12 Nov 2012: SEQ: Transport Time Out Needed as AirportLink Collapses

[ozbob]

Media release 12th November 2012

SEQ: Transport Time Out Needed as AirportLink Collapses

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 with the approaching collapse of AirportLink the transport plans of South East Queensland are in tatters.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"It is time to acknowledge that we have spent the last 50 years claiming to be solving congestion and air pollution but actually making them worse. Reducing congestion by building more roads is an urban myth!  Claims by political parties or lobbyists the latest road project will reduce traffic and congestion are false, misleading and unsubstantiated by fact!  (1,2)."

"Toll roads are financially nonviable, as evidenced here in Brisbane with the collapse of Clem 7 and Airport Link, and have not reduced congestion as claimed.  It is no wonder that BCC and the Federal Government have had to fund Legacy Way.  Claims that it will be profitable are miss-leading with the true capital and operating cost borne by the rate and tax payers."

"Transport planning in South East Queensland is a complete unmitigated mess.   It has failed on every level. The plans and projects over the last 20 years have created this mess not failed to prepare for it."

"It's a sign of failure that three road tunnels will have been completed before the first sod will be turned on what has been repeatedly identified as South East Queensland's number one infrastructure priority, namely Cross River Rail."

"An urgent Transport Timeout is required to halt major road expansion projects and to re-prioritise the transport investment in South East Queensland. We must look to world leaders like Vancouver, Copenhagen and Berlin who have set aggressive targets of "at least two-thirds of trips on foot, bike or transit by 2040 (3)."

"We need to urgently make SEQ pedestrian and cycle safe. Road can no longer be the sole domain of the car. Segregated bus and bike lanes need to be built on all major roads (4).  Bus and train frequencies increased to 15min off peak and even more frequent during peak hour.  The bus network needs to be redesigned to create a Core Frequent Network (5)  that runs along major roads creating a grid of transit routes across the region.   Public transport fares need to be redesigned to get more people onto public transport (6). Finally schools and other major trip generators need to develop 'sustainable' transport plans just like they did during our water shortages."

"Failing to take Time Out will only continue to increase the drain on rates and taxes and further increase the cost of living for residents of South East Queensland."

Contact:

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

References:

1. Goodbye-ways: The downfall of urban freeways - http://grist.org/cities/goodbye-ways-the-downfall-of-urban-freeways

2. Southeast Queensland motorists stuck at 40km/h in peak hour on clogged major roads - http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4767

3. http://www2.canada.com/theprovince/news/story.html?id=b1a1df9b-f9aa-4b25-bd4c-2491a15fdfb8

4. http://sti-india-uttoolkit.adb.org/imgs/mod2/se3/p89.gif

5. http://www.humantransit.org/2010/02/the-power-and-pleasure-of-grids.html

6. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9131.msg110025#msg110025

[ozbob]

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