Queensland State Public Transport

[metroman]

Light rail should start in a small way, probably something similar to Sydney which isn't a large coverage. It is certainly a very clean alternative. One of the problems would be overhead wires, which could cause some disruptions. There are some cities in Europe which run without overhead wires. This would be a far better alternative.

[Brissy Phil]

Hello

Thank you for sharing your views through the Brisbane City Council Mass Transit discussion forum held in July. The Mass Transit engagement was highly successful with over 3000 unique visitors to the webpage and more than 500 contributions.

Mass Transit Taskforce Report
The Mass Transit Taskforce has released its report which proposes a bus rapid transit system rather than light rail because:
- it could be operating within three to five years
- Brisbane's existing busways could be adapted rapidly and easily to accommodate a bus rapid transit service
- there would be less impact on road traffic operation, both during and after construction

The key recommendations include:
- a network of high capacity buses (up to 160 passengers) from West End to Newstead from 2010
- an inner city orbital network linking Spring Hill, Roma Street and a proposed bridge at Kangaroo Point from 2010
- a network with a Hamilton-Woolloongabba line from 2016 and Bulimba connection via a Green Bridge to this from 2026

For more information and a copy of the report visit http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:S...140:pc=PC_2698

Draft Transport Plan 2006-2026
We would also like to take this opportunity to identify that consultation has recently started on the Draft Transport Plan. Information and links to related discussion forums can be found at http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:B...002:pc=PC_2133

Your City, Your Say
Thank you again for your interest and comments to date. If you are not already a member you may be interested in joining Your City, Your Say http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:B...140:pc=PC_1636 . As a member you will be sent regular newsletters, ezines and invitations to become involved in Council engagement opportunities.

Regards

Your City, Your Say team

Glenn Boyd
Senior Program Officer Community Engagement
Customer Services Branch
Brisbane City Council
Tel: 07 3403 5083
Email: glenn.boyd@brisbane.qld.gov.au

[KJBrissy]

Where is that from?

[Sunbus610]

Out with the old, in with the new.

Another sign that TRANSLink's Smartcard is really starting to roll out very soon.

Removal of private operator ten trip tickets - effective 29 September 2007
http://www.translink.com.au/qt/trans..._removal_sep07

[metro4brisbane]

It was a safe bet that any task force sponsored by the current council would arrive at the 'Busways all the way' conclusion. Their research/findings are very BRT-centric and fail to go into much detail over the long term O&M costings for the modes, the induced demand that would be created and the future growth of the Brisbane Metro Area.

In response to those videos re: the Phileas bus. Unlike The Netherlands we live in an individualistic, class-based society (whether we like it or not). The Netherlands fosters a more collective and egalitarian society which lends to very high public transport utilisation. Whether it is a bus, train or articulated donkey - they will ride it.

There are some interesting observations to be made from Can-Do's Task Force Report:

**Here in Australia (and the US to a greater degree), buses are not perceived as an attractive means of transport - no matter how easy it is to put yes in the "Distinctive/Attractive" box (see task force report page 8 - link in post above)

**In Figure 1.2, the Conceptual Near City Orbital Service is already 2/3 complete, entirely by rail. Reopen the Exhibition Line to permanent passenger services, add small stations at Normanby, Spring Hill and Hospital. The missing link is the Valley to Gabba Link (and somehow I think the NSBT should have played a role here!)

** Page 12 (Section 1.2.5) "where TransApex projects reduce the capacity required for general traffic on existing roads. This capacity could be secured for public transport priority or pedestrian use." Urban Transport 101 - adding road lanes creates induced demand + Brisbane growth = no room for Buses in normal traffic. Who wrote this document?

** Metro concept - The Study area is too constrained, a metro needs to reach people, link other transport modes - it seems to be too focussed on connecting stadiums and hospitals without consideration to where it might draw its clientele. Each metro line should have an end point at a QR rail stop. Eg. the Red line from Ascot to Toowong/Taringa, the green line from Newmarket to Park Road, and blue line from Coorpooroo to Hospital. An additional metro line should include Paddington, Bulimba, New Farm and Kangaroo Pt.

**In their 'Lessons learnt' they state: "The primary purpose of a new public transport service must be to satisfy transport demand. Without this primary purpose the service will not be economically viable." Isnt the primary purpose of public transport to create an induced demand for the service?

**'Tracks may cause trouble for cyclists' - The Dutch seem to manage quite nicely.

There is a place for everything - Brisbane needs a combination of various forms of transport that aim to move away from the hub & spoke structure of the public transport network. Planners, mayors and citizens alike must understand that all this new infrastructure - tunnels etc. Is to alleviate traffic for 5 hours a day (from 7:00-9:30am and 4:30-7:00pm). Every lane of road, every tunnel we build we add creates an induced demand for road use.

New heavy rail for Brisbane should include:

Finally filling in that overgrown corridor from Petrie to Kippa Ring (take it underground to Redcliffe) with a train line (no reason a busway/bikeway cant run parallel too)

Dual guage electrified passenger line to Greenbank/Flagstone

Passenger line spur to Yarrabilba via Logan Village.

Heavy rail spur from Toowong (or running parallel to proposed TransApex tunnel from Normanby), following the Western Freeway with stops at Norwood, Indooroopilly West/Chapel Hill, Kenmore, Fig Tree Pocket, Jindalee (i hear DFO will cause some trouble), Mt Ommaney, Sumner Park and then connecting to the upcoming Springfield Spur - adding to Toowong as a TOD and commercial centre, provides a employment driver for Springfield CBD from Western Suburbs.

Heavy rail along Logan Motorway from Goodna to Loganlea - connecting Larapinta (Flagstone line), Richlands (Springfield Line) and providing a fast route from Ipswich to the GC (and GC airport). From here could extend line with Dual guage from Larapinta parallel with the Gateway Motorway to the Port of Brisbane. This would create a half circle around the city, linking three major commuter lines and two spurs aiding growth in the future satellite TOD/Cities of Springfield and Beenleigh.

For a future of Ipswich rail system - a rail line connecting Springfield to Ipswich via Blackstone and proposed Swanbank industrial park (half the line aready exists to the power station), Springfield to Ipswich via Ripley and UQ (proposed). North

Extend Cleveland line to Victoria Point

Extend Doomben line to Hamilton Development (considered)

Connect Murrarie station with Eagle Farm (under river) for extra river crossing and potentially faster city trip from Cleveland.

New line from Virginia to Albany Creek. Connecting Chermside (and Northern Busway)

Line from Spring Hill underground to Dutton Park (incl. Eagle St./Golden Triangle Stop) (Up in the air at the moment)

That would make for a comprehensive Inter-suburban passenger rail network.

To complement this within 5km of the city centre installing a combination of light rail/ underground line haul tram-train network - which would more than likely create a Brisbane metro. Have a look at this plan which was proposed by some consortium some time ago, i cant recall the name. Here it is...



Also have a squizz at the light rail plan proposed by the Greens Party (they wont get in power but like usual practice the incumbent could sure borrow it). It can be found here http://http://qld.greens.org.au/elec...025%20Sept.pdf

There are a few holes in this proposal but it goes much further than the current Qld Govt. vs BCC crap. Its downfall is that it doesnt seem to want to create a harmony between the busway and light rail - they both have a unique purpose and can run on top of each other.

All thats left after all this is Ashgrove and The Gap. Monorail anyone?

All the stakeholders need to sit down together and evaluate all the positive externalities that arise from increased public transport. Economic development, mobility for the unemployed, traffic congestion relief, community development, new jobs, productivity increases, stress reduction, pollution reductions, increased bus availability for improved local and feeder services. etc... Light rail/tram-train may appear costly, but its long term intangible benefits may considerably outweigh BRT.

Plus... buses are ugly

I was due for a rant.