14 Nov 2012: SEQ: Don't expect private sector to do government's job ...

[ozbob]

Media release 14th November 2012

SEQ: Don't expect private sector to do government's job of getting transport right

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 South East Queensland needs to get back to fixing public transport.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The days where a private sector consortium rides in on a white horse pulling a cart of free money in order to take us all to congestion free fantasy land is over. The only thing that Clem 7 and AirportLink has demonstrated is that (a) it is the government's role to make sure that transport runs properly, (b) the volumes carried by these new roads are so tiny that they can hardly be called 'congestion busting'; congestion scratching perhaps, and (c) de-congestion road pricing in Brisbane is likely to be highly effective at reducing traffic."

"RAIL Back on Track would like to see major changes and initiatives for 2013. Governments are service organisations and they are expected to deliver services. Blaming the previous administration or finances for inaction is wearing thin - the election was last March and it is now almost December. Voters are being fed up with 'cupboard is bare' style rhetoric."

"The single largest focus for Public Transport must be an aggressive roll out of the Core Frequent Network, consisting of a bus grid, train upgrade zones and Core Frequent Network mapping.

"To form a bus grid, cash liberated from the optimisation of bus routes identified in the bus review would be recycled into a city-wide inter-meshing network of new BUZ routes running on main arterial roads to the Centenary Suburbs, Northwest and Bulimba. The Great Circle line would be broken up and BUZzed to join it all. Paper ticketing would be abolished, and buses would board through all doors."

"On trains, a separate brand - Train Upgrade Zones - would be created within Queensland Rail to distinguish premium service frequency and span from the rest of the network. Services would run every 15 minutes from 6 am to 11.30 pm 7 days a week where infrastructure permits to match BUZ service standards. 'Bus timetable' style rail timetables would also be introduced at stations for simplicity. Such timetables already exist at stations in Melbourne."

"Finally, to top it off a single unified map of frequent service, irrespective of mode should be created and posted at all busway and train stations in Brisbane."

"The overall cost of these initiatives is likely to be less than what the Queensland Government pays for just one kilometre of busway or railway extension."

"We look forward to seeing this and an explicit time line of implementation of these measures in the 2013 TransLink Network Plan."

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

15th November 2012

Re: SEQ: Don't expect private sector to do government's job of getting transport right

Greetings,

Just to reinforce the what a non-panacea toll roads in Brisbane are, the South East Busway, a non-fancy 2 lane road which carries buses has 150 000 trips per weekday, and this is with a "toll" of $4.77 in peak and $3.82 off peak.* This is more trips than AirportLink (~50 000/day), and the Clem7 (30 000/day) and forecasts for Legacy way (24 000/day) combined.

Roll out of the Core Frequent Network, consisting of bus grid, train upgrade zones, all day low fares and core frequent network map is Brisbane's number ONE transport priority for 2013.

When will governments wake up?

Best wishes,
Robert

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

* Cost with TransLink Go Card from King George Square to 8 Mile Plains

Reference: http://www.gci.net.au/services/transport-planning-and-project-management/south-east-transit-project/

Media release 14th November 2012

SEQ: Don't expect private sector to do government's job of getting transport right

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 South East Queensland needs to get back to fixing public transport.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The days where a private sector consortium rides in on a white horse pulling a cart of free money in order to take us all to congestion free fantasy land is over. The only thing that Clem 7 and AirportLink has demonstrated is that (a) it is the government's role to make sure that transport runs properly, (b) the volumes carried by these new roads are so tiny that they can hardly be called 'congestion busting'; congestion scratching perhaps, and (c) de-congestion road pricing in Brisbane is likely to be highly effective at reducing traffic."

"RAIL Back on Track would like to see major changes and initiatives for 2013. Governments are service organisations and they are expected to deliver services. Blaming the previous administration or finances for inaction is wearing thin - the election was last March and it is now almost December. Voters are being fed up with 'cupboard is bare' style rhetoric."

"The single largest focus for Public Transport must be an aggressive roll out of the Core Frequent Network, consisting of a bus grid, train upgrade zones and Core Frequent Network mapping.

"To form a bus grid, cash liberated from the optimisation of bus routes identified in the bus review would be recycled into a city-wide inter-meshing network of new BUZ routes running on main arterial roads to the Centenary Suburbs, Northwest and Bulimba. The Great Circle line would be broken up and BUZzed to join it all. Paper ticketing would be abolished, and buses would board through all doors."

"On trains, a separate brand - Train Upgrade Zones - would be created within Queensland Rail to distinguish premium service frequency and span from the rest of the network. Services would run every 15 minutes from 6 am to 11.30 pm 7 days a week where infrastructure permits to match BUZ service standards. 'Bus timetable' style rail timetables would also be introduced at stations for simplicity. Such timetables already exist at stations in Melbourne."

"Finally, to top it off a single unified map of frequent service, irrespective of mode should be created and posted at all busway and train stations in Brisbane."

"The overall cost of these initiatives is likely to be less than what the Queensland Government pays for just one kilometre of busway or railway extension."

"We look forward to seeing this and an explicit time line of implementation of these measures in the 2013 TransLink Network Plan."

Contact:

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