Community Action for Sustainable Transport Inc.

New route 77 - yet another example of confused thinking by Translink

2010-03-03T00:22:00.000+10:00

On Friday 26 February, Translink announced that a new bus service 77
would operate from 29 March to take passengers from Eight Mile Plains
and other SE Busway stations through the 3 billion dollar tunnel and
continue to Windsor Rail and up to Chermside.
This basis for this decision must be challenged on a number of grounds.
Firstly, there has been no indication that there is any demand for this service.
At a time when Translink says that it must deliver services to priority
high volume routes and where services are currently not adequate, it
suddenly finds the funds to introduce a new service that is already covered
by other express services.
Secondly, if there was clear evidence that commuters were demanding this service,
then why did everyone have to wait until the 3B tunnel was operating?
This service could have been introduced and operating for many months on the route
via the Inner City Bypass just as efficiently.
Thirdly, there has been no timetable produced to date.
Clearly this is because Translink realises, as do we all, that traffic congestion
will now be compressed into the Windsor/Lutwyche area by the 3B tunnel
design and its users, and that all bus services in that corridor will need to have
new timetables because of the inevitable traffic jams.
Finally, the decision to have the service continue past Windsor rail to Chermside
proves that Translink planners do not understand that duplicating transport
services is wasteful and illogical. They have yet to realise that long bus routes
within an urban community are not an efficient use of transport resources.
All of these issues lead us to believe that this is just another rushed political
decision to support the 3B tunnel operator and the Council administration
that is desperate to have the predicted number of vehicles using the 3B tunnel.
How likely is it that the 3B tunnel operators and Brisbane Transport have played
a role in bringing this service into the Translink network?
We'll leave it to you to come to a conclusion about that.

CAST supports sanctions on service operators that don't meet performance targets

2010-02-27T12:59:00.000+10:00

TransLink has acted to penalise Queensland Rail $203,000 after it missed its target for the number of peak-hour Citytrain services arriving on time last financial year

Last year, an average of 91.74 per cent of peak-hour services arrived within four minutes of their scheduled time, only marginally improving on the 91.15 per cent from the previous year.
The contractual target of 92.4 per cent is set by the State Government, resulting in QR's fourth penalty in four years.
QR has been fined more than $7 million over the past four years for failing to meet its contracted target.
It was levied $6.7 million in the 2007-08 financial year after its worst performance in more than four years.
QR defines "on-time" as arriving within four minutes of the scheduled time.
CAST supports the levying of penalties on all transport service providers when they do not meet contracted performance conditions, provided that service delays are not the result of actions beyond the control of the operator.
The application of financial sanctions on providers sends a strong message to service providers, on behalf of all transport users, that they must improve their performance.
It must be recognised that all transport providers in SEQ are absolute monopolies, as the public transport system is a "closed shop" i.e. providers are issued with licences to operate within specific territories and routes that eliminate all other effective competition.
It must also be recognised that the majority of service delays on the QR network are due to ongoing poor
track and signal maintenance, perennial management and staffing deficiencies, and bureaucratic inertia and
empire-building. QR Citytrain HR and workplace policies also continue to be fundamentally deficient.
There have been assertions that Translink penalties remove funds from QR used for train services.
These assertions are not based on fact.
CAST would like to have financial sanctions applied to taxi operators who do not meet performance and service standards.

The Transport Minister and Translink must cease issuing misleading statements

2010-02-24T16:19:00.001+10:00

Minister Nolan and Translink continue to promote the line that
"every cent collected from the the increase in fares will go to funding
better transport services" when they know that this is misleading and
disingenuous.

In the Minister's statement on 15 October 2009 this is what she said -
"Ms Nolan said the fare strategy also aimed to return the State
Government's per-trip subsidy from 75 per cent back to 70 per cent
within five years. To help reach that goal fares will increase 15% a year
from 2011 to 2014 – or around 40 cents to 60 cents a year for a typical
two-zone ticket."

[Note the Minister's misleading use of the word "subsidy" at the same time
she is responsible for increasing the rate of public transport use in Cabinet.]

So let's test the truth of the "every cent" statement above by using actual figures.
If we use approximate but fair and understandable amounts, and using the
Minister's percentages above, this statement is almost certainly false.
Amounts in $ millions.
Current annual revenue from fares before fare increase = 250 [25%]
Current annual operating costs of services/funding        = 1000
If fare revenue rises by 25% overall, annual fare
revenue then becomes                                                 = 300
And if the "subsidy" is reduced from 75 to 70% then the
300 annual fares revenue equates to operating costs of   1000
Same amount of expenditure, so where are the better services?
Let's assume a more realistic increase in overall fare revenues
of 15%, so fare revenue then becomes annually            = 287
And if this is equal to 30% of total operating costs,
these are equal to                                                         = 956
or 44 million less than what is spent now.
So all of the fare increase goes into general revenue, and none
into more or better services.
Only if fare revenues increase by more than 25% overall ,will there
be any additional expenditure on transport services or infrastructure
that results from fare increases.
So Minister, let's do away with the spin and propaganda. Resolve
to level with the 250,000 commuters in South East Qld who support
the current deficient public transport system and SAVE the taxpayers
millions of dollars in road transport costs and all its connected
expenditure, like road accident trauma costs.
We all know that the State's Budget finances are in a desperate
condition due to poor management over many years, but don't
ask train and bus passengers to bear the burden of fixing the deficit.
They didn't cause it - the Beattie and Bligh Governments did.
Support the long-suffering but loyal commuters by telling the truth,
cancelling the fare increases and retaining paper tickets - or resign now.

Yet another reason why bus passengers need to avoid the SlowCard

2010-02-04T00:00:00.001+10:00

There have been consistent and confirmed reports of Slowcard readers
not functioning properly - or at all - on Brisbane transport buses.
Almost every day we hear reports from bemused commuters of delays
in exiting from their bus after one or or both card readers are not working.
Now, we have become aware of a flaw in the system that has not been
publicized.
The card readers are activated using GPS technology to indicate just where the
bus is located. This is because the SlowCard fares are calculated according to
the zone/s where the user boards and alights from the bus.
But the system means that the bus must be within about 8 metres from the actual
bus stop to allow the reader to receive the GPS signal.
When a bus stops at a stop that is shared by a number of buses, it must now wait
in line to approach within range of the signal at the stop. Only after the bus has
closed on the stop will the card reader activate and allow the the SlowCard users
to touch off and leave the bus.
Recently, we have witnessed buses waiting in line for 2-3 minutes to approach the
designated stops in the CBD for this reason.
Paper ticket holders were able to exit the buses without any delay.
One driver was witnessed to drive his bus on to the next available stop 80 metres
further up the street, after ensuring that there were no passengers wanting to board
at the normal stop, to enable the card reader to operate and the Card users touch
off and leave the bus.
The card users were not happy about the delay, and why would they be?
We've been told by the Transport Minister that the SlowCard system is technologically
brilliant, efficient, user-friendly, quick and cheap.
It is none of these. And public transport users are being told propaganda and spin
by a small army of young mercenaries who do not understand what they're saying
or how the system really works. And they're being paid out of the Transport budget
that is supported by passengers' fares.
We have now had four successive Transport Ministers who have not known what
they're doing, and have allowed the transport system in Brisbane to deteriorate and
flounder.
Enough is enough. We say that it's time for Minister Nolan to resign or be sacked.
And the board of Translink and its CEO should follow her into oblivion.

Union fears in fares rise

2010-02-03T23:14:00.001+10:00

UNION officials claim Queensland Rail’s passenger fares will continue to rise this year to make up for the revenue it will lose after its coal and freight operations are privatised.
Electrical Trades Union state secretary Peter Simpson said in the wake of recent fare increases, which had paper tickets increase by 40 per cent and go cards by 20 per cent, ticket prices would continue to rise.
“It is exactly the same as what occurred in the retail electricity market. Since it was privatised electricity prices have escalated dramatically, now rail fares are doing the same thing,” Mr Simpson said.
“With cross-subsidisation going, commuters have to pick up the slack through increased fares or the State Government faces a big subsidy bill each year for passenger services.
“Commuters have seen which option the State Government has chosen and it is going to slug commuters.”
The claims were strongly denied by Transport Minister Rachel Nolan, who said union officials had no understanding of how QR was funded.

Source: The Queensland Times

15 reasons why public transport users should continue to use paper tickets

2010-02-01T14:13:00.001+10:00

1. PAPER tickets that offer daily, weekly or monthly travel require only one
     purchase, and display when entering a bus or ferry, or passing though a.city station.
     CARD holders must remember to touch on - and off - at every station, bus or ferry.
2. PAPER ticket holders do not risk any extra penalties or charges as long as they display
     their tickets as necessary.
     CARD holders must remember to touch on and off each time they travel or
     be liable to penalties and charges. And to be sure to do it correctly.
3. PAPER tickets do not cost anything other than the cost of the ticket itself.
     CARD holders need to pay an upfront $5 to purchase a card, before loading it with credit.
4. PAPER ticket users cannot be overcharged.
     CARD holders can be, and have been, overcharged by the electronic system. They must check
     after each trip to ensure that the correct fare has been charged - if they know what that is.
5. PAPER ticker user knows the cost of his/her trip upfront, or the maximum cost of all of the
     daily, weekly, or monthly trips.
   CARD holders may make trips without knowing upfront the total cost of their single or multiple trips.
6. PAPER ticket users can use their ticket to make a trip immediately after purchase.
     CARD holders may in some cases need to wait to travel for up to 24 hours after topping up their card.
7. PAPER tickets can be lost or stolen - if so, the loss is limited to the cost of the ticket.
     CARD holders also lose their cards, and all of the unused credit if the card is not registered.
8. PAPER tickets users do not need to access, or know how to use, a computer to get a ticket.
     CARD holders need to access the Internet if they want to register their card, or check usage records.
9. PAPER ticket holders cannot travel on credit.
     CARD holders can travel using cards that have been funded by a credit card.
10. PAPER tickets users who travel only occasionally, pay as they go.
      CARD holders who travel occasionally need to recall how much credit remains on the card. There is
      the potential for a user's funds to remain unused for several weeks or months, and Translink doesn't pay
      interest on usused credit.
11. PAPER tickets for many users, occasional or frequent alike, remain cheaper on a weekly basis than
      CARDS. Even after the 40% hike in fares from 4 January.
12. For daily, weekly or monthly PAPER tickets users, there is no limit on the number of trips that can be
      taken within the time period.
      CARD holders pay for each and every trip that they make, no matter how many.
13. PAPER tickets therefore encourage most regular users to use public transport more often.
      CARD holders who pay for every trip are discouraged from making more trips.
14. Visitors to the area for a short time, who need to travel can just pay cash at bus or ferry entry
      or obtain a PAPER ticket at the station for daily or weekly use. They do not want to purchase
      a CARD and load it with an uncertain amount of credit that may never be used or refunded.
15. Yes, purchasing a PAPER ticket on a bus with cash takes time. That's why most bus services should be
      converted to prepaid services, an essential step still not yet widely implemented. What does take
      time in a bus are the frequent delays that occur when the CARD machines are not working.

New electronic petitions calling for Government to change policy on fares and services - now open

2010-01-25T17:48:00.001+10:00

The totally unjustified and appalling action by the State

Transport Minister and Translink to increase fares for

public transport users on January 4 by between 20% -

for plastic card holders - and 40% for paper ticket holders,

has resulted in a storm of protest from public transport

commuters. For more details and outcomes about this

outrageous decision, see other posts on this site.

Two electronic petitions have now been created to give

all public transport users an opportunity to lodge their protest

with the State Minister and the Parliament.

While the text of each petition does not include all of the issues

involved in the fares and ticketing debacle created by Translink,

and could have been much better drafted, CAST urges all public

transport users to consider signing the petitions before the

deadlines next month. We have not initiated these petitions.

To access and sign either petition, they can be read by going
here and also to here. There is no cost involved.

Car tunnels and air quality

2009-08-27T12:09:00.001+10:00

Car tunnel users and residents living in suburbs surrounding tunnel exhaust stacks can expect greater exposure to fine particle and air toxic pollution once the Clem Jones (North South Bypass) Tunnel comes online in Brisbane.

Tunnel users need to hold their breath and wind up their windows as they pay $4 to drive through the Clem Jones “Gas Chamber”.

And don’t expect it to be a quick ride in and out of the tunnel. Sydney commuters sit in stop start traffic in car tunnels everyday. Tunnels are just another four lane road, and like any other road they clog up with traffic.

The impact statements for the Brisbane tunnels also show that there will be greater congestion on arterial roads leading to the car tunnels, which will create even more air pollution.

It’s almost impossible to have a cigarette in a pub now, due to the dangers of passive smoking, but the exhaust chimneys emitting fumes from the tunnel will be like giant smoking cigarettes in our suburbs.

The solution is not even more roads, but to build a public transport system for Brisbane that offers people an effective alternative to the car.

Now we know that tunnels are the wrong way to go

2009-08-27T11:27:00.004+10:00

Media release 26 August 2009

Three years ago today, construction commenced on what future historians will judge to be Brisbane’s biggest mistake since Clem Jones removed the trams – the North South Bypass Tunnel.

Campbell Newman’s road tunnels may have seemed feasible in 2004, but climate change, the global financial crisis, oil insecurity and changing travel behaviour now show that the community opposition to wasting more than $15 billion on TransApex was fully justified.

The community is coming to understand that new road infrastructure projects are not the path to future social, economic and financial sustainability. Public infrastructure companies that have built and operated tolled roads and tunnels are writing down their value and struggling financially. Tunnel construction and operation is a risky gamble in this new environment.

More and more commuters are now driving less, combining their trips, using public transport more, and avoiding peak hours by using technology to work from home.

Instead of building more roads, Governments must divert more public funds into public transport, and walking and cycling infrastructure to support rapidly changing travel behaviour.

In the past, tolled private tunnels were foolishly included in transport plans without an open and transparent public process of risk assessment, informed discussion of different transport planning choices and changes to transport behaviour.

Now the Lord Mayor is spending ratepayers’ funds to promote the commercial product of a private tollroad operator in a last-ditch attempt to prop up what was always going to fail. He continues to issue misleading information about the “benefits” of using the tunnel. He says NSBT users will avoid “up to 18 sets of traffic lights”. They can already use the Riverside Expressway and the ICB between Buranda and Bowen Hills without passing a single traffic light and he knows it.

He has continued to saddle our city with debt to fund more investment in private vehicle infrastructure projects when peak oil and climate change raised serious doubts about the viability of these projects.

Our elected representatives have failed to deal with rapidly changing transport needs and constraints. Brisbane is now falling behind by other cities which have sustainable transport systems and infrastructure. Residents were not allowed to make reasoned and informed choices about our city’s future prior to the NSBT’s approval. This must never happen again.

We urge all motorists to indicate that simplistic “fixes” like the NSBT are never going to be viable alternatives for sustainable long-term transport plans by BOYCOTTING THE NORTH SOUTH BYPASS TUNNEL.

Media contact: CAST President David White 0403 871 082

Bus service improvments for Brisbane

2009-01-16T15:43:00.002+10:00

TransLink have announced a range of improvments to bus services which will begin on February 23. Check them out here and add a comment below to let us know what you think

Federal investment in sustainable transport

2008-12-02T13:02:00.000+10:00

The Federal Government are calling for public submissions on the 2009-2010 budget. What transport initiatives would you like to see the federal government invest in during the next financial year?

Please leave a comment below which will be considered in our submission.

You can also make your own submission to:

Budget Policy Division
Department of the Treasury
Langton Crescent
PARKES ACT 2600

Or email prebudgetsubs@treasury.gov.au

You have until Friday 16 January

CAST newsletter November

2008-11-23T18:03:00.000+10:00

You can download our latest newsletter here

Two-wheeled motorvehicle policy

2008-11-23T16:04:00.000+10:00

Community Action for Sustainable Transport - Draft 18.11.2008

This policy uses some strategies first developed by Motorcycling Australia.

Background

For trips where public transport, walking and cycling are not good options people should consider using a two-wheeled motor vehicle (TWMV) rather than a car.

Switching from a car to a motorcycle, scooter or electric bike is an easy way for people to reduce congestion, greenhouse emissions and save money on fuel.

TWMVs make more efficient use of fuel, road space and parking space than a single occupant car and can play a part in the campaign to reduce congestion and climate change.

Statistics on fuel efficiency are available here

When driven below the speed limit TWMVs also pose less of a safety risk to other road users than cars, trucks and buses due to their weight.

TWMVs are a more affordable transport option than driving a single occupant car, and will also help preserve oil reserves for essential agricultural, medical and transport uses.

All levels of Government should be doing more to encourage people to switch from their car to TWMVs.

Proposed strategies

More free parking spaces for TWMVs at activity centres and public transport nodes. Parking must be safe, conveniently located and ensure pedestrian, wheelchair and cyclist access is not obstructed. Car parks should be reclaimed for TWMV parking where possible.

Inclusion of two-wheeled motor vehicles in National Road Transport policies

Reduction in registration fees for TWMVs

Provision of TWMV-only lanes on key arterial roads

Exemption from tolls on tolled roads and infrastructure for TWMVs

Mandatory TWMV parking to be included in the construction plans for new buildings

Integration of TWMVs into the planning for Public Transport projects, such as park and ride for bikes.

A national standard that restricts the speed of new TWMVs available for the general public to 120km/hr

Advertising campaigns to encourage people to switch from a car to a two-wheeled motor vehicle

Government purchase of electric bicycles for use by employees and citizens

Reduce speeds in Brisbane CBD

2008-11-08T12:20:00.003+10:00

Reducing speed limits on our roads is a cost effective way to save lives, improve business and encourage more people to walk and cycle.

Brisbane City Council’s proposal to reduce speeds in Brisbane’s CBD to 40km/hr should be implemented immediately, be extended to Ann and Turbot Streets, and be strongly enforced by the Queensland Police.

This policy was first proposed by the Greens in the lead up to the March Council elections and it now has the support of Liberal, Labor and the RACQ. (1)

It will literally make Brisbane more liveable. Lower speeds give road users more time to react, reduce stopping distances and reduce the severity of impact. The risk of death for pedestrians struck by a vehicle rises rapidly as vehicle speed rises above 40km/hr. (2) Road accidents cause huge amounts of physical and emotional pain and it is estimated that they cost Australia nearly $15 billion per year. (3)

Calm streets are also great for business. Slower streets give people better access to shops on both sides of the road and the relaxed atmosphere of a calm street allows cafes and other outdoor uses to flourish.

Another benefit of calm CBD streets is that they are safer and easier for people to cycle on. Encouraging cycling is an effective congestion reduction measure and has great economic benefits in terms of public health savings. While road accidents cost Australians billions each year it has been estimated that the economic benefits of cycling were $227 million in 2006. (4)

Council’s current proposal should be extended to include reduced speeds on Ann and Turbot Streets. Ann Street has heavy pedestrian traffic coming out of Central Railway Station and Turbot Street is currently an uninviting traffic sewer that cuts off the CBD from Spring Hill and the Roma Street precinct. Both streets offer cyclists direct connections between the CBD and the Valley, and Turbot Street is an access point to the popular Bicentennial Bikeway.

An important factor that also needs to be addressed is that the majority of pedestrian accidents in the CBD involved pedestrians crossing against the red signal. (5) This is due to traffic light patterns that provide long green signals for cars and short green signals for pedestrians travelling in the same direction. Crossing Elizabeth Street while walking along the northern side of George Street is a great example of this.

Intersections have also been designed so that pedestrians often need to use two or three different crossings just to get across one road, while vehicles only need one. Try crossing Wharf and Creek Streets when you’re walking along the Western side of Turbot Street and you’ll see what I mean. Council traffic engineers need to reprogram traffic lights to give pedestrians a fair go.

So will these simple and cost-effective changes have negative impacts on people driving in the CBD? The impact of reduced speed limits on overall trip times will be negligible. The main cause of delays for drivers on Ann, Turbot and other inner-city streets will continue to be the fact that there are too many cars on our roads. Governments can address this by shifting their overall transport priority from roads to public transport, walking and cycling.

What can you do?

To support these proposals send a letter to Council's Active Transport Chairperson Jane Prentice waltertaylor.ward@ecn.net.au and CC it to your local Councillor (find their contact details here).

If you have a suggestion for improving conditions for cyclists or pedestrians you can lodge it via the Brisbane Public Transport Users Group here.

Tristan Peach is spokesperson for Community Action for Sustainable Transport castqld@yahoo.com.au

End Notes
(1) Walking Policy (March 2008), Green City Links inner-city transport plan (July 2007)
(2) Fildes, B., Oxley, J. 1998, `Long Term Consequences of Road Crashes', Measuring the Burden of Injury, Proceedings of a Conference held at Fremantle, WA 15-16 February 1996, Road Accident Prevention Research Unit, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands WA.
(3) Risbey, T., De Silva, H., Tong, A. 2007. ‘Road crash cost estimation: a proposal incorporating a decade of conceptual and empirical developments’, Staff paper, Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics, Australia.
(4) Bauman, A., Rissel, C., Garrard, J., Ker, I., Speidel, R., Fishman, E. 2008 ‘Cycling: Getting Australia Moving: barriers, facilitators and interventions to get more Australians physically active through cycling’ Cycling Promotion Fund, Melbourne.
(5) Sandy, A. 2008. ‘40km/h speed limit plan for Brisbane CBD’, Courier Mail 11/09/2008.

Alternative to Western Road Building Agenda

2008-11-05T15:29:00.002+10:00

Video of presentation to community meeting

See the CAST alternative plan for west Brisbane and Ipswich here

Check out the Communities Against the Tunnels Website here

Government Ignoring Alternatives to the Kenmore Bypass

2008-11-05T10:33:00.002+10:00

Main Roads have refused to consider a public transport option to address traffic congestion on Moggill Road and are proceeding with further studies for the Kenmore Bypass Road.

Their community information brochure (November 2008) states that there was considerable community opposition to the bypass, with people calling for increased public transport to be considered as an alternative option.

However Main Roads could not take this into account because they were “outside the scope of the Kenmore Bypass Planning Study”.

Thus their latest “Planning Options” study is dedicated to road solutions and will not consider whether a solution combining public transport, walking and cycling will better address the problem.

The same approach has been taken with the Hale Street Bridge, North South Bypass Tunnel and Airport Link studies.

The terms of reference for all these projects are designed so that the pre-determined solution will always be chosen, while the community are offered the illusion of choice such as the route of the road or where traffic lights will be located.

Main Roads are not interested in taking a rational planning approach and are simply doing what they know – building roads.

The State Government Transport Departments need to be combined so that solutions for transport solutions are considered across all modes of transport.

The State Government needs to realise that continuing to prioritise road building, while slowly improving public transport is not a “balanced approach”.

They are continuing the decades of funding and policy inequity that has favoured cars and road transport.

If the State Government got serious about public transport then all these new roads and road expansions in western Brisbane would not be necessary because there would be a significant shift from car to public transport, walking and cycling.

Building more roads leads to more traffic congestion and the Kenmore Bypass is a great example of this.

The bypass will pour more traffic onto the Centenary Highway, triggering the need for it to be upgraded, and more traffic on the Centenary Highway means more traffic heading into Toowong, meaning the government then has the justification for building the Northern Link tunnel.

The alternative is simple – spend the money from all these projects on upgrading cycling facilities, bus services and train services. This means more people leave their cars at home and there is no need to build destructive road upgrades.

Contact Warren Pitt, Minister for Main Roads to let him know what you think about the Kenmore Bypass mulgrave@parliament.qld.gov.au

CAST contact for this article Tristan Peach 0416-478-615

Bridge to Brisbane Fun Run

2008-09-07T20:36:00.000+10:00

Media release 5 September 2008

For many of the participants in this Sunday's Bridge to Brisbane fun run, it will be a case of driving their cars to the start of the race at Murarrie, or not running at all.

Translink has provided a shuttle bus leaving from Fortitude Valley at 5.00 am, and an extra train service leaving Central at 4.46 am for Murarrie station. These are the only special services that will cater for fun run participants.

However, public transport customers who live in the suburbs will have no way of joining these services, as there are just no connecting services to Central or the Valley at that time on Sunday mornings.

All other normal Sunday services operate at times which would not permit race participants to reach the start of the race in sufficient time to register and prepare for the run. [6.00am]

Isn't it about time that Translink implemented a policy of providing adequate sustainable transport services for the people of Brisbane, especially at times of special events involving many thousands of participants, who are then forced to drive their vehicles to join the events?

Contact David White 0403-871-082

Solutions for West Brisbane

2008-09-03T23:14:00.000+10:00

What is the road building agenda for west Brisbane, and what are the alternatives to it. This video summarises a presentation by CAST spokesperson, Tristan Peach, outlining the flaws of the current transport planning approach in West Brisbane and an alternative plan to serve the needs of the region for decades to come. Watch it here

Petition for light rail in Brisbane

2008-08-27T12:44:00.000+10:00

Sign a petition for light rail in Brisbane here. Be sure to spread the word to your friends, family and networks too.

Demand Go Card price cap

2008-08-24T01:02:00.000+10:00

TransLink must make Go Card the best option

Demand a Go Card price cap! Make a submission to TransLink through the Brisbane Public Tranpsort Users Group website here or visit www.ptbrisbane.net and follow the link from latest Go Card story.

TransLink’s current advertising slogan “Go Card at least 20% cheaper” is a false guarantee. For some people, making the switch to Go Card will be more expensive.

Compared with a daily ticket, Go Card is more expensive when making more than 2 public transport trips in one day.

Weekly paper ticket holders also get unlimited weekly travel and get far better value for money than if they were to switch to Go Card.

Go Card SHOULD NOT have financial penalties for regular public transport use!

Go Card should always be the best option for regular public transport users, otherwise people won’t use it and we won’t see the benefits of high Go Card usage, such as reduced boarding times on buses.

We demand that the Go Card fare structure be updated to include daily, weekly and monthly price capping to make it better than paper tickets. It should also provide incentive options such as off peak, and early and late peak travel.

All of this is possible with the existing technology.

The Oyster card in London, a similar product to Go Card, has long had a price guarantee that ‘Our aim is to ensure that Oyster always charges the lowest fare. Where it doesn't, we will refund the difference.’

The Go Card should provide a similar guarantee.

www.ptbrisbane.net

The Brisbane Public Transport Users Group is an independent, not-for-profit community initiative lobbying for improved public transport. It is run through Community Action for Sustainable Transport Inc.

Ipswich PTUG August newsletter

2008-08-11T16:04:00.002+10:00

Please make your own submissions to government about the following public transport issues.

Improved frequencies on Ipswich Train Line
In June the Transport Minister said that timetable changes to be introduced in September would “focus on the heavily patronised Ipswich line” (Quest Ipswich News 5 June, page 11). However TransLink have now said that minor timetable changes made on the 28th of July would be the last for the year. Write to the Minister and TransLink demanding higher frequency peak and off-peak services on the Ipswich line.

Make submissions to:
Minister for Transport John Mickel transport@ministerial.qld.gov.au
3806 8513 or GPO Box 2644 BRISBANE QLD 4001
TransLink online or GPO Box 50 BRISBANE 4001 or 131230

More information:
Rail Back on Track page on the issue
28 July timetable

Bus connections with Riverlink shopping centre
Bus routes “504 Ipswich – Brassall” and “505 Ipswich – Tivoli” still have not been routed through Riverlink despite the close proximity of these two routes and the distance from the nearest stops being some 300 and 500 metres respectively. TransLink must make minor alterations to these routes to ensure commuters have convenient access to these new facilities.

Make submissions to:
TransLink online GPO Box 50 BRISBANE 4001 or ph. 131230
Minister for Transport John Mickel transport@ministerial.qld.gov.au
3806 8513 or GPO Box 2644 BRISBANE QLD 4001
Write your local Member of Parliament - contact list

More information:
Ipswich PTUG member Alan Ward via castqld@yahoo.com.au

A better plan for West Brisbane / Ipswich
Community Action for Sustainable Transport have developed an alternative transport plan for the Ipswich/West Brisbane region, with a focus on public transport, walking, cycling and better land use planning. The plan provides a background to transport issues for the area and detailed maps of the improvements needed. Download it here

Email your feedback about the plan to:
castqld@yahoo.com.au

Show your support for this plan by contacting:
Minister for Transport John Mickel transport@ministerial.qld.gov.au
3806 8513 or GPO Box 2644 BRISBANE QLD 4001
Write your local Member of Parliament - contact list

Far North Queensland Strategic Plan

2008-07-30T03:43:00.000+10:00

Cairns Action for Sustainable Transport have made a substantial public submission on the draft Far North Queensland Strategic Plan and it is available for download here. The submission identifies the disconnection between the State Government's stated aims of achieving "sustainable transport" and their actual policies. It makes recommendations on adopting greenhouse reduction and mode share targets and also discusses the public transport needs of Far North Queensland.

Car Sharing in Paris

2008-07-29T15:46:00.000+10:00

In Paris a massive public car sharing scheme has been proposed by the City's Mayor. 2000 cars in the central city and 2000 cars in the suburbs will be available for pick up and drop off at 700 different spots. The scheme is being targeted at young people who do not own a car to reduce their need to purchase their own.

Read the article
Clike here
OR http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/4834215

CAST's current Car Share policy is:
Encourage car sharing cooperatives and companies
• Government officers to develop guidelines for setting up a car-sharing cooperatives in Brisbane
• Advertise the concept and its benefits through billboards, public seminars and radio/TV advertisements
• Subsidise the purchase of “green” vehicles for co-ops and companies
• Provide car parking spaces for registered car share vehicles at various destinations

What do you think about the Paris scheme and what do you think about our policy? Comment below

Help stop the Hale Street Bridge

2008-07-29T15:24:00.000+10:00

The Stop the Hale Street Bridge alliance are calling on people to
write to Anna Bligh regarding the Hale Street Bridge. They believe
public opinion, and even the opinion of the Courier Mail, is turning
on this project.

The No Tunnels / Community Action for Sustainable Transport letter has
been submitted today and you can read it here
http://www.notunnels.net/files/HaleSt28July08Bligh.pdf

Write your own quick letter to the Premier
South.Brisbane@parliament.qld.gov.au

Regional Development Funding Program

2008-07-26T12:48:00.000+10:00

Federal parliament is running an 'Inquiry into a New Regional Development Funding Program'.

There are a number of public forums taking place around the country which you might be interested in:

* Cairns: Friday 25 July 2008
* Darwin: Monday 28 July 2008
* Perth: Wednesday 30 July 2008
* Launceston: Monday 4 August 2008
* Ballarat: Wednesday 6 August 2008
* Shepparton: Friday 8 August 2008
* Dubbo: Tuesday 12 August 2008
* Nowra: Thursday 14 August 2008

Please get along and show your support for major Federal public transport initiatives.

More info at:
<http://www.aph. gov.au/house/ committee/ itrdlg/regionald evelopment/>

Don’t miss the bus, Mr Rudd - CAST Media Release 16.07.08

2008-07-26T12:41:00.002+10:00

Reducing the fuel excise and Federal investment in roads will not make travel affordable.

This is the message coming from a coalition of more than 20 transport and environmental groups who have signed off on an open letter to PM Kevin Rudd (Click here ), urging the Federal government to invest heavily in public transport to reduce the impacts of rising petrol prices.

“The Federal government’s urban transport priority must be to create a public transport system that takes people where they need to go, when they need to be there. More than anything else we need better alternatives to the car,” said Tristan Peach, spokesperson for Community Action for Sustainable Transport QLD (CAST).

“Providing better public transport for people in Ipswich, the Gold Coast, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast means they will spend less on fuel, and households may not have to own a second or third car,” said Mr Peach.

“The Federal government are mad to be pouring money into the Northern Link tunnel and the Ipswich Motorway at a time when driving is becoming even more expensive,” said Mr Peach.

“This money should go into assisting the state government to duplicate and extend rail lines, provide increased public transport frequencies, more cross-city and outer suburban bus services and substantial lengths of dedicated cycling and walking infrastructure. These are the priorities,” said Mr Peach.

“A weekly ticket for unlimited public transport travel within 30km of the Brisbane CBD costs $40. Now that is affordable travel. We just need a public transport system that meets the needs of more people so they can benefit from these huge savings,” said Mr Peach.

Cairns Action for Sustainable Transport and Queensland Conservation Council also endorsed the open letter.

Ipswich PTUG news

2008-05-27T15:23:00.002+10:00

Ipswich public transport users group newsletter
27 May 2008
An initiative of Community Action for Sustainable Transport Inc. castqld@yahoo.com.au PO Box 1260 Fortitude Valley 4006 ph 0416 478 615

Please forward to others who may be interested

Contents
A. Support our member’s ideas on public transport
Call for government support of the City Link Bus service
Call for improvements to Ipswich to Brisbane train service
Lack of Car Parking at Dinmore Railway Station

B. Western Brisbane Transport Network Investigation

A. Support our member’s ideas on public transport
Contact us if you would like your issue in the next edition

Submission 1 – Call for government support of the City Link Bus service
This service is currently privately operated by Southern Cross Transit and provides the only public transport for the communities of North Tivoli, Chuwar, Karalee, Barellan Point, Karana Downs and Anstead. It runs between Ipswich Transit Centre and Indooroopilly Shopping centre, servicing Karalee Shops, Karalee School, Karana Downs Shops and the Anstead store. Unless the service can receive government support it will cease to operate at the end of 2010 or earlier.

Make submissions to:
TransLink http://www.translink.qld.gov.au/qt/translin.nsf/index/feedbackform GPO Box 50 BRISBANE 4001 or ph. 131230
Minister for Transport John Mickel transport@ministerial.qld.gov.au 3806 8513 GPO Box 2644 BRISBANE QLD 4001

For more information:
City Link timetable: http://www.southerncrosstransit.com.au/IMAGES/CITYLink%20Ttable.pdf
City Link map: http://www.southerncrosstransit.com.au/IMAGES/CityLinkMap.jpg
TransLink south-west bus network map: http://www.translink.qld.gov.au/qt/translin.nsf/ReferenceLookup/070321_map_network_SouthWest.pdf/$file/070321_map_network_SouthWest.pdf

Submission 2 – Call for improvements to Ipswich to Brisbane train service
Trains should stop all stations from Ipswich to Darra and then at Indooroopliy, Toowong and Roma Street. An across the platform connection at Darra would be made to an all stations train between Darra, Brisbane and Shorncliffe. This Shorncliffe train would follow the Ipswich-Brisbane train by a few minutes, minimising changeover time. Shorncliffe to Darra trains would operate a few minutes ahead of the Brisbane-Ipswich trains, stopping at all stations.

Make submissions to:
TransLink http://www.translink.qld.gov.au/qt/translin.nsf/index/feedbackform GPO Box 50 BRISBANE 4001 or ph. 131230
Minister for Transport John Mickel transport@ministerial.qld.gov.au 3806 8513 GPO Box 2644 BRISBANE QLD 4001

Submission 3 – Lack of Car Parking at Dinmore Railway Station
The lack of car parking at Dinmore Railway Station shows that government needs to stop delaying essential improvements to our transport system. The station’s proximity to the off-ramps of the Cunningham and Warrego Highway makes it a key location for park-and-ride commuters on the western line. A temporary solution to increase parking needs to be implemented while commuters wait for the 230 delayed car parking spaces. There is a significant amount of Queensland Rail land around the station which could be fenced off and laid with gravel to create a temporary parking lot. Also, the 500 and 501 buses that service the station run at hourly frequencies, which is inadequate for busy commuters, and should be improved. Finally, improved walking and cycling access will give people living close by a healthy option to get to the train.

Make submissions to:
TransLink http://www.translink.qld.gov.au/qt/translin.nsf/index/feedbackform GPO Box 50 BRISBANE 4001 or ph. 131230
Minister for Transport John Mickel transport@ministerial.qld.gov.au 3806 8513 GPO Box 2644 BRISBANE QLD 4001
Sate Member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller Bundamba@parliament.qld.gov.au PO Box 122 GOODNA QLD 4300 phone : (07) 3288 3737 Fax : (07) 3818 1613

B. Western Brisbane Transport Network Investigation
Queensland Transport is currently conducting a study into possible options for improvements to transport in the western Brisbane area during the period up to 2026.

There are 17 options described by QT in this study. Most of these options involve new roads or roadways, but option No's 8,9,10 and 12, 13, and 14 do involve public or active transport infrastructure or proposals in one form or another.

For all of the details on this study, go to http://www.wbnti.net.au and use the tabs and links to find out more, in particular "What Is Being Considered" and "Community Involvement".

Note well that "western" Brisbane for the purposes of the Study does NOT just include what most people would define as the Western suburbs of Brisbane. The Study includes options involving suburbs as far apart as Samford, Bracken Ridge, Kedron, Everton Park and Albany Creek as well as the southern and western suburbs.

The decisions arising out of this Study will almost certainly affect YOU directly unless you live in Redland Shire or the far eastern suburbs, and the future of urban transport and many suburbs and communities WILL BE determined by actions which are likely to come out of this study.

Note that all submissions whether they are in writing or online must be made by 31 MAY - that's at the end of this week.

We urge EVERYONE to make a submission before the deadline. CAST will be making a submission to this Study. If you are a financial CAST member, you can contribute to the
design and content of our submission.

Contact us using this email address or phone us using the contact numbers on our blog if you have contributions or points to make:
http://sustainable-transport.blogspot.com
and we'll contact you individually.

While the public information sessions organised as part of this Study have now concluded, you can still see the hardcopy versions at various libraries this week. Details are on the Study's website.

CAST Statement on Airport Link - coming next week

2008-05-22T12:34:00.000+10:00

The State Government issued several statements on Monday
19 May stating that it had approved a tender by BrisConnect to
construct the Airport Link tunnel, the Windsor to Kedron busway,
and a flyover at the Airport roundabout.
The announcements gave very limited details of the financial, design
and environmental components of the proposed contract.
The Courier Mail has not provided full and accurate details of the
contract or the approved design.
Local residents whose homes or properties are or may be affected
in any number of ways, have not yet been provided with the information
that they are seeking, and to which they are entitled.
Likewise, CAST has not been given any reliable information.
We understand that an "information centre" will be established by
BrisConnect either today [Thursday] or tomorrow. As soon as
we know when and where this will be happening, we will report to you.
When CAST has been given access to all of the financial, design,
environmental and construction information, and the impacts on
both the local and general community, we will issue a formal
statement on the benefits [or otherwise], impacts and effects of the
proposed works.
We expect to issue this statement next week.

For the CAST committee
David and Tristan

Airport Link - Road to Nowhere

2008-05-19T23:52:00.000+10:00

No doubt most of you have heard or read the media versions of today's disastrous public announcements.

Actually there were, in the usual style of Anna Blight's exuberance with public monies, no less than six media releases extolling the virtues of sinking billions of dollars of taxes into more roads and tunnels, and how great life will be in the Sunshine State when $4,800 million is spent to save some motorists 15 minutes of travelling time.

To assist you to locate this flood of fantastic foolishness, here is the link to what was said -
http://www.cabinet. qld.gov.au/ MMS/StatementSea rch.aspx? tog_id=5
and type "Airport Link" in the search field. All the statements were issued today.

Of course, in the course of one of the darkest days in the history of this State, there was strangely no mention of the fact that the price of a barrel of oil has increased by more than 30% in just the last 20 months, or of the fact that there is just no substitute for aviation fuel.

So, even if travellers are going to the airport via Airport Link in electric cars in 10 years, how many of them are going to be able to afford the $2000 airfare in today's prices to Sydney?

While solar-powered cars with a limited range are likely to be a reality within 10 years, there is no possibility of solar-powered aircraft unless science discovers how to manufacture aircraft constructed by using a substance so light it is yet to be created.

Even if such an alloy is created, the cost of its production will be prohibitive at a time when non-renewable energy will have to be rationed due to scarcity and tough restrictions on emissions.

Nuclear-powered commercial aircraft? How many will be willing to fly in one? Or live under a flightpath with the risk of a nuclear meltdown if a plane crashed?

Whichever way you look at it, Airport Link will inevitably become the Road to Nowhere. Mad Max's Highway to Hell.

And scholars will later record that today - 19 May 2008 - the biggest mistake in the history of this State was made by short-sighted dumb politicians who ultimately came to realise, probably after they retired or resigned, that wise intelligent leaders make decisions for the long-term benefit of the people rather than for short-term profit, perceived political advantage and patronage.

The really strange thing is that Minister McNamara is just about to make a statement that basically follows the line I've composed above.

More on this to come...

Survey about public transport fares

2008-05-19T19:44:00.000+10:00

A survey of more than 100 southeast Queensland public transport users has been undertaken by David Bremner, a regular contributor to the CAST discussion group.

You can view the results of this survey, which have also been sent to government and transit operators by visiting this webpage

http://fairfares.googlepages.com/home

Congratulations to David for doing this research to better understand what people want out of our transport system

Ipswich public transport users group

2008-05-14T00:28:00.001+10:00

Essential improvements to public transport in Ipswich

Please send us your ideas for specific improvements that need to be made to public transport in and around Ipswich.

Email castqld@yahoo.com.au

We will make a submission to the government on your behalf and also email the submission to our list of contacts so that more people can write in support.

Make sure you include your name, email address, contact number (optional) and postcode so your identity can be verified by the government.

Try to describe your concern and possible solution(s) as simply as possible to minimise our need for editing, and to maximise the chance of government responding to your concern.

For example:

Location: 'Stafford Heights' bus stop on 345 Buz route, inbound, 100m south of Rode / Appleby Road intersection. Stafford Heights, Brisbane.

Concern: People sitting at the first bus shelter (shelter closest to where the bus stops) have their views of approaching buses blocked by the advertising panel on the side wall of the second shelter.

This means people only see the bus when it is 20-30m away. If the bus is moving at 40-60km/per hour this does not leave people enough time to get up, identify whether it is the right bus and then hail it, particularly if they are physically impaired.

Solution: Remove the advertising panel from the second bus shelter and replace with a transparent panel.

Noteafter making your submission we will put you on our mailing list for the Ipswich group unless you advise us not to. If at any stage after joining the mailing list you want to be removed simply send an email with UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line.

Do 4WDs belong in cities?

2008-03-07T14:06:00.001+10:00

A recent public opinion survey by AAMI found that 60% of the 2380 licensed drivers surveys believed 4WDs did not belong in cities, while 33% thought driving a four wheel drive was socially unacceptable due to the greenhouse emissions. You can read the news article here. What do you think about 4WDs in our cities, and what do you think government policy should be on them?

Family go "car(e)free" in Brisbane

2008-03-05T09:57:00.001+10:00

An average Brisbane suburban family has decided to go car free to save money and improve their health. Not only that, they have decided to record their experiences in an online diary, which you can read regular updates on here. While some of our current political leaders tell us it's "green" to drive a 4WD everywhere it's great to see that Brisbane people are taking our social, environmental and economic challenges seriously and taking genuine action to improve the city.

Media Tuesday 4 March

2008-03-05T09:48:00.000+10:00

State plans for Ipswich CBD and public transport interchange

Monday's announcement by the Premier, Anna Bligh, of plans by the State to take control of planning in Ipswich's CBD has been welcomed by the community transport group, Community Action for Sustainable Transport [CAST].

CAST supports the move to upgrade the railway station and bus interchange.

The existing station and interchange are failing to properly cater for the increasing demand for public transport services by the Ipswich community.

The need for better quality facilities and services for commuters has been apparent for the last five years following the explosive growth in housing and workplaces in surrounding suburbs.

CAST particularly supports the intention to construct office space to house up to 1200 State
Government workers.

We have regularly urged the State to relocate many of its Government departments from Brisbane's

CBD to suburban hubs and regional growth areas like Ipswich and Cleveland, said CAST president David White.

The benefits to the community generally and to the State of decentralising its workplaces and services include substantial cost savings from reduced travelling times, and significant reductions in demands for new and costly infrastructure to cope with transport congestion caused by local workers and families having to travel long distances every day during peak hours.

The State now needs to take action to complete the Darra to Springfield line and all associated stations by 2011, and to fast-track construction of the connection between Springfield and Ipswich.

This will be essential if the new workers in the Ipswich CBD are to have fast and efficient access to their workplaces.

We do however believe that the intention to introduce a private investor to construct the new centre has the potential to increase the cost of the project unnecessarily. The State's record of success using public-private partnerships is not good.

Contact David White: 0403 871 082

Hale Street Bridge Update

2008-02-08T11:17:00.000+10:00

WHAT PRICE FOR CITY HALL ACCOUNTABILITY?

by Darren Godwell, President, West End Community Association.

The State government's Co-ordinator General report on the inner-city toll-bridge at Hale Street paints a picture of an auction where the price keeps on rising well after you've made the final bid.

"For the HSL to proceed.would require an increased project budget above that of the $245 million approved by Council".

At the last council election candidate Newman made a $180 million promise to build a toll-bridge. Today Lord Mayor Newman says it'll cost $450 million.

The report's measured tone rings alarm bells - "it may be necessary for a new financial analysis.to ensure the project is good 'value' and is able to service the cost of project with the toll revenues collected."

The Co-ordinator General's insight tells us City Hall is having difficulty coming to grips with another major project. Sadly, if Newman persists the end result will be either a larger subsidy from the pockets of Brisbane's ratepayers through more rates increase or a top-up from the taxpayers of Queensland. So it's either the pockets of ratepayers or the pockets of taxpayers.

"Most projects of this size in recent times have been subject to significant cost-escalation pressures...It is likely that this project was also finding significant cost pressure and difficulty of remaining within the Council-approved budget."

The Lord Mayor's new alternative is to scale-back the approaches onto the bridge.

Logically, the State government finds that "a reduction in project scope is likely to result in reduced benefits [and] the project business case will need to be revisited to ensure that the 'value' of the project is acceptable".

Here's the rub. To test for "value" and to consider its "acceptability" before the local Council election we'll need to see City Hall's "project modification report". But Council's revised report is not due until the 20th March - five days after the election.

The Co-ordinator General rightly asks are we getting 'good value' from ratepayers' monies. To figure out what's 'good value' we'll also need to know if the project works.

The independent umpire reveals that City Hall made interesting choices from the beginning: "BCC did not seek the assistance of the Coordinator-General.BCC instead undertook a voluntary assessment process. However, a 'voluntary assessment process' may not necessarily be conducted with the same robustness and rigor."

Rigor was never to bother this process. Process became a rude joke when the Mayor's staff solicited big business and interstate relatives to make submissions supporting the proposal.

The latest revelation is City Hall's obligations under the "conditional approval" by the State government. Specifically, filing an acceptable "traffic management plan" for both construction and operational stages. Including a "public transport management plan" to detail impacts on non-car commuters.

We now know City Hall has only assessed a portion of the traffic impacts. Amazingly, the Coordinator General reveals, this project is only half tested. There is no assessment of the traffic impacts on the southern end.

"BCC was not asked to and did not submit a traffic management report for the proposed southside works. I note that Main Roads do not intend to request a traffic management report for these works as, in their opinion, any impact would be on local traffic only in the immediate area."

This finding points to the Labor majority in Council who approved the project without the full information on all of the impacts.

South Brisbane Councillor Helen Abrahams is left out on a limb by not knowing the impacts on local businesses, streets, suburbs and constituents. To a lesser degree, the local State Member, Anna Bligh, is also exposed by this oversight.

The Coordinator General recommends that State government compel City Hall for a traffic management plan for the southern side. This plan is critical to making an accurate assessment. The final report may prove unpalatable reading for the people of the Gabba, Highgate Hill, South Bank, South Brisbane and West End.

Once every four years, people hold their Lord Mayor and local Councillors to account. To do this properly, in the interest of seeing public monies well spent, the people of Brisbane will need to have all the pieces, traffic and financial, on the table before the election.

Smart Card Discounts

2007-12-14T13:03:00.000+10:00

David Bremner, a Brisbane resident, has done an excellent evaluation of the discount scheme that has been offered by TransLink for SmartCard users.

You can read the full evaluation here:

http://brisbaneseasterngateway.googlepages.com/translinkticketrawdeal

Media 20 Nov

2007-11-21T15:09:00.000+10:00

Better public transport essential to combat global warming

This statement has been jointly issued and supported by these State organisations:

- Community Action for Sustainable Transport Queensland
- Public Transport Users Association Victoria
- Action for Public Transport NSW
- People for Public Transport SA
- Sustainable Transport Coalition WA
- ACT Transit Group ACT

An alliance of State transport lobby groups has urged the major political parties to commit to funding public and rail freight transport at a national level. This commitment must be an integral part of a cost-effective and energy-efficient greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction strategy.

The latest report from the International Panel on Climate Change indicates that the next Australian Government must take urgent and decisive action to avoid the destructive and irreversible impacts of climate change.

If Australia is to commit to achieving significant reductions in emissions by 2020 at the Bali conference in December, it will need to start planning now for a substantial reduction in emissions from transport.

"Transport accounts for 36% of household GHG emissions, and over 14% of total
national emissions. Most commuters know we need to fight global warming, but they want attractive transport options to encourage them to leave their cars at home and
walk, cycle or use public transport regularly," said spokesperson David White.

"Governments have to provide those options. Spending billions of dollars on new roads and tunnels will not solve the problem of congestion. It just means that we are not serious about confronting the issue of climate change. Cities overseas where more than 20% of trips are made by public transport have much lower per capita greenhouse emissions than Australian cities," Mr White said.

The major parties have a short-sighted belief that building more roads and tunnels will reduce traffic congestion. But experience has shown that new roads generate more traffic. And more cars mean higher carbon emission levels and accelerated global warming.

The transport groups say that Federal Governments cannot avoid responsibility for funding public and rail freight transport funding by claiming that public and rail freight transport is a State responsibility. As global warming is a national issue that requires a national solution, then Federal funding policy should require the States to meet strict performance, energy and environmental criteria.

New sustainable transport initiatives are required now. Low cost solutions like dedicated bike and bus lanes can be created immediately. New rolling stock, off-road bikeways and freight and passenger rail lines could be constructed and operating successfully within 5 years if balanced Federal transport funding is made available now.

Australia is the only developed country that does not provide direct federal funding of urban public transport, despite a recent survey revealing that 83 per cent of voters support federal funding being introduced.

If Australia is to avoid runaway climate change successfully, high quality public and rail freight transport must be a key part of the solution. We strongly urge the major parties to commit to funding rail freight and public transport at a national level as a matter of urgency.

Media contacts: David White 0403 871 082

Media 6 Nov

2007-11-21T14:49:00.000+10:00

SmartCard fare structure not very smart

The Transport Minister must revise and improve the proposed fare structure for the SmartCards if he wants regular and occasional public transport users to use them.

Under the proposed fare structure, the first 6 trips each week will be charged at full price, with a 50 percent discount to apply to all other trips made within a week. Commuters who now purchase weekly paper tickets, and who make regular trips more than 10 times a week, will be financially disadvantaged if they convert to the new Smartcard system.

Some very frequent users changing from a weekly paper ticket would see their fares more than double.

Occasional bus and train commuters who now buy and use Ten-trip Savers will be similarly disadvantaged.

This is not the way to encourage public transport users to sign on to the SmartCard
system. Translink must offer financial incentives to encourage commuters to use PT services more regularly.

The proposed fare structure will discourage many commuters who for convenience and cost buy weekly tickets, by imposing higher charges on them if they buy a SmartCard.

How dumb is that?

The Minister says that paper tickets will continue to be available. CAST notes however that Translink expects that SmartCards will ultimately replace all paper tickets – apparently without providing comparable fares.

Holders of paper tickets avoid having to remember to swipe their SmartCards or face a penalty.

Translink must offer occasional users a Smartcard version with a similar discount to the Ten-trip Saver, with a six-month validity period.

There must be a weekly cap placed on SmartCard fares, so that the 11th and subsequent trips are free of charge.

Translink must devise and introduce innovative incentives to attract more people to use
public transport and to use it regularly.

If the Minister wants more people to use public transport, he must instruct Translink to modify the SmartCard fare structure to make it attractive to existing commuters, and to all those potential passengers who would leave their cars at home if public transport services and fares were an attractive alternative.

Contact David White 0403 871 082

Media 17 October 2007

2007-10-18T09:50:00.000+10:00

Rudd a dud on transport

A group advocating sustainable transport is outraged at Kevin Rudd’s short-sighted and counter productive approach to funding transport in southeast Queensland.

Community Action for Sustainable Transport (CAST) have called on Rudd to immediately withdraw the proposed funding for the Northern Link tunnel in Brisbane ($500 million), Pacific Motorway upgrade ($455 million) and Ipswich Motorway upgrade ($1.1 billion).

“For this amount of money we could have 182 new train carriages to deal with overcrowding issues and to accommodate for the huge increases in patronage that will occur as fuel prices increase,” said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach

“The ALP’s transport approach is totally flawed and socially inequitable, and will lead to increased congestion, pollution and car dependence at a time when fuel prices are rapidly rising and transport related greenhouse emissions are a huge concern,” said Mr Peach.

“We need major Federal investment in sustainable transport so we can deal with current public transport capacity issues and make it easier for people to walk and cycle,” said Mr Peach.

“Mr Rudd has demonstrated a complete lack of vision, we believe that the money would be far better spent on sustainable transport projects such as buying more train carriages, buying back Brisbane’s Airtrain and extending rail lines from Petrie to Kippa Ring, Beerwah to Maroochydore, Robina to Cooloongatta and Springfield to Ipswich,” said Mr Peach.

“And our cities need comprehensive bikeway networks, not wider roads,” said Mr Peach.

“Labor say they want to ease gridlock, but their policies will increase it,” said Mr Peach.

“This is climate change hypocrisy from Labor – acting like they’re concerned but then adopting policy that will make it worse,” said Mr Peach.

“If Rudd is genuine about his supposed concern for working families then he would be investing money in affordable transport solutions for our suburbs, rather than keeping people in their cars,” said Mr Peach.
“The best way to save lives on the Ipswich Motorway is to give people a better option to driving – putting more cars and trucks on the road does not make it safer,” said Mr Peach.

Media Release 9 October 2007

2007-10-18T09:49:00.000+10:00

Feds must buy back Brisbane Air Train

The Federal Government should buy back Brisbane’s Air Train and contribute funds to fast-track rail extensions from Petrie to Kippa-Ring, Beerwah to Maroochydore, Robina to Cooloongatta and Springfield to Ipswich.

Community Action for Sustainable Transport (CAST) and a national coalition of public transport users groups are sending a message to all Federal political parties that it’s time for them to get serious about funding urban public transport.

The groups believe it is in the interests of human health, the economy and the environment for the Federal Government to provide major funding for urban public transport projects.

On Tuesday 9 October CAST are leading the Queensland launch of ‘Moving Australians Sustainably: transport policy in the national interest’ (attached), a document prepared by the Victorian Public Transport Users Association which highlights the economic, social and environmental imperatives for the Federal Government to put major funding into urban public transport.

Executive summary http://www.ptua.org.au/federal/moving_summary.html
Full report http://www.ptua.org.au/federal/moving_australians-web.pdf

“A Federal Government that is serious about reducing congestion, greenhouse emissions, obesity and Australia’s growing trade deficit would be funding urban public transport,” said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach.

“Historically the Feds have spent the vast majority of transport funding on roads, but it is time for them to take a balanced approach to ensure that Australians have access to affordable transport options,” said Mr Peach.

Media 05 October 2007

2007-10-18T09:48:00.000+10:00

Springfield Rail Line – extra stations needed

CAST believe that people in Brisbane’s outer suburbs should have easy access to quality public transport.

Therefore CAST believe that as the State Government builds the heavy rail line from Darra to Springfield they must build the Ellen Grove and Springfield Lakes Railway Stations.

“These stations need to be built as the line is constructed, so people can use the train from these stations at the outset,” said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach.

“Installing the stations at Ellen Grove and Springfield Lakes will put residents there in walking or cycling distance of a faster, safer and more convenient transport option than what is currently on offer,” said Mr Peach.

“Giving people in Ellen Grove and Springfield Lakes access to rail will mean they might not have to buy that second car, and young people in the area can develop healthy and safe transport habits by walking or cycling to their local train station,” said Mr Peach.

“This will also take pressure off local road networks, as people who normally drive to Gailes or Wacol Station, or who drive all the way to the city, will have a better option,” said Mr Peach.

Queensland Transport have recently stated these stations would be developed later on because these areas have low population densities and there would not be sufficient demand.

But CAST believe Queensland Transport’s approach will be a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“If you don’t give people access to quality public transport then of course they’re not going to use it,” said Mr Peach.

“Having easy access to quality public transport infrastructure can change people’s travel patterns and we believe it is definitely a case of build it and they will come,” said Mr Peach.

“The Goodwill Pedestrian Bridge and the Southeast Busway are both great examples of demand exceeding expectations,” said Mr Peach.

“We would also like to know whether Queensland Transport’s projections have taken into account rising fuel prices, which will lead to higher demand for public transport,” said Mr Peach.

The stations would also allow Ellen Grove and Springfield Lakes residents to access Springfield Town Centre, and workers in the Carole Park industrial area to get to work via train.

Currently a bus ride from Ellen Grove to the city can take between 50-60 minutes, but if residents are able to jump on the train they could get to the city in 30 minutes.

Public transport users

2007-08-07T17:16:00.000+10:00

Are you a public transport user?

We are trying to form public transport users groups that would operate in different areas around southeast Queensland

For example, Ipswich, South Brisbane or the Gold Coast.

Write us an email at castptug@yahoo.com.au if you would like to be a part of a public transport users group in your area.

These small groups would work on making improvements to their local transport systems, by lobbying local politicians etc.

Media Release 06 August 2007

2007-08-06T15:02:00.000+10:00

Southport: T3 lane must go on existing road

A transport lobby group have praised the Transport Minister Paul Lucas for his decision to install T3 lanes on Smith Street at Southport, but have urged the Transport Minister to put it on the existing road, rather than using it as an excuse for widening Smith Street.

The current $9.7 million T3 proposal is to build an extra lane along a 1.3 kilometre section of Smith Street between Geoffrey Avenue and High Street.

“The Minister needs to understand that T3 lanes dramatically increase the capacity of existing roads, meaning you don’t need to widen them or build new ones, even with a growing population” said Community Action for Sustainable Transport (CAST) spokesperson Tristan Peach.

“You can move far more people along the same amount of road simply by allocating it to more efficient road users,” said Mr Peach.

“Putting transit lanes on existing road space is one of the most cost-effective strategies for reducing congestion, and frees up money for improvements to the public transport network” said Mr Peach.

“T3 lanes should be placed on existing roads rather than building new lanes, otherwise the incentive to use the transit lane is taken away because you’re providing more space for single occupant vehicles,” said Mr Peach.

“Widening the road to add a transit lane means you’re giving people incentives to keep driving, rather than making public transport and car pooling a better option,” said Mr Peach.

“Widening the road means you continue to encourage trends of increasing single occupant vehicle use, which leads to more road accidents, pollution, congestion and loss of amenity,” said Mr Peach.

“If we’re serious about improving accessibility for our growing population then we should not be allocating all this money to new roads and road widening. We should be putting T3 lanes on existing road space and investing the money saved into more frequent public transport services,” said Mr Peach.

Media release 31 July 2007

2007-07-31T15:51:00.000+10:00

Big red light for Northern Link Tunnel

A sustainable transport group is appalled that Brisbane City Councillors have voted in unanimous support of proceeding with the Northern Link tunnel, and have urged the Federal government to fund urban public transport projects instead.

“This is another move in the wrong direction for Brisbane,” said Community Action for Sustainable Transport (CAST) spokesperson Tristan Peach.

“New car bridges and tunnels increase congestion, pollution, road accidents and social inequity. They have not worked in Sydney, and the impact statements for other TransApex projects predict huge increases in congestion on Stafford Road, Newmarket Road, Gympie Road, Vulture Street, Cordelia Street, Merivale Street and the East-West Arterial as a result of the Airport Link, North South Bypass Tunnel and Hale Street Bridge,” he said.

“Brisbane has all the major roads it needs, what we desperately need is a public transport system that carries 30% (rather than the current 10%) of the population,” he said.

“Despite the rhetoric Council and the State are planning for only 11% of trips to be via public transport in 2026, and as a result congestion and pollution will increase,” he said.

“Council need to roll out a network of transit lanes across the city to make public transport a faster option than the car, they also need to switch their funding priority from cars to public transport, walking and cycling,” said Mr Peach.

Continuous Transit Lanes could be installed within months on most major roads – Coronation Drive, Lutwyche/Gympie Road, Old Cleveland Road, Kelvin Grove Road, Ipswich Road, with buses getting priority at traffic lights – increasing the carrying capacity of these roads and making public transport a more comparable alternative to the car.

“Council also needs to make cycling a better option by installing more cycle paths and bike lanes so people can use their bikes for shorter trips – this is a very cost effective way to reduce congestion,” said Mr Peach.

CAST has urged the Federal government to snub Council’s tunnel vision and to invest their money into real solutions for Brisbane.

“Federal money should also be invested in the heavy rail network, duplicating tracks, track extensions and buying more rolling stock,” Mr Peach.

“We need trains and buses running every 15 minutes, and for new developments to be served by rail at the outset. We also need to take road freight off the roads and put it onto rail,” said Mr Peach.

The State and Council need to work together to focus more new development around railway stations, and to discourage sprawling residential developments in outer areas.

The group believes the decision shows that Council’s approach to climate change is totally hypocritical, with their words saying they are planning to reduce Greenhouse emissions, while their actions do the opposite.

The Australian Greenhouse Office has stated that vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT) in motor vehicles is the primary factor leading to increased greenhouse emissions from the transport sector, and the impact statement for the Airport Link shows that Council and the State are planning for a massive increase in VKT up to the year 2026. The Northern Link will make this even worse,” said Mr Peach.

Councillor Quirk’s suggestion that the best way to improve travel times for public transport users is to spend 1.5 billion on a car tunnel is highly cynical as it comes just months after Council removed the T3 lane from Coronation Drive, leading to longer travel times for public transport users in Brisbane’s West.

“If Councillor Quirk was serious about improving the transport system then instead of pushing for tunnel projects he would be installing transit lanes,” said Mr Peach.

Media release 16 July 2007

2007-07-15T18:42:00.000+10:00

Beattie’s Smart City transport proposal

A group advocating sustainable transport has come out in tentative support of Premier Beattie’s vision for Brisbane as a “knowledge city” linked by pedestrian spines and light rail.

Beattie suggested on Sunday he wanted to make Brisbane one of the most pedestrian friendly cities in the world.

But Community Action for Sustainable Transport (CAST) has urged him to start implementing his vision immediately and that it must include improvements for cyclists.

They have also suggested that he fund the plan by diverting money from the costly “Airport Link”, a car tunnel that will increase congestion and pollution across Brisbane.

CAST believe if Beattie wants to achieve a pedestrian friendly city there are a number of strategies he can implement immediately at minimal cost.

(1) Reduce speed limits on roads in the CBD and inner city

(2) Enforce reduced speed limits in these areas through the installation of speed cameras

(3) More bike lanes in the CBD and inner city, linking South Brisbane, the CBD, the Valley and Bowen Hills

(4) Change traffic light phases to give pedestrians longer and more frequent green lights

“We do not need to wait years for new infrastructure to make our city pedestrian friendly – if Beattie is serious about his plan he will implement our cost-effective ideas immediately,” said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach.

“Pedestrian friendly cities like Amsterdam in the Netherlands and Copenhagen in Denmark have already prioritised pedestrians and cyclists through measures such as these, we do not need to wait 3 years for bureaucrats to do a study before starting to make this vision a reality” said Mr Peach.

Another key aspect of making a city pedestrian friendly is to reduce car traffic, especially in areas well serviced by public transport such as the CBD and South Brisbane.

CAST have urged Beattie to implement a congestion charge and reduce car parking in the CBD to reduce unnecessary traffic and pollution.

“Reducing unnecessary car traffic is essential if we are to make the city cyclist and pedestrian friendly,” said Mr Peach.

Green bridges in Brisbane have been hugely successful with the Goodwill Bridge and Eleanor Schonell Bridge easing congestion, while Brisbane City Council reports show their proposed Hale Street Bridge will increase congestion and pollution.

“Brisbane City Council should consider aborting the misguided Hale Street Bridge project and investing in Beattie’s plan,” said Mr Peach.

“And any new Green bridges must provide adequate room for cyclists who use the bridge for commuting,” he said.

Members of the public can view the report and provide feedback (by 13 August) at http://www.smartstate.qld.gov.au/ or by phoning 1800021818.

Media Release 12 July 2007

2007-07-11T17:33:00.000+10:00

Prioritise public safety around construction sites

A Brisbane community group says the Government must change development codes to ensure construction sites do not impact on pedestrian safety.

The call comes after the death of a pedestrian outside a construction site in Brisbane’s CBD where part of a footpath had been closed and alternative crossing arrangements were poorly planned.

Community Action for Sustainable Transport (CAST) have called on Council, development associations and the State Government to launch an inquiry into transport safety around construction sites and to change planning legislation and building codes accordingly.

“We want Brisbane City Council’s planning chairperson Cr David Hinchliffe to take the lead on this inquiry, which must include real public consultation, before implementing the recommendations,” said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach.

“The safety of the general public must be the highest priority during construction, and development codes must be changed and enforced to ensure this is not an optional extra,” said Mr Peach.

“Arrangements for pedestrians around some sites has been managed reasonably well, for example construction of the inner northern busway on the corner of Albert and Adelaide Street, but others are well below standard,” said Mr Peach.

Dangerous pedestrian arrangements have also been observed at a construction site on the corner of Albert and Margaret Streets, where the footpath was closed abruptly and no alternate crossings or paths were provided.

Public concerns have also been raised about construction and operation of the expensive North-South Bypass Tunnel which will lead to the closure of the footpath along Ipswich Road on the western side at Park Road, forcing many who take that route onto the road as a short cut.

Cycling groups have also voiced concerns about the impacts of the controversial North-South Bypass Tunnel, Airport Link and Hale Street Bridge.

Media release 10 July 2007

2007-07-10T14:33:00.000+10:00

CBD road safety: police the attackers, not the victims

A group advocating safe and peaceful transport has slammed the Brisbane City Council and Queensland Police Force response to accidents involving pedestrians in the Brisbane CBD.

A 15 year old girl was killed by a car on Elizabeth Street on Wednesday June 20 and another person was hit by a car on the corner of Wharf and Eagle Street recently.

The response by the Queensland Police Force has been to fine pedestrians for jaywalking and crossing at red lights.

Brisbane City Council’s Transport Chairperson Graham Quirk has said that warnings will be painted on the road in Eagle Street telling pedestrians to watch for cars.

“The government is punishing the victim, not the attacker,” said Community Action for Sustainable Transport spokesperson Tristan Peach.

“Walking is the safest and most peaceful form of transport, and does no harm, while driving a car is dangerous and violent,” he said.

“Government’s response is entrenching a system where violent modes of transport are given priority over peaceful and safe modes,” he said.

“Pedestrians are sick of waiting minutes at traffic lights while cars speed past and endanger their lives,” he said.

CAST have recommended a range of sensible measures that will reduce accidents and fatalities in the city, while making the CBD a more attractive and comfortable place for people to shop.

“What we need in the CBD are reduced speed limits, more speed and red light cameras, signs warning drivers to give way to pedestrians and increased frequency and length of pedestrian phases at traffic lights,” said Mr Peach.

Specific ideas include motor vehicle slow zones on Elizabeth Street (between George and Wharf Street) and George Street (between Elizabeth and Adelaide Street) where a 20-30km/hr speed limit would be enforced by speed cameras.

Other ideas include longer and more frequent pedestrian phases at traffic lights on the corner of Eagle/Creek/Charlotte, Queen/Edward, Edward/Anne and Elizabeth/Albert.

All construction sites (such as the one on the corner of Elizabeth and Albert) must make full accommodations for pedestrians.

“If we are to make Brisbane a liveable and prosperous city we must put human life before vehicle speeds,” said Mr Peach.

Opinion piece

2007-07-03T11:04:00.000+10:00

Housing, transport and planning in southeast Queensland

At the end of May Deputy Premier Anna Bligh launched the updated Infrastructure Plan for Southeast Queensland (1).

This “$20 billion” plan provides clues as to the housing and transport challenges that lie ahead for the region.

It was announced that Brisbane, Logan, Redcliffe, Redlands, Pine Rivers and Caboolture will accommodate a large proportion of growth, and that in Pine Rivers and Caboolture most of it will be on undeveloped “Greenfield” sites.

The western corridor around Ipswich will also accommodate growth in Greenfield developments.

These developments on the urban fringe can be problematic.

The 2005 Regional Plan adopted a “balanced” approach to housing – acknowledging the post war trend for suburban fringe housing, but emphasising that more housing needed to be close to public transport and activity centres in existing urban areas.

Greenfield development requires large tax payer subsidies for new power, water and transport infrastructure.

And as well as leading to loss of biodiversity and traffic congestion, housing on the fringe is not as cheap as the development industry would have us believe.

It may offer short term savings on house and land, but these are offset by higher ongoing costs.

The far flung location coupled with lack of public transport options means households often need more than one car and petrol bills strain budgets.

Griffith University researchers found that fringe dwellers are the most vulnerable to rising oil prices which will make it harder to meet mortgage repayments (2).

In addition to this, poor housing design leads to higher energy bills.

We must learn from the mistake of allowing the huge North Lakes development to proceed without linking it to the northern rail line.

For the good of the region most future development in Pine Rivers and Caboolture Shires should be in underutilised land surrounding train stations such as Strathpine, Petrie, Narangba and Burpengary.

Development west of Brisbane should occur around new heavy rail infrastructure and include more local employment options.

If it does not we will see a continuing increase in carnage on the Ipswich motorway, regardless of how much money goes into upgrades and bypasses.

To the State’s credit it has already started work on the rail link between Darra and Springfield in the west.

But another concern raised by the revised Infrastructure Plan is government’s overall reluctance to prioritise rail over roads and busways.

Anyone who uses buses and trains knows that trains are more efficient, even if the bus is on a busway.

Murdoch University Professor Jeff Kenworthy emphasises how rail competes better with cars than buses due to smoother rides, higher speeds and greater reliability.

In a study of more than 80 urban regions he discovered there were no regions where the average speed of bus systems exceeds 26km/hr, while rail systems averaged between 34-43km/hr, in comparison to a general road traffic speed of 34km/hr (3).

Current government initiatives such as rail line duplications on the Ferny Grove, Gold Coast and Ipswich lines are steps in the right direction.

But its time for the Infrastructure Plan to be redeveloped – guided by a hard-headed analysis of the relative costs and benefits of investing in rail versus roads and busways.

The rail link between Darra and Springfield must continue on as a four track line through the Ripley Valley linking back into Ipswich.

The transport corridor between Petrie and Kippa-Ring must be developed as rail, possibly servicing North Lakes.

The northern line must extend to coastal centres such as Maroochydore and Mooloolaba, and the southern line to Coolangatta.

In Brisbane, its time to junk the amateurish “TransApex” road projects and analyse the option of tunnelling for heavy rail between major activity generators such as the CBD and UQ St Lucia.

Tunnelling is occurring now to build the new busway from Roma Street to Queen Street.

This is a positive project but the unfortunate reality is that it will be at capacity within two weeks of opening due to the limited capacity of buses.

The billions spent on short lengths of busway could be even better spent on placing a comprehensive network of transit lanes on existing roads across the city, while investing leftover funds into improving the frequency and coverage of services.

Drivers need not fear because they will finally have a safer, cheaper, greener and more convenient alternative to the car.

Congestion will reduce considerably once a quarter of trips are on public transport and this will benefit couriers, tradespeople and others who still have to drive.

Chris Hale is an urban economist, researching land use and transport at the University of Queensland's Centre for Transport Strategy. c.hale2@uq.edu.au
Tristan Peach is a part-time tutor and lecturer in urban planning at QUT t.peach@qut.edu.au

Endnotes

(1) Bligh, A. (Tuesday 29 May 2007) $20.2 billion earmarked for infrastructure in greater Brisbane, Queensland Government Media Release.
(2) Dodson and Sipe. (2005) ‘Oil Vulnerability in the Australian City’ in Urban Research Program Research Paper 6.
(3) Kenworthy, Murray-Leach and Townsend (2005) ‘Sustainable urban transport’ in The natural advantage of nations: business opportunities, innovation and governance in the 21st century. Earthscan, London.

Media 27 June 07

2007-06-26T17:28:00.000+10:00

Fast track rail improvements for Southeast Queensland

Despite its flaws, Queensland Rail’s City Train network is still one of the most reliable public transport systems in Australia’s capital cities and should be expanded so that more people have access to it.

The City Train rail network is on time for the vast majority of trips (92.6% on-time average in peak hour 2005/2006) compared with Sydney where the system only reached a 92% on-time average 12 in every 20 days (54% of the time).

In Melbourne, the on-time performance of the Connex rail network recently dropped to 90.8% as a result of a damaged train fleet, and Connex was forced to pay compensation to regular users.

“Rail has greater speed and capacity than cars and buses, and will best cope with meeting the transport needs of the growing region,” said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach.

It is safer, faster and more comfortable than cars and buses, with international research on 80 cities showing there were no regions where the average speed of bus systems exceeds 26km/hr, while rail systems averaged between 34-43km/hr, in comparison to a general road traffic speed of 34km/hr.

“In Southeast Queensland current and planned rail upgrades need to be prioritised by the State Government, with money to be taken from low-priority road projects such as the disastrous Airport Link tunnel,” said Mr Peach.

“We are also encouraging frustrated rail commuters to write to Transport Minister Paul Lucas to tell him what needs to be improved,” said Mr Peach.

CAST believe rail improvements need to be fast-tracked such as:

(1) The rail link between Darra and Springfield must continue on as a four track line through the Ripley Valley linking back into Ipswich.

(2)The transport corridor between Petrie and Kippa-Ring must be developed as rail, possibly servicing North Lakes.

(3) The northern line must extend to coastal centres such as Maroochydore and Mooloolaba, and the southern line to Coolangatta.

(4) Work needs to be done with timetable integration, for example the Ipswich train (coming from Caboolture) often narrowly misses the connecting Ferny Grove train at Bowen Hills, which can lead to a wait of up to one hour

(5) Improved bike and pedestrian paths and lighting around railway stations

MEDIA CONTACT: Tristan Peach 0416-478-615QR CityTrain

References

QR CityTrain
http://www.corporate.qr.com.au/Images/QR%20Annual%20Report%202005_06_tcm15-14708.pdf

Sydney Rail Corp
http://www.transportregulator.nsw.gov.au/publications/reports/ontime_running04/on_time_running.pdf

Connex Melbourne http://www.connexmelbourne.com.au/news_comp/index_feb.asp

Kenworthy, Murray-Leach and Townsend (2005) ‘Sustainable urban transport’ in The natural advantage of nations: business opportunities, innovation and governance in the 21st century. Earthscan, London.

Media 18 June 2007

2007-06-18T13:40:00.000+10:00

Hazardous cycle lane blockage on Victoria Bridge

A frustrated cycling commuter contacted CAST this morning to report that the inbound cycle lane on Victoria Bridge (Brisbane City) was blocked when she rode across the bridge at 8:30am (Monday 18 June).

After further investigation it was confirmed that the lane was blocked by a long, metal temporary fence which still remained after 9am despite being reported to the Brisbane City Council call centre.

Cyclists were forced to suddenly merge with heavy vehicle traffic because there was no prior warning signage and no opportunity for cyclists to turn around and get off the bridge onto the footpath.

“This dangerous and unnecessary hazard shows the kind of contempt the Government has for cyclists,” said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach.

“Government would never allow an important car route to be blocked unnecessarily without warning,” said Mr Peach.

“Cyclists are treated like second class citizens in Brisbane, and we demand an apology for this mistake and and assurance that it will not happen again,” said Mr Peach.

This bike lane is popular with the many cyclists coming from West End, South Brisbane, Highgate Hill and Dutton Park.

The barrier may have been left on the road after an event or road closure on the weekend.

CAST believe Brisbane needs a full network of cycle paths and lanes to encourage more people to use their bike as a mode of transport for accessing work, shops and other services.

“Brisbane’s current cycle network is a hotch potch of fragmented paths along creeks and occasional bike lanes on roads that randomly disappear,” said Mr Peach.

CAST also want to see more bicycle lockers at railway stations to encourage people to cycle for shorter trips.

“Some well used railway stations have only four bike lockers, which are all in use, while people who lock their bikes to fences or poles risk having them stolen,” said Mr Peach.

Media 14 June 2007

2007-06-18T13:34:00.000+10:00

Council budget - “Moving Brisbane” in the right direction?

Brisbane City Council’s 2007/2008 transport budget is a slight improvement from last year, but has still failed to get the balance right.

Initial analysis shows that $450million (69%) is devoted to roads; $173mil (27%) to public transport; $24mil (4%) to walking and cycling; and $2.5 million (>1%) to travel demand management.

“The Lord Mayor and Councillors will not achieve their election mandate of reducing congestion until spending on walking, cycling and public transport exceeds road spending,” said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach.

“Brisbane does not need any new major roads – what we need are public transport, walking and cycling networks that carry 30 to 40 percent of trips – only then will congestion be reduced,” said Mr Peach.

“By wasting money on unnecessary road projects the Council is putting a huge additional burden on ratepayers, and wasting money that should be spent on climate change programs and increasing the rainwater tank rebate,” said Mr Peach.

The $173 million for public transport is a $44 million increase from the $129 million allocation for public transport in 06/07 budget.

CAST believe this money needs to go into cost effective projects that have major benefits for public transport users.

“This year we want to see a comprehensive network of T3 lanes rolled out across the city, more high frequency BUZ services and more buses feeding into train stations,” said Mr Peach.

Petition to QLD Government

2007-05-08T16:45:00.000+10:00

Implement the Integrated Transport Planning Framework

To: the Honourable the Speaker and Members of the Legislative Assembly of Queensland

Also available to sign online at http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/EPetitions_QLD/CurrentEPetition.aspx?PetNum=817&lIndex=-1

This petition by residents of the State of Queensland draws to the attention of the House the need for positive action by the State and Local Councils in Queensland to implement the recommendations of the Integrated Transport Planning Framework (ITPF).

Non-adoption of the ITPF effectively limits potential investment in sustainable transport. This is against a backdrop where greenhouse gas emissions are acknowledged as a main contributor to climate change - with road transport being a primary cause. The population of Queensland is expanding at such a rate that increasing the number of roads will not adequately address congestion and access issues in places like Brisbane. Transport planning methods, such as the ITPF, which incorporate assessment of environmental, social and economic sustainability concerns are now vitally important - with sustainability featuring prominently on the community agenda.

Your petitioners therefore request the House to take steps to positively implement the ITPF, by legislative means if necessary. Implementation would likely lead to greater consideration in transport planning for alternative investment options - which would be evaluated in competition to the economic, social and environmental impacts of large-scale road transport developments. Implementation of the ITPF would allow greater scope for investing in a comprehensive, affordable integrated public transport system and a modern electrified rail-freight network. It would introduce additional impetus to provide affordable infrastructure for cycling and walking. In summary, the methods proposed through the ITPF should facilitate consideration of cost-effective transport options that provide for a safer, cleaner environment and a healthier population. As the ITPF represents an enlightened document that has the support of State and local governments in Queensland, we request the adoption of the ITPF process and methods in all transport planning efforts.

Name:
Address:
Signature:

Name:
Address:
Signature:

Name:
Address:
Signature:

Post petitions to Community Action for Sustainable Transport PO Box 1260 Fortitude Valley Q 4006 by 30 June 2007

National petition

2007-04-13T18:14:00.000+10:00

Petition to Federal Government on Sustainable Transport

Please print and get signatures on this petition, which was started by the Public Transport Users Association of Victoria. Post your completed petitions to Community Action for Sustainable Transport PO Box 1260 Fortitude Valley Q 4006 by June 31 and we will submit them.

To: The House of Representatives, Parliament of Australia
Cc: The Hon John Howard MP, Prime Minister
The Hon Mark Vaile MP, Minister for Transport
The Hon Peter Costello MP, Treasurer

We the undersigned, noting that:

The House Standing Committee on Environment and Heritage Report on Sustainable Cities recommended a review of the current FBT concessions for car use with a view to removing incentives for greater car use and extending incentives to other modes of transport; and that the Australian Government significantly boost its funding commitment for public transport systems, particularly light and heavy rail, in the major cities;

The Senate Committee on Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Report on Australia’s future oil supply and alternative transport fuels recommended that the government review the statutory formula in relation to fringe benefits taxation of employer-provided cars to address perverse incentives for more car use; and that AusLink corridor strategy planning take into account the goal of reducing oil dependence; and

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia recommends that the concessionary treatment of motor vehicle use under the fringe benefits tax provisions should be ended as it undesirably distorts economic behaviour;

Respectfully call upon the Commonwealth to:

Amend the motor vehicle fringe benefits statutory formula to encourage the minimisation of motor vehicle use; and

Provide funding for the expansion and improvement of urban and regional public transport infrastructure on a scale comparable to Commonwealth road funding.

Name:
Address:
Signature:

Name:
Address:
Signature:

Name:
Address:
Signature:

Name:
Address:
Signature:

Climate change in Brisbane

2007-04-13T18:09:00.000+10:00

Public Comment on Brisbane Council Climate Change Taskforce Report

Brisbane City Council have produced a report entitled 'A call for action' covering Climate Change and Peak oil.

It can be downloaded from http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:BASE::pc=PC_2526

Councillors will debate this report on Monday 30 April and members of the public will have 30 days after this to make submissions on the report.

Email your submissions to climatechange@brisbane.qld.gov.au

Ipswich transport

2007-04-02T16:01:00.000+10:00

Prime Minister - what about public transport for Ipswich?

Since the March 5 announcement that the Federal Government would be investing $2.3 billion into the Goodna Bypass, Community Action for Sustainable Transport (CAST) have been waiting for the Prime Minister and Federal Minister for Transport to announce how much they would be spending on public transport, freight rail, walking and cycling to “solve” Ipswich traffic needs.

“We believe the decision by the Federal Government to only fund road infrastructure is socially inequitable, economically irresponsible, environmentally destructive and will lead to more road accidents in the future. They must take responsibility for providing a balanced solution” said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach.

Socially inequitable
Funding private transport is discriminatory. Australian Bureau of Statistics figures for 2001 show that 9.21% of Ipswich households did not have a car (1). 28% of Ipswich people are 16 years or younger meaning they cannot drive (2) and research in the Goodna/Gailes area has found that many unemployed people cannot access work due to lack of public transport to surrounding factories (3).

Economically irresponsible
Investing exclusively in road infrastructure at a time when global oil prices are expected to continue rising is economically irresponsible. Households will be paying more for road transport in the future. Research (4) has shown that people in the outer areas of cities, who travel the furthest and have the poorest access to public transport, will be the worst affected. And as fuel costs for road freight increases the cost of goods will also increase.

Environmentally destructive
The Goodna Bypass is an investment in two of the most greenhouse intensive modes of transport. At a time when the Federal Government are attempting to reduce greenhouse emissions they should be investing in transport solutions to increase the proportion of people travelling to work via public and active transport from 9.19% in 2001 (5) to at least 20%.

Road safety
Cars and trucks are dangerous forms of urban transport. Planning for massive increases in use will not reduce the amount of road accidents. International comparisons (6) show that Queensland has 8 road deaths per 100,000 people while places with higher use of public and active transport had lower rates. The Netherlands has 4.9, Sweden 5.3, Switzerland 6.9 and the United Kingdom 5.6.

End notes
(1) ABS Ipswich Local Government Area table b29 - note 49 of these households owned 1 or more motorcycles/scooters.
(2) ABS Ipswich Local Government Area table x01 Age by Sex
(3) Big Road, no transport: a report of the Goodna and Gailes community mapping for transport improvements study page 36 http://www.griffith.edu.au/centre/urp/urp_publications/monographs/UPPRM6_Goodna_Johnson.pdf
(4) Oil Vulnerability in the Australian City www.griffith.edu.au/centre/urp/urp_publications/research_papers/URP_RP6_OilVulnerability_Final.pdf
(5) ABS Ipswich Local Government Area table x30 Mode of travel to work (employed persons)
(6) Australian Transport Safety Bureau ‘International road safety comparisons: the 2004 report’ http://www.atsb.gov.au/publications/2006/Int_Comp_03.aspx

Media Release Thurs 22 March

2007-04-02T15:59:00.000+10:00

Bring back the T3 lane now!

Community Action for Sustainable Transport (CAST) believes Brisbane City Council’s decision to re-open the T3 lane on Coronation Drive is another step in the wrong direction for Brisbane’s transport system.

“Just like the tunnels and Hale Street Bridge, the decision to scrap the T3 on Coronation Drive will increase congestion,” said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach.

“At a time when government should be encouraging and rewarding people for car pooling and catching public transport they are doing the exact opposite,” he said.

1 full bus takes 40 cars off the road, a car with 3 people in it takes 2 other cars off the road.

CAST believes removing the T3 lane means travel times for car poolers and bus users will blow out, and the lane will soon be just as congested as the other lanes.

“Why is Council punishing car poolers and public transport users and rewarding single-occupant vehicles drivers?” asked Mr Peach.

The Lord Mayor’s claim that only 5% of vehicles on Coronation Drive can use the transit lane totally misses the point.

“It’s not about the number of vehicles they move – it’s about the number of people. Transit lanes are designed to carry more people with fewer vehicles,” said Mr Peach.

“T3 lanes reduce congestion by making more efficient use of existing road space,” said Mr Peach.

“If the Lord Mayor is serious about reducing congestion he should be promoting the use of transit lanes and adding more across the city,” he said.

“If people choose not to car pool or catch the bus during peak periods then they must accept that there will be a certain level of congestion,” said Mr Peach.

CAST are demanding:
(i) The Coronation Drive T3 lane is reinstated
(ii) Council develop internet-based car pooling systems for local communities and workplaces so people can develop car pooling networks

Media release Mon 19 Mar

2007-03-19T16:38:00.000+10:00

Take the heat off the Bombay Express

Community Action for Sustainable Transport (CAST) calling on government to improve travel conditions and reduce travel times for train commuters travelling between the Gold Coast and Brisbane.

“We want to see more trains on the Gold Coast line, particularly during peak hours, to ensure all passengers are comfortable,” said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach.

“We also want the government to look seriously into another rail crossing of the Brisbane River, to relieve the congestion that occurs on the Merivale train bridge,” said Mr Peach.

The limited capacity of the Merivale Bridge can lead to delays for train commuters.

CAST are interested in a rail link between Dutton Park Station, QUT Gardens Point Campus, Riverside (Eagle Street) and Cathedral Square, with a link back into either Brunswick Street or Central Stations.

This would spread the load of commuter traffic entering the CBD across a number of stations, and give people better access to areas of the CBD not currently serviced by train.

A duplication of Merivale Bridge may not solve the problem because Roma Street Railway Station could have trouble handling increased capacity.

It recently lost one train platform to make way for the inner-northern busway.

However, to compensate for this they have rebuilt Platform 2 & 3 with dual-gauge tracks to allow usage by both narrow gauge and standard gauge stock. Platform 3 has also been extended to accomodate long distance trains such as the Spirit of the Outback and the Sunlander.

For longer trips (+10km) in urban areas CAST support rail over bus travel and are urging government to fast-track rail links between Petrie and Redcliffe, and between Darra, Springfield and Ipswich.

Media release Tues 13 Mar

2007-03-13T12:05:00.000+10:00

More buses for UQ St Lucia

Community Action for Sustainable Transport (CAST) are urging TransLink to increase the number of bus services to the University of Queensland (UQ) campus at St Lucia.

15000 people catch the bus to UQ each morning and half of these people use routes 109, 169 and 209 via the Eleanor Schonell Bridge.

In response to huge demand TransLink have added just one more service to each of these routes.

“They’ve only added an additional 120 seats to deal with overcrowding on a route that carries more than 7000 people each morning,” said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach.

“Public transport users deserve better than this. We think an additional 30 services would be far more appropriate,” said Mr Peach.

These additional services could be on existing routes and there is also a possibility of introducing a feeder bus linking Dutton Park Railway Station to UQ via the Schonell Bridge.

CAST have also suggested that Route 209, which travels along Old Cleveland Road from Carindale should be given priority at traffic lights to reduce travel times for public transport users.

“Increasing the capacity and reducing travel times on these routes will reward existing public transport users, and entice others to get out of their cars and onto the bus,” said Mr Peach.

CAST believe if Translink can get this right then there may not be a need for Brisbane City Council to build the controversial Hale Street Bridge.

Media release Mon 5 March

2007-03-04T19:52:00.000+10:00

Smart options to reduce traffic on Kingsford Smith Drive

Community Action for Sustainable Transport (CAST) are promoting a range of options for reducing traffic on Kingsford Smith Drive.

“Airport Link, construction traffic from the North-South Tunnel, the North Shore development, Portside and the Cruise Ship terminal are all going to be creating more traffic on Kingsford Smith Drive, so we need a smart plan to deal with this*”, said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach.

CAST are proposing a range of options that will reduce traffic, improve air quality and reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

(1) An extension of the Doomben railway line to service the North Shore development and the Cruise Ship Terminal at Hamilton. There is already a freight line between Doomben and the Hamilton Wharves which could be utilised by CityTrains.

(2) Council’s planned walkway/bikeway along the Brisbane River linking Hamilton, Breakfast Creek, Teneriffe, New Farm, Fortitude Valley and the City must be completed in the next year

(3) A rapid public transport service linking Hamilton with the City via Kingsford Smith Drive – Breakfast Creek Street and Ann / Whickham Street utilising the existing 300 and 305 bus services. This service could have priority at traffic lights along the route and if traffic impedes the buses then a peak-hour bus/cycle priority lane should be provided

(4) A new City Cat Stop at the Eastern end of the North Shore development with high frequency services throughout the day

(5) Car-pooling and car-sharing programs for workers and residents at North Shore, Portside and the Cruise Ship terminal.

These improvements would provide significant benefits to the tourism industry by servicing the Cruise Ship Terminal.

Improvements to Brisbane-wide transport services would also be required to make these options totally effective.

Brisbane City Council’s proposal is to widen Kingsford Smith Drive and Nudgee road.

“Council’s option for reducing traffic on Kingsford Smith Drive should be tested against our options,” said Mr Peach.

“Given that the Airport Link tunnel is a major cause of this extra traffic I am concerned that building more roads will just create more problems,” he said.

END NOTE
* The Airport Link impact statement (table 9-10 traffic and transport technical paper) shows that east of Cooksley Street (on Kingsford Smith) traffic will increase by 8.23% by 2016 (66,900 in 2004; 71,000 2016) with Airport Link. East of Racecourse Road traffic will increase by 25.87% by 2016 with Airport Link. The North Shore development at Hamilton is predicted to have 10,000 residents.

Springfield to Ipswich public transport corridor

2007-02-28T12:16:00.000+10:00

Public Transport Corridor has Benefits

With plans for Ipswich and Springfield to become the two major western regional centres, it is imperative to plan for and provide appropriate transport infrastructure. The community benefits associated with public transport are well established. In developed urban areas well designed public transport can provide the most efficient commuting times during peaks, along with social benefits of affordable access to employment and services. Further, in an era where the consequences of global warming and its causes can no longer responsibly be ignored it is important to note that mass public transport burns 50% less energy than cars (1).

For public transport to provide a true alternative to car travel it must offer competitive travel times. The existing public transport between Ipswich and Springfield and between Flinders View/Yamanto and Springfield are fragmented and slow, and are not a competitive with the car. Without factoring in walking time, it presently takes at best between 45mins and an hour to travel between Ipswich and Springfield and around 1.5 hours from Flinders View/Yamanto. Travelling between these locations can require switching between 2-3 buses or trains.

The proposed options (1A, 1B, 2A & 2B) for the rail extension through Springfield and back into Ipswich have the potential to provide a fast and seamless public transport link for current and future residents. We estimate the corridor would reduce travel times between Ipswich and Springfield to 30mins and from Flinders View/Yamanto to 22mins. Similar improvements are to be expected for other surrounding suburbs of both Ipswich and Springfield and the corridor also significantly benefits the developing townships of Wulkuraka, Brassall, Rosewood and Walloon west of Ipswich.

The route option proposed by some to avoid Yamanto and Flinders View by going around RAAF Base Amberley (most viably via Wooloon) is inferior. It would increase travel times between Ipswich and Springfield dramatically (an estimated 45min Vs 30mins) with no change in transit time to Rosewood. Secondly there are fewer popular destinations and residential areas serviced by the route (i.e UQ, One Mile etc). Servicing UQ Ipswich by a dedicated public transport corridor would seriously enhance accessibility for those wishing to further their qualifications as previous experience has shown at several other major Universities in capital cities in Australia.

We support the Ipswich City Council and the State Government for taking a responsible approach to planning by assessing the most viable options for public transport. Poor quality public transport will not be sufficiently patronised and this will result in increased traffic noise, congestion and air pollution in residential areas as car use increases. The options for the corridor should be assessed on the basis of their benefits and impacts on the overall region, balanced with proportionate consideration for those areas most affected. Whilst ideally the current study should have been conducted earlier; to ignore the Ipswich region’s future transport needs in light of the dramatic population increases predicted would only cause potentially far greater disruption at a later date.

(1) Rail Research Industry Report, Project 24 Rail transport energy efficiency and sustainability, available at www.railcrc.com.au

For more information on the project refer http://www.pb.com.au/ISPTCS/

To write a letter to newspapers (300 words maximum) and the transport minister regarding this project :
Ipswich News editorial@ipswichnews.com.au
Queensland Times qt@qt.com.au
Paul Lucas (Transport Minister) transport@ministerial.qld.gov.au

Media Release 26 Feb

2007-02-26T13:02:00.000+10:00

Tall train problem can be cut down

Yesterday it was revealed that the first few trains of a new batch being made for the Queensland Rail CityTrain network will not fit under the train tunnel between Central and Brunswick Street stations.

Community Action for Sustainable Transport (CAST) are calling on Queensland Rail to put in place strict policies and protocols to ensure there are no accidents.

“We need to be certain that QLD rail staff and train commuters are not put at risk by this design flaw,” said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach.

The group have suggested that if necessary the “tall” trains could bypass Central and Brunswick Street Stations by using the tracks between Roma Street and Bowen Hills, possibly utilising the Exhibition station to service Fortitude Valley and Spring Hill.

CAST are also urging the State government to quickly rectify the design flaw and to get the rest of the batch online as quickly as possible.

“This is an unfortunate mistake but we do not want the Transport Minister to be discouraged – he must fix the problem and press on full steam ahead with the rest of the batch”, said Mr Peach.

“New trains and more train services are a high priority for Southeast Queensland, and we’d also like to also see the Minister push ahead with the duplication of the rail bridge between South Brisbane and Roma Street”, said Mr Peach.

Media contact: Tristan Peach 0416478615
cast_qld@yahoo.com.au

Photos from Walk for Sustainable Transport

2007-02-26T12:58:00.000+10:00

Follow this link to see some photos from the February 17 Walk for Sustainable Transport

http://au.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/flagofstars/album?.dir=7f9fscd&.src=ph

Media release 16 Feb

2007-02-15T18:41:00.000+10:00

North Bank development must restrict car parking

Community Action for Sustainable Transport (CAST) are urging the State Government to consider the transport requirements of the North Bank development to avoid it becoming a traffic disaster.

The group believe the amount of car parking provided on site should be minimised due its proximity to public and active transport networks.

“If the State do this development badly it will put more cars on the city’s roads, increase the amount of pollution and reduce the attractiveness of the CBD,” said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach.

“We think 80% of workers and visitors could easily access the 150,000sqm commercial precinct by foot, bicycle or public transport, and only bare minimum parking should be provided for the 480 apartments,” said Mr Peach.

North Bank is serviced by City Cat, Council Ferry, South Brisbane and Central railway stations, the Myer Centre and Cultural centre busway stations, the free City Loop bus service, the Goodwill Bridge and the Coronation Drive bikeway.

CAST suggest that for the commercial precinct parking and access should be provided for bicycles (with secure bike parking and shower/change rooms), taxis, public transport, service vehicles, emergency vehicles, people with disabilities and motorcycles/scooters, but only a limited number of car spaces should be provided for shoppers and workers.

“We should not be encouraging people to drive to North Bank when the public transport options are so fantastic,” said Mr Peach.

“Most people could easily drive to a train or busway station and jump on a fast, air-conditioned public transport service to access North Bank” he said.

“Car pooling should be encouraged for workers in the precinct who need to drive, and a car sharing scheme should be in place for residents in the apartments so they don’t even need to own a car,” said Mr Peach.

CAST’s position is consistent with Brisbane City Council’s City Centre Masterplan which states:

Long–term commercial parking for the general public within the city centre is strongly discouraged. (p.51)
Restricting the amount of additional car parking can act to lessen the potential for conflict between cars and pedestrians and can improve pedestrian amenity. (p.31)
Expand Park and Ride facilities at existing rail stations and bus interchanges to encourage unnecessary traffic to stay out of the city centre (p. 176)

Media contact: Tristan Peach 0416478615

Media release 9 Feb

2007-02-08T18:51:00.000+10:00

Brisbane Council hypocritical on climate change & transport

Community Action for Sustainable Transport (CAST) want Brisbane City Council to put their money where their mouth is on climate change.

Council’s 2006-2007 budget allocates a tiny $412,000 to Greenhouse Gas Reduction (strategy 9.6.3) while pouring 503 million into planning for increased car use (page 102).

Per kilometre a person travelling in a car burns more than three times the fuel as someone in a bus and 42 times more fuel than a train passenger. (Australian Greenhouse Office 2002, National Greenhouse Gas Inventory 2000 with Methodology Supplements 1990, 1995 and 2002)

“If Council are serious about reducing greenhouse emissions then they must massively increase funding to their Greenhouse strategy and stop funding projects that will increase emissions”, said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach.

The group are particularly concerned about Council’s misguided Transport policy.

“Council are planning to massively increase greenhouse emissions from Brisbane’s transport system over the next 20 years”, said Mr Peach

The Airport Link Environmental Impact Statement shows that Council are planning to increase the number of car trips from 3.6 million per day in 2004 to 5.2 million in 2026 (table 7-1 traffic and transport technical report). Vehicle kilomotres travelled in cars will increase to 55 million on an average weekday in 2012, 66 million in 2022 and 71 million in 2026 (table 9-8)

At the same time Council have abandoned the targets for increased public transport use in the Transport Plan for Brisbane and are only planning to increase public transport use from 7.5% of all trips in 2004 to 11.1% in 2026 (table 7-1 Airport Link traffic and transport technical report).

“Increasing public transport use by 0.16% each year over the next twenty years is simply not enough, and what are Council’s plans for walking and cycling, the most greenhouse friendly transport modes?” asked Mr Peach.

The idea that we can plan for increasing amounts of car use and let technology fix the problems has been refuted by Council’s own State of the Environment Report which states:

‘…relying on introduction of new technology into the vehicle fleet is not sufficient, given that uptake rates are slow and that these technologies often work efficiently only in well-maintained vehicles.’ (Air section – page 33)

Consultation undertaken after the establishment of Council’s climate change taskforce in late 2006 shows that the community know the best ways to reduce transport emissions:

‘Most suggestions promoted embracing transport options other than private motor vehicles. Suggestions included:
- reducing the cost of public transport for users
- increasing frequency, destinations, and connectivity of buses
- restricting car parking in the CBD and introducing a CBD congestion tax
- extending CityCat services
- improving connectivity and safety of pathways and bikeways’
(http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:BASE:1735908314:pc=PC_2450)

CAST are holding a walk for sustainable transport on 11am Saturday February 17 in Queens Park, Brisbane City (Corner of Elizabeth and George Streets).

Media contact: Tristan Peach 0416478615

Media release 25 Jan

2007-01-24T17:44:00.000+10:00

Airport Link - traffic and pollution disaster on Stafford Road

There will be huge increases in traffic on Stafford Road as a result of the Airport Link tunnel.

Council’s own impact statement for the project shows that without Airport Link there will be an average of only 26700 cars per day on Stafford Road in 2012, while with Airport Link there will be 40300.

By 2026 it will be 29100 without Airport Link compared with 45500 with Airport Link.

“We are being told by government that Airport Link will reduce congestion, but the fact is that it will do the exact opposite,” said Tristan Peach, CAST spokesperson.

CAST are advising the public that Airport Link will lead to the following impacts on Stafford Road:

* On- and off-street parking for business and residents will become more dangerous and traffic accidents will increase

* Travel times for public transport users will blow out as they get stuck in congestion

* Residents, business and schools will suffer from more toxic fumes and noise pollution

* Safety and amenity for pedestrians and cyclists will be greatly reduced

Local, State and Federal Politicians for this area are failing their constituents if they support Airport Link.

Mr Peach stated, “We have a simple and effective solution to this problem - the money from Airport Link should be spent on additional public transport so that we can reduce traffic on Stafford Road, reduce accidents and reduce poisonous fumes in the air”.

Media contact: Tristan Peach 0416478615

Media release 24 Jan

2007-01-23T16:55:00.000+10:00

Stop the carnage on Ipswich Motorway – improve public transport

The most effective way of reducing accidents and fatalities on the Ipswich Motorway is to improve the public transport connections between Ipswich and Brisbane, making it a comparable alternative to the car for more people.

Community Action for Sustainable Transport (CAST) believe the problems on the motorway can be best solved by reducing the amount of vehicular traffic on the roads.

“Many people would not have to use this road if there was a public transport system in place which offered a comparable alternative to the car in peak and off-peak times,” said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach

"We also need to move more heavy road freight to rail freight - which is a far safer way of moving goods," he said.

The group believes political leaders with vision and determination would be focusing on the following policies:

* Create more jobs in Ipswich so that more Ipswich people can work locally
* Improve the frequency of train services on the Ipswich line from 1 per 30minutes to 1 per 15 minutes
* Feeder buses to connect with all stations to meet all trains
* Improved safety and amenity around railway and bus stations
* Improve the horrendously slow passenger rail connection between Brisbane and Toowoomba
* Fast track railway duplications
* Fast track the rail extension linking Springfield and the rest of the western development corridor with Brisbane and Ipswich
* Improve the freight rail network

The group acknowledges that there will still be a demand for this motorway in the future (from tradespeople, couriers and other people who need to drive) but asserts that these strategies will take lots of cars off the motorway and get people into safer modes of transport.

“If we are to really reduce the carnage then we must make public transport a real option for more Ipswich people,” said Tristan Peach, CAST spokesperson.

“These strategies are safer, more cost-effective and more environmentally friendly than the government’s short-sighted upgrade schemes,” he said.

Media contact: Tristan Peach 0416478615

Media release 23 Jan

2007-01-22T17:35:00.000+10:00

What the community needs from our public transport system

A survey by the Australian Bureau of Statistics* has revealed key strategies required to improve southeast Queensland’s transport system.

The study showed that 80% of people drove to work or study, while in Queensland only 10% of people used public transport.

35% of Queenslanders surveyed reported that they did not use public transport because there simply was not a public transport service in their area.

“This shows that if we provided more public transport services then we could take tens of thousands of cars off the road each day,” said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach.

25% reported they did not use public transport because the services were not available at a convenient time, and 14% said that travel times were too long.

“This could be easily fixed too,” said Mr. Peach “By increasing the frequency of services and speeding up services by doing simple things like providing more bus lanes on existing roads”.

“We think the State government’s commitment to extremely expensive busway tunnels is not the most cost-effective way to improve public transport – just put more bus lanes on existing roads.”

“This survey shows that government have failed to provide the people of Queensland with an adequate public transport system, and that’s why we’re experiencing these car congestion and pollution problems.”

“But this survey also shows just how easy it would be to get people out of their cars and into sustainable transport,” said Mr Peach.

CAST believes public transport funding in Brisbane City Council’s 2007/2008 budget must be increased to 35% of the transport budget (in 2006/2007 it was less than 20%), with the money invested into more bus services across the city.

The state government must speed up the delivery of additional train carriages to deal with over-crowding in peak hours which would also allow trains to run at higher frequencies throughout the week.

Media contact: Tristan Peach 0416478615

* Australian Bureau of Statistics, Environmental issues: people’s views and practices 4602.0 (released November 2006)

Media release 19 Jan

2007-01-19T17:43:00.000+10:00

RiverCity Motorway misleading public on North-South Bypass Tunnel

Community Action for Sustainable Transport believes RiverCity Motorway (the consortium responsible for building, owning and operating the North-South Bypass Tunnel) is misleading the public through their advertising.

RiverCity Motorway’s advertisements claim that the North-South Bypass Tunnel is “designed to alleviate the high congestion on Brisbane ’s roads”.

But RiverCity Motorway's tunnel design is forecast to cause a 12% increase in traffic on surface connecting roads when compared with a No-tunnel option

And it leads to a 15% increase in traffic when compared with Council’s original NSBT design.

CAST believes RiverCity Motorway is likely to be satisfied with continued high levels of traffic congestion on surface roads, in order to encourage more drivers to use the tunnel.

“RiverCity Motorway is responsible to its shareholders, not the people of Brisbane , and the tunnel is designed to increase make a profit, not to reduce congestion on free surface roads,” said CAST spokesperson Tristan Peach.

[For more information refer table 1, page 5 of the Noise and Vibration report prepared for the NSBT www.nsbt-eis. com/assets/ downloads/ ChangeReport/ Heggies_Noise&Vibration_May06. pdf]

Media Contact: Tristan Peach 0416478615

Media release 17 Jan

2007-01-16T15:25:00.000+10:00

Reducing congestion - politicians must practice what they preach

Community Action for Sustainable Transport (CAST) calls on all politicians who are serious about reducing traffic congestion in Brisbane to start practicing what they preach.

“Politicians who are serious about reducing congestion should not be driving to work during peak hours,” said Tristan Peach, the group’s spokesperson.

“Any politician who drives to work during peak hours is contributing to the problem that they claim to be interested in solving,” said Mr. Peach.

CAST is issuing a simple challenge to Lord Mayor Campbell Newman, Deputy Mayor David Hinchliffe and the transport chairs Cr Graham Quirk and Cr Victoria Newton. To show they are serious about reducing congestion, how about walking, cycling or catching public transport to work for two weeks?

If the politicians claim that it is impractical for them to do so, then it’s clear that they have no faith in the transport system that they claim credit for creating.

CAST calls on Council to increase funding for public transport, walking and cycling in its 2007/2008 budget to encourage all residents to use these modes of transport.

Media Contact: Tristan Peach 0416478615

Media Release 15 Jan

2007-01-16T15:10:00.000+10:00

Beattie allows toxic waste in Brisbane

Community Action for Sustainable Transport (CAST) believe Peter Beattie’s opposition to nuclear power is in conflict with his support for toxic transport projects in Brisbane .

The Premier has stated that he is opposed to nuclear power because he does not want toxic waste in Queensland communities.

Yet he continues to support transport projects, such as the North-South Bypass Tunnel, Airport Link tunnel and Hale Street Bridge , which will lead to huge increases in toxic vehicle emissions in Brisbane suburbs.

Not only will toxic waste be pumped from industrial chimney stacks to ventilate the tunnels, but there will be more fumes coming from the entire transport network as the government fails to take measures to implement alternatives to increased car use.

CAST calls on the Premier to stop the hypocrisy by withdrawing his government’s support for toxic transport projects.

The money should be poured into environmentally friendly solutions such as more reliable and frequent train services, new train lines and a better bicycle network for Brisbane .

Media contact: Tristan Peach 0416478615

Walk for Sustainable Transport

2007-01-16T14:36:00.000+10:00

11am Saturday February 17

Send YOUR PERSONAL MESSAGE to government that public transport, walking + cycling should be their transport PRIORITY, and that you want them to TAKE ACTION NOW!

Schedule
11am meet at Queens Park, Brisbane City (Cnr George and Elizabeth Street)
Talks by Phil Heywood (professor), Mary Maher (planner) and David Engwicht (author)
Walk through city to parliament house

Info: Tristan 0416478615 or David 0403871082

Organised by: Community Action for Sustainable Transport
http://sustainable-transport.blogspot.com

Supported by: Epic Cycles, Queensland Greens, Queensland Democrats, Queensland Conservation Council, Friends of Southeast Queensland, Stop the Hale Street Bridge Campaign, West End Community Association, Rail Tram and Bus Union, Socialist Alliance, Friends of the Earth Brisbane, Where's Our Railway