17 Mar 2013: SEQ: Bus Review - World Class Public Transport Requires ...

[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? http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MJ3rfxvJdxY

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9045.msg122089#msg122089

[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 --> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bB7SnYmJOrA

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? http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=MJ3rfxvJdxY

Contact:

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

[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

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9045.msg122150#msg122150

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

21st March 2013

General Bus Network Collapse Becoming Regular

Greetings

Last night the bus network collapsed again, citywide 30 -60 minute or longer delays. The reason? Traffic and bus congestion, which is something that happens in any city over 1 million.

If the connections based network were operating today as proposed in the bus review, most people in the West would be on express trains out of the city - completely free from traffic congestion, and which take just 8 minutes to get to Indooroopilly. Bus passengers experienced 30 to 60  minute delays or longer on top of their 25 minute commute. Total travel time up to two hours! Walking a few meters from bus to train when making connections seems like small change.

Auckland Transport, NZ is performing an identical bus review at the same time as Brisbane. Both TransLink and Auckland Transport have reached near identical conclusions and recommendations: Redeploy service, make the system simpler and create a frequent network.

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.

We urge the Lord Mayor, Graham Quirk, and his Brisbane City Council colleagues to reconsider very carefully their opposition to walking and connections that have been successfully carried out and operated in cities such as Toronto, Canada and Perth, WA.

It is time the benefits of the changes were properly explained so that even politicians can understand what is happening and why the changes  are necessary.

Best wishes
Robert

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


List of Routes Affected - TransLink

Delays - Coronation Drive, Pac Motorway  http://jp.translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/details/1363761398

Last updated: 4.36pm Wednesday 20 March 2013

Buses travelling in both directions along Coronation Drive and the Pacific Motorway can expect delays of up to 30 minutes, due to heavy traffic conditions.

Affected services:

66 77 100 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 130 131 132 134 135 136 138 139 140 145 150 152 153 155 156 160 161 162 169 170 171 172 174 175 177 178 180 181 183 184 185 186 191 192 193 195 196 198 199 200 202 203 204 209 210 212 214 215 220 222 223 224 225 227 230 232 233 234 235 256 258 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 310 311 312 313 314 315 320 321 322 325 326 327 328 329 330 333 334 335 336 337 338 340 345 346 350 351 352 353 354 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 367 369 370 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 385 390 391 393 396 397 398 399 402 411 412 414 415 416 417 425 427 428 430 431 432 433 435 436 444 445 446 450 451 452 453 454 460 462 465 466 467 468 470 471 475 476 598 599 623 923 Brisbane Transport school bus CityGlider Loop (Brisbane City) Loop (Spring Hill) Maroon CityGlider N100 N111 N130 N184 N199 N200 N226 N310 N339 N385 N390 N412 N464 P88 P119 P129 P133 P137 P141 P142 P151 P157 P173 P176 P179 P189 P201 P206 P207 P208 P211 P216 P221 P231 P236 P331 P332 P339 P341 P343 P344 P356 P374 P384 P426 P443 P455 P456 P457 P458 P459 P461

Worsened ...

Twitter  6:04 PM - 20 Mar 13

TransLink SEQ ‏@TransLinkSEQ 9h

Delays up to 60mins for services via City, Coro Drive, Pac M-way due to heavy traffic conditions. Updates: http://bit.ly/XYpgad

References:

1. Delays - Coronation Drive, Pac Motorway
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2695.msg122333#msg122333

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

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

4. Bus Review: Western suburbs' commutes faster with connection http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9714.0

5. "Transferring" can be good for you, and good for your city
http://www.humantransit.org/2009/04/why-transferring-is-good-for-you-and-good-for-your-city.html

Sent to all outlets:

20th March 2013

Re: Feedback delivering a better bus network

Greetings,

Yesterday in Queensland Parliament a motion was put by the Member for South Brisbane concerning public transport -  http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2013/2013_03_19_DAILY.pdf page 707

Those interested in these matters no doubt followed the debate keenly.  What was very clear was that very few had any idea what the bus review was actually about.  Simply whining about 'cut bus routes' does not actually sit with the purpose of the review.  In most cases, the so called bus cuts, have been replaced by improved services and alteration in coverage.  In some cases further adjustments to the plan is needed.

Brisbane's bus system is a hopeless mish-mash of confusion, inefficiency and 'air parcels'.  Largely operated in competition with other modes it is evolved into one of the worst performing bus systems in the western world.  The data is clearly outlined in the TransLink Bus Review documentation.  Have any of the Members read it?  Have the BCC Councillors actually read it?  It would appear not.  [ http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/seq-bus-network-review ]

It is important for the future of the public transport network that the proposed changes, informed by best practise principles in public transport planning, supported by the patronage data, and supported by public feedback occur.  Political interference in this process will ultimately be very costly for the community as transport failure ensues.

The end result of political incompetence will be chronic congestion, continuing  and worsening high cost fares,  bus mediocrity, and a rail system headed to chronic failure.

Please take the time to read the documentation that is available concerning the Bus Review.  Analyse the route changes and then you might begin to understand why this process is the best thing to happen to public transport in SEQ since the introduction of integrated ticketing in 2004.

TransLink and Government need to explain to the public what is really going on, free from the ' bus cut ' hysteria.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

19th March 2013

Re: Feedback delivering a better bus network

Greetings,

Well done on announcing some modifications to the proposed bus changes. As we have suggested from the outset important to give feedback either via the web [ http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-updates/seq-bus-network-review ] or telephone 131230.

More needs to be done however to explain the major benefits of the clean slate for the bus network [ see http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=9740.0 ].  The proposed bus changes will transform our public transport network and position it properly for future efficient growth.  It will properly support rail which is where our untapped bulk capacity waits.  We are moving from the old outdated direct service model to a properly connected network with more frequent services at long last.

The bus review is the best thing to happen to public transport in SEQ since the introduction of integrated ticketing in 2004!

Best wishes
Robert

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

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson

Feedback delivering a better bus network

Public feedback is building Brisbane a better transport network with the Newman Government delivering on the first round of passenger comments from the Bus Network Review.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson said six changes to improve the recommendations had already been identified during the first week of feedback.

"This is a genuine feedback process and the first 5000 submissions are already informing the final shape of the network," Mr Emerson said.

"We will continue to act on areas that we think are obvious omissions to give people certainty.

"Last week I asked TransLink's planners to look at how they can ensure they retain bus access to Greenslopes Hospital."

Mr Emerson said other changes in response to public feedback included:

·         Restoring peak express services on route 444 between Moggill and Brisbane CBD

·         Retaining the current route 411

·         A new service connecting Dornoch Tce, West End with the PA hospital.

·         Retaining the current route 381

·         Restoring connection to west Toowong previously serviced by routes 416 and 470.

"Overall our plan to increase the number of high-frequency services from 19 to 26 has received a lot of support," he said.

"It's also important that we listen to the community to meet its needs as part of the less-frequent secondary network."

The Bus Network Review recommended increasing the number of high-frequency routes, bringing Brisbane's network into line with leading world cities.

The review of south east Queensland's bus services was ordered by Mr Emerson last year after figures showed patronage dropping on 13 of 16 south east Queensland operators, as well as rising costs, which were being paid for by Labor's on-going 15 per cent fare hikes.

Under the distinctive looking GoNetwork the Newman Government will be delivering high-frequency bus services to more than 800,000 people in Brisbane and also to the Gold Coast for the first time.

Submissions can be made online at www.translink.com.au or by phoning 13 12 30 until April 7.

[ENDS] 19 March 2013

[doggo]

I would suggest that after all these years of political interference that TransLink have lost the capability to meaningfully engage with the public.  They refuse to say anything unless the minister of the day approved it

[somebody]

I would suggest that after all these years of political interference that TransLink have lost the capability to meaningfully engage with the public.  They refuse to say anything unless the minister of the day approved it

Welcome to the "public" service!  Public servants aren't allowed to talk to the public out of turn.  I personally think that it stinks to high heaven, but it's also pretty standard in the western world.