Media Release 26 Feb

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

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

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

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