Proposed» Gold Coast Light Rail System [Southport to Broadbeach]

**Marty_** · 23rd August 2008, 05:55

Originally Posted by SoulVision

I still think the benefits of light rail far outweigh buses in the long term.

I never said a word about buses. My concern is for the long-term sustainability of transportation on the Gold Coast. Roads are and always will be a major part of that, and can't be ripped up for the sake of light rail. Light rail needs to be implemented in conjunction with existing traffic lanes.

I am all for 100% trams.

Sure you are - as am I. But for crying out loud, we need to clear the muddy waters and make sure the project is being implemented properly.

Light rail holds great potential.

**KJBrissy** · 23rd August 2008, 08:02

Originally Posted by Marty_

But is it being badly implemented? If they do indeed intend to actually remove 2 or 3 traffic lanes for the sake of a light rail line, the result would be catastrophic and really not helpful at all. I don't think they should carve up a significant portion of road space in implementing this... They should build it adjacent to existing road space. Removing lanes would be a catastrophe by 2010.

They DO NOT need to lessen road space in order to improve usage of the light rail network

Have you ever heard of road dieting? It is a proven practice whereby cities over time reduce roadspace more and more until they have very little. The locals always kick and scream about how it will cost them more for a plumber, and how all the tradies will never get anywhere and how they are unable to get places by PT, but it actually massively improves the economy, people are better of, they are healthier, they end up with more services at a closer distance and they have better PT.

I think you need to do a little more research on the benefit/negative impact of PT over roads and vice versa. The thing is, unless this took out these 'highly precious' lanes, you wouldn't end up with a system at all.

**CougarArts** · 24th August 2008, 12:42

like the 2 lanes of road they converted into gardens (including over a bridge!!) with the opening of the lane cove tunnel in sydney. Just when they fixed the traffic problem, they converted 4 lanes to either bus lane or garden to end up with a net gain of 0 lanes from the LCT.

4 lanes each way from Epping Rd and 2 each way from M2 converging into 3 each way.

**Marty_** · 25th August 2008, 12:50

Originally Posted by KJBrissy

Have you ever heard of road dieting? It is a proven practice

Right - all well and good if that's the path we're going to follow. Sadly it's not. We're going to build light rail and leave it there.

Road dieting is a planned, studied, mathematically and economically balanced program for altering the transport system in a city. It's not what is happening here at all. We're adding trams to cope with growth. Not to diet roads!