I've only raised objections about what it does say, which is that the frequent service standard is to be diluted.

[ozbob]

As raised earlier but possibly missed, what will happen with the frequent routes that feed to train stations when:

a) the trains they feed are already full like they can be now?
b) track work shuts that line down?

When there is track work there will be the rail buses as for now, fact of life.

Sector 2 rail timetable changes still to be done, I don't think there will be major issues plenty of capacity on the Ippy, and when they did the sector 1 timetables they left slots for more services. 

[BrizCommuter]

As raised earlier but possibly missed, what will happen with the frequent routes that feed to train stations when:

a) the trains they feed are already full like they can be now?
b) track work shuts that line down?

The frequent rail feeder bus routes in Brisbane, all have frequent bus alternatives to the CBD (from Mitchelton and Indro) instead of train.

[minbrisbane]

But who really cares about what the report doesn't say?  I've only raised objections about what it does say, which is that the frequent service standard is to be diluted.

Yes, the standard will be rolled back - for the greater good imho - however the span of hours appear that they will still be pretty much as they are now. 

I will concede that the report does not confirm whether those routes with service before 0700 and beyond 1900 (as per indicative span of hours column) will still be frequent, however as they're part of the go network, one could assume they will still be frequent. 

However, as I said before, this discussion is quite pointless until TL release more information/clarification.

[HappyTrainGuy]

As raised earlier but possibly missed, what will happen with the frequent routes that feed to train stations when:

a) the trains they feed are already full like they can be now?
b) track work shuts that line down?

As bob said rail replacment buses. You could also look at making other connections. On the northside atleast you can always just change your mode. Instead of feeding into the rail line at Carseldine stay onboard the bus to Taigum to the frequent route or on to the frequent route at Aspley. You could interchange at Carseldine onto the Strathpine-Chermside via Bracken Ridge and swap to the Bracken Ridge frequent at Zillmere or at Chermside. Shorncliffe line has the Sandgate-Strathpine via Backen Ridge which feeds into its frequent route. Sandgate road has the 315 to the city or board the Sandgate-Chermside route to the frequent routes at Chermside. Shorncliffe line has the Toombul feeders for Nudgee. Futher out have to use the rail buses or for people on the MBRL travel to the city via bus + the Shorncliffe line. There's also the 680 to Chermside.

[somebody]

Yes, the standard will be rolled back - for the greater good imho

I completely disagree with this argument.

- however the span of hours appear that they will still be pretty much as they are now. 

This is incorrect.  Current 345 & 385 & 180 are going back to about 10pm.  Last 345 leaves the CBD about 11:40pm now.

Current non BUZ last 350 leaves the CBD at 11:35pm, 125 at 11:45pm, 325 at 11:50pm.  The routes replacing these services are all planned to finish around 9pm according to the report.

Now perhaps the report doesn't mean what it says, but it's pretty unsatisfactory to assume that.

I will concede that the report does not confirm whether those routes with service before 0700 and beyond 1900 (as per indicative span of hours column) will still be frequent, however as they're part of the go network, one could assume they will still be frequent. 

Well the report clearly states (top of P24):

For this reason TransLink proposes to target the frequent network to operate at 15 minute or better
frequencies only in those periods and locations where it is warranted.

Honestly, I don't know why you are arguing this point.  It's ridiculous!

However, as I said before, this discussion is quite pointless until TL release more information/clarification.

Given that you are ignoring the facts in front of you, this particular discussion is pointless, yes.

[HappyTrainGuy]

What are usually the patronage levels on these late night buses anyway? Is it similar to the late night Ipswich service getting cut due to low patronage?

[#Metro]

I have to say, this LNP government really does deserve a royal kick in the pants and upset vast swathes of swinging voters in marginal federal seats in and around Brisbane for the complete and utter lack of proactive, non-passive, on the ground communications. An internet form is lazy, passive 'communication'. It's not even actually engagement anymore than dropping a letter into a street postal box can be called 'engagement'.

TransLink has produced an excellent and bold piece of sound work and done it to world's best practice network planning, with minor tweaks on a handful of routes required, and has done well having been given an identical task to the bus review recently undertaken and completed in Auckland NZ, and reaching almost the same conclusions as Auckland Council's Auckland Transport have. Auckland Council is Brisbane City Councils direct competitor as it has direct planning control of the bus and train networks. Auckland also has busways and is a unitary supercouncil like BCC  formed from the recent amalgamation of all councils across Auckland.

Auckland Council's management is transparent to see, they even had a board you could go and talk to to give oral submissions.
http://www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz/improving-transport/plans-proposals/IntegratedTravel/Pages/regional-public-transport-plan-2012.aspx

Due to its (Politicians in control of TL) complete and utter inability to communicate the bare basics of why the review was undertaken, i.e.
the financial unsustainability and financial irresponsibility of continuing to operate the system as it is due to the increasing levels of subsidy to some of the highest levels in the entire world, increasing fares to support network inefficiences (such as the wonderful Brisbane Transport 161 'Paris Hilton' Rocket Chauffer service that I currently enjoy from my doorstep for just ~$4.50 direct and express via the busway and Captain Cook Bridge to QSBS/Hilton Hotel Brisbane where it terminates with almost no stops in between at any and all hours of the day) such that world unprecedented 15% and 20% annual fare increases had to be imposed to level where people are leaving the system and now, embarrassingly, the City of Perth's Train system which runs IDENTICAL trains to QR now has more people on it than QR because they feed buses to trains and make people change, this information vacuum has now been filled by a co-ordinated and targeted disinformation campaign run by a certain political party.

This is the Toronto Transit Commission's service review from 2008. Look at appendix C, the TTC has made absolutely explicit the cost of running these services, span and frequencies- some of these services cost CAD $50 000 per day to run.

http://www.ttc.ca/PDF/Transit_Planning/service_improvements_2008.pdf

Oh, and in response to Kevin Rudd - 17% of people in that area don't own cars, but they wouldn't ride the 198 simply because it is a one way loop with so many deviations it is actually designed to be anti-patronage. They are on CityGlider, BUZ 199 and BUZ 196; BUZ 196 also travels the full length of Gladstone Road, Highgate Hill, running every 15 minutes from 6am - 11.30 pm 7 days per week and I don't know how this 87 year old uses the 192 on Saturday and Sunday to get to mass simply because TrasnLink has never ever run 192 services on weekends - ever.

The 192 should not stay in its current form. By all means, run it between West End Ferry, Dornoch Tce and UQ. And then from there, passengers for the PA can catch any bus to the new PA Hospital Busway station which cost millions to build and has fully compliant DDA access and lifts etc than the dodgy shelter on the wrong side of the PA which has none of these features. There is also a busway station directly outside the Mater Hospital accessible from west end, highgate hill etc by single bus to bus interchange at Cultural Centre.

[somebody]

What are usually the patronage levels on these late night buses anyway? Is it similar to the late night Ipswich service getting cut due to low patronage?

I'd say about half a dozen passengers on the last outbound trip is fairly typical on school nights.

What late night Ipswich services are getting gut?  The 505 was cut all day, not just late at night.

[HappyTrainGuy]

getting gut

*were cut.

It was the last inbound Ipswich-Bowen Hills service. It was cut due to low patronage.

[somebody]

It was the last inbound Ipswich-Bowen Hills service. It was cut due to low patronage.

The one which arrived at Bowen Hills at 2:41am on a Saturday morning?

Not sure why you are bringing that up.

[#Metro]

I think an interview with TL's CEO on TV may be in order.

This is what's happening in NZ; watch the video ---> http://www.3news.co.nz/Auckland-public-transport-overhaul-proposed/tabid/309/articleID/271549/Default.aspx

Explains all the changes, very simply.
Leaves TL's public engagement for dead.

The NZ bus review had about 800 submissions, TL is 3000+.

Time to logoff the website, get people on the ground talking, get staff out there, get on TV, Radio, Newspapers etc.

[bagbuffy]

I think an interview with TL's CEO on TV may be in order.

This is what's happening in NZ; watch the video ---> http://www.3news.co.nz/Auckland-public-transport-overhaul-proposed/tabid/309/articleID/271549/Default.aspx

Explains all the changes, very simply.
Leaves TL's public engagement for dead.

The NZ bus review had about 800 submissions, TL is 3000+.

Time to logoff the website, get people on the ground talking, get staff out there, get on TV, Radio, Newspapers etc.

Remember TransLink is Broke.  And I guess they don't have any spare staff, I wonder how that happened?

[#Metro]

Remember TransLink is Broke.  And I guess they don't have any spare staff, I wonder how that happened?

Videos are cheap to produce. You need a camera or cameraphone (Gov't has plenty of those), a computer and youtube account.

Yes, I wonder how that happened 

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

18th March 2013

Bus Review: Auckland SuperCouncil versus Brisbane City Council, TransLink

Greetings,

Lot of misinformation around concerning the bus review and the proposed changes.

The bus network review is something that had to happen, regardless of who the government of the day was. The bus system currently runs all bus services to the CBD. For small cities (such as Canberra) this is fine; however as the city grew larger, the costs grew to the point where TransLink's 75% subsidies are now some of the highest in the world. Unprecedented 20% and 15% annual fare increases were then imposed by the previous government, but the underlying inefficiencies that drove these increases were not fixed - now even this is still not enough to provide frequent bus service to many parts of the city such as Bulimba, Yeronga Centenary and the Northwestern suburbs.

This bus review is not about profit - there is none, and probably never will be. This bus review is about defending Brisbane's jobs, lifestyle and liveability for the future.

In late 2010, the councils of Auckland, NZ were combined to form a single, powerful, citywide super council - Auckland City Council - which is about the same size as the BCC with similar population. With its $3+ billion budget it is now a powerful competitor to the City of Brisbane and has the potential to suck jobs, employers and skilled labour out of Brisbane and SEQ in general. Auckland is just 3 hours flight from Brisbane.

Both TransLink and Auckland Transport have been given identical tasks - fix up the bus system. Both TransLink and Auckland Transport have reached near identical conclusions and recommendations: Redeploy service, make the system simpler and create a frequent network. These conclusions would have been reached under any stripe of government of the day.

When employers and skilled workers compare Brisbane and Auckland, what will they see? Will they see an illegible, low frequency bus network charging some of the highest fares in the world that routinely goes into total systemwide collapse during wet weather and mild congestion that can't get workers to work on time and can't even extend decent, simple and frequent service to inner and middle ring suburbs such as Bulimba, Yeronga and Centenary? Will they see a rail network that has some of the worst service frequency in the world for a developed city and Merivale Rail Bridge at capacity in 2016?

Is that what we have to offer the world?

Auckland will be able to offer high frequency service across the entire city in three years time. As this rate, we won't. Auckland is pushing hard to get a rail tunnel - their version of our Cross River Rail built so that Auckland can run high frequency trains every 10-15 minutes all day, citywide. At this rate, all we will have to offer is paltry 30 minute trains and an at-capacity Merivale Bridge.

If there ever was a time to give the State Government and Brisbane City Council act to get frequent services across the city, it is surely now.

Failure to move forward with the bus review and get the public engagement right will threaten the Brisbane's future liveability, lifestyle and economic competitiveness.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

References:

Auckland Bus Review, Auckland Transport http://www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz/improving-transport/plans-proposals/IntegratedTravel/Pages/regional-public-transport-plan-2012.aspx

Draft Auckland Regional Public Transport Plan http://www.aucklandtransport.govt.nz/improving-transport/plans-proposals/IntegratedTravel/Documents/rptp/RPTP-full-update.pdf