Gold Coast Rapid Transit updates

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bunza
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Gold Coast Rapid Transit updates

Post by bunza »

Still no word on the other option via Smith St Mwy or GC Hwy/Olsen Avenue. But good news anyway as from next week Southport to Broadbeach route will be consulted upon.
Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
Thursday, October 04, 2007

PREFERRED RAPID TRANSIT ROUTE ANNOUNCED

Scarborough Street is the preferred route for the Gold Coast Rapid Transit system through Southport.

Transport Minister John Mickel said planning by TransLink had confirmed Scarborough Street would be the best option for future passenger movements and better support the continued growth of the Southport central business district.

During planning and consultation two options for the Southport alignment were considered: S1 along Nerang Street and Marine Parade and S2 via Scarborough Street.

Both options were presented to the community during consultation in March this year.

"The Scarborough Street option allows the rapid transit system to travel through the key business and employment centre of Southport and provide good access to the Scarborough/Nerang Streets precinct," Mr Mickel said.

"Unlike the Marine Parade option, this route won't hamper the considerable traffic flow from Australia Fair's car parks."

The Gold Coast Rapid Transit system is a $600 million Queensland Government project being delivered by TransLink in partnership with Gold Coast City Council.

It is proposed as a fast, frequent, reliable system that's integrated with the existing transport network, using light rail or bus. It will ultimately link Helensvale with Coolangatta, passing through Southport, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

TransLink is still engaged in planning with other government departments and key stakeholders on a route between Helensvale and the Griffith University campus, to include access to the new Gold Coast University Hospital site.

Mr Mickel said from next Monday through to November 2 the local community will be consulted on the route of the proposed rapid transit system between Southport and Broadbeach.

"Advertising will go out for three community information sessions that have been planned where residents, businesses, community and environmental groups can talk to the project team face-to-face.

"There'll also be information displays at various venues throughout the area and a second project newsletter will be distributed this week detailing the proposed route."

A Concept Design and Impact Management Plan will be completed after an assessment of environmental, social, economic and other views of the community. This report is due to go to the state government in mid-2008.

For project details go to http://www.translink.com.au/gc_rapidtransit.

Media contact: Chris Brown 3237 1944 or Elouise Campion 3237 1125
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Post by l_blue_l »

In the past it has been said that it would be traveling via Smith Street but due to the hospitial site being moved the route has been slightly changed to bring the rapid transit system closed to the hospitial.

Lets just hope there isnt another day within the next 4 days. All this project needs is more delays.
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Post by bunza »

http://www.translink.com.au/qt/translin ... ransit_new
http://www.translink.com.au/qt/translin ... broadbeach
http://www.translink.com.au/qt/translin ... er_no2.pdf

It's good that they've stuck with the new bridge idea over the Nerang River, and added a nice big pedestrian lane to boot. May the car wash rest in peace.

The chicane through Cypress St will be an absolute killer for travel time without signal prioritisation, as will the street running down Surfers Paradise Boulevard which gets very busy with local traffic (Ferny Avenue is usually much faster, but less convenient).

I'll be at the Arts Centre on Thursday night.
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Post by 08 XDi »

bunza wrote:http://www.translink.com.au/qt/translin ... ransit_new
http://www.translink.com.au/qt/translin ... broadbeach
http://www.translink.com.au/qt/translin ... er_no2.pdf

It's good that they've stuck with the new bridge idea over the Nerang River, and added a nice big pedestrian lane to boot. May the car wash rest in peace.

The chicane through Cypress St will be an absolute killer for travel time without signal prioritisation, as will the street running down Surfers Paradise Boulevard which gets very busy with local traffic (Ferny Avenue is usually much faster, but less convenient).

I'll be at the Arts Centre on Thursday night.
It should also provide a much better bus priority arrangement than the tiny jump lanes on the existing bridge, for those buses that will still be going north to south along the highway north of Pac Fair.

With the new interchange they refer to in the newsletter to be co-located with Broadbeach South/Pac Fair Station on the highway, I reckon only the following would be needed:

- 700 would be be needed to take care of all the gaps from Coolangatta to Southport, at 10-15 minute frequencies 7am-7pm and 30m 24-hrs, with 15m runnning on Sat/Sun mornings and appropriate short workings;
- 750 would be at 15m frequencies still but with a longer and more regular 15 min frequency period and terminate at Pac Fair, with new more direct routes to replace the Robina legs; and
- 715 and 706 would be at 15m frequencies for similar periods to the 750 to cover the Labrador area, 706 now truncated to Southport and 715 continuing on to Seaworld
- Extend the proposed feeder services from The Pines out to the highway to connect QR at Elanora and the likely Palm Beach rapid transit station with a service frequency of better than 15 min (those 6-7 routes at hourly frequencies will add up).

Most other inland routes would probably be able to be upgraded to at least half-hourly and 15 minute BUZ or at least Route 600 style running with the same bus funding and fleet allocation, and with 30-40 new buses a year and very few of the route service buses retiring soon (as opposed to the minis and school fleet).

I would be interested in working out where they plan to put the depot for this if they choose the Harbour Town option - I would guess near Griffith Uni/Smith St/Ernest where there is some room.
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Post by 1whoknows »

Why wouldn't the current depot at Ernest be used (acknowleding that it probably is just about at the limit of its capacity)
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Post by bunza »

1whoknows wrote:Why wouldn't the current depot at Ernest be used (acknowleding that it probably is just about at the limit of its capacity)
The GCRT team strongly hinted that Surfside (or QR for that fact) are unlikely to get the contract, and that it will go to a company with experience in BRT/LRT (eg. Veolia). Though I'm sure they'll bid for it.
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Post by doggo »

hmmm.. I would of thought that the tendering process and likely candidates (and winners especially) would be outside of their current area of interest....

I think the organisations mentioned may have a case based on pre-prejudice (whatever that means).....

They havent even decided where it is running but they have decided who is running it... .. bloody hope not.....
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Post by Cuss the bus »

Landowners are receiving their letters this week on the fact their properties may be impacted by the project.

Family has an apartment on the river side of the hwy opposite the Chickery Chick shops. Mentioned possible resumption of the common area.

I'm sure those who live there are at panic stations, I'm not as I know the planning reservation is on the eastern side and downloaded the detailed PDFs years ago when a feasibility study was uploaded to either GCCC or QT site for comment.

Will be interesting to see how the entrance ramp to the underground carpark at the Alexander apartments is dealt with as the 'feasibility' reports noted a new entrance would need be constructed.
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Post by Beauyboy »

You should of seen the song and dance the mayor and some business operators did about it running throught Surfer Paradise. Some how these so called intellegent people forget the amount of people these vehicals can carry and the idea behind them is to reduce congestion by taking people out of cars. :roll:

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For christ sakes QR fix up the NC line!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Post by bunza »

Including such people as Don Magin - chief whinger of every community association under the (Gold Coast) Sun!

Having said that, cutting a lane out of Surfers Paradise Boulevard is a pretty controversial step, meaning Surfers as a whole will have just 4 southbound lanes and 3 northbound lanes of traffic.

But you gotta do what ya gotta do.

As for Mayor Ron Clarke, he can go run his way off a bridge, I don't think he's done anything at all in his term. Anything!
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Post by 08 XDi »

bunza wrote:Including such people as Don Magin - chief whinger of every community association under the (Gold Coast) Sun!

Having said that, cutting a lane out of Surfers Paradise Boulevard is a pretty controversial step, meaning Surfers as a whole will have just 4 southbound lanes and 3 northbound lanes of traffic.
The proposal actually states (see newsletter #2 under the 'Surfers Paradise' heading) that two lanes will be maintained on all stretches of Ferny Ave, which to my mind means most of these idiotic whnigers haven't even read the plans to date. They also want it to run across a bridge to The Spit via Seaworld etc or along The Esplanade i.e. where it will take 10 minutes to walk anywhere useful from the nearest stop. Right on. But at least there won't be any construction work near the Eyesore (sorry, Islander, stupid me) Resort, so Tatey will be happy.

I love the tunnel suggestions - lets add several $100m to the project AND make Ferny Avenue completely inaccessible for two years by ripping it up to build a cut and cover tunnel, or spend even more on boring machines! Much more efficient...
:roll:
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Post by bunza »

Nine GC news last night showed they're removing the northbound lane from Surfers Paradise Boulevard to make room for it, which is why Tom Tate's jumping up and down.
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Post by Cuss the bus »

Has anyone attended the industry or community information sessions this week?

How light on detail are they? Is there more detailed maps than those available at:

http://www.translink.com.au/qt/translin ... er_no2.pdf

and

http://www.translink.com.au/qt/translin ... dbeach.jpg

If there is more detail, I'd find it worthwhile going.
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Post by bunza »

Much more detail even in the general displays. There are also planned cross-sections of the road, though they pointed out that the successful tenderer (likely to be a manufacturer/operator consortium) will draw up the precise, final plans to incorporate whatever efficiencies they can realise, though Translink retains right of refusal.

Surfers Paradise Boulevard from Cypress Avenue south will be southbound only with a reduced speed limit, while council are planning to make Northcliffe Terrace northbound only due to the incredibly narrow street width.

Pacific Fair stop will incorporate a bus stop for buses continuing south at more frequent intervals to match the capacity of the rapid transit system. GCRT are in talks with AMP Capital about a pedestrian bridge from near the food court to the new stop. Inland services are likely to remain in their current position.

The staff are very helpful and happy to run you through it and answer any specific questions.

Forgot the precise term he used, but early expressions of interest are going to be called for in the next few months.

Property plans are available for consultation, but they're generally busy with whinging NIMBY's complaining about things like how hard it'll be to reverse their boat trailer up their driveway.
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Post by Cuss the bus »

Great to hear, I'll make the trip and have a look.

Shame it isn't uploaded to the website. I have been told lame excuses on Main Roads projects before about 'not having enough space for the files', codswallop really.

The reintroduction of one way streets is sure to generate debate, it is at odds with the main idea of the SPTMS (4 laning of Ferny Av, 2 way old GC Hwy s'bound) and the earlier 'feasibility' (forgot official name) studies which planned for 2-way, in-road tracks along the old southbound GC Hwy through Surfers.


In other related news, all I can find is this study: http://www.pb.com.au/gclightrail/
There was at least one other undertaken which was available on the net and contained clearer detailed plans to a total of 30-40 maps for the whole route. Anyone know that site?
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Post by 08 XDi »

I thought yesterday's session was very positive - it is certainly not as if the GCRT want to knock over half of Surfers. There were very informative and quick to allay fears about some ofthe scaremongering that is going about. Unfortunately, attendance seemed to be extremely low, much lower than for sessions on the northern legs of the system.

They had on display a number of draft concept plans for streetscaping and corridor widths etc, with GCCC local area plan overlays too (e.g. displaying max building heights under the planning scheme).
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Post by Cuss the bus »

The Gold Coast Bulletin ran a double page spread on the weekend with new information having seen more detailed maps.

It appears the problem is that the route is to be constructed on its own land rather than sharing lanes as the previous GCCC & QT studies had planned for.
Transit route rips heart out of Coast Secret maps TransLink didn't want you to see
by Geoff Chambers council reporter
1057 words
3 November 2007
The Gold Coast Bulletin
B - Main
4
English
Copyright 2007 News Ltd. All Rights Reserved

THIS is the detail of the $600 million rapid transit system that TransLink didn't want the public to see.

From Main Beach to Broadbeach, dozens of properties will be resumed including large chunks of Cascade Gardens, the D'Arcy Arms pub and the old Broadbeach arcade on Main Place.

Plans have been outlined in special documents seen by The Gold Coast Bulletin to build a massive bus depot for Surfside Buslines opposite Pacific Fair.

To build the depot, TransLink has recommended resumption of the Caltex service station, adjoining Auto Leaders and the park

opposite Bel Air apartments.

To avoid a bottleneck at the Broadbeach intersection linking Pacific Fair, Conrad Jupiters casino and the Broadbeach mall, council officers plan to ask TransLink to incorporate an overpass above the traffic to access the depot.

A giant rapid transit depot to store the light rail or rapid bus carriages has been flagged for a site near the the Helensvale rail station, according to sources.

While Transport Minister John Mickel yesterday on ABC radio blasted The Bulletin for its coverage of the controversial transit

system, it was revealed that a series of maps had been kept away from the public.

The secret `behind the scenes' documents outlining the Main Beach to Broadbeach route have been shown to only a few select politicians and bureaucrats.

Amazingly, the public consultation on the route closed yesterday with some local stakeholders requesting an extension.

The maps reveal the new route would gobble up car parks and tennis courts at the Golden Gate and Sun City resorts.

Stage 2 of the Kokoda Track Memorial in Cascade Gardens, which is only about 10m from the highway, is also under threat.

The $250,000 memorial, being co-funded by the Gold Coast City Council and Southport Broadwater Rotary, was designed by artist David Yardley and incorporates a 23m long panel showcasing the Kokoda track and photos from the war campaign.

The memorial has already been put on ice. It had been flagged for completion this month but remains under construction.

The old Assembly of God church on Monaco Street will be affected and while the Surfers Paradise Fire Station has been preserved, fire units' ability to turn right or left on the Gold Coast Highway would be compromised.

Access to traffic into Surfers Paradise at the Thornton Towers entry point will be blocked while several shops and the Alexander apartments are also expected to lose out in the land grab.

The vacant Ocean Duty Free store, marked with graffiti at the northern end of Broadbeach, would also go.

The Broadbeach Arcade, opposite the Gold Coast Convention Centre, has been earmarked for future commuter car parking.

The Marriott resort will lose its footpath and the park next door. That will include a new secondary bridge to avoid the Indy precinct and service the `Paradise Waters' station which will take out most of the park.

A prominent Broadbeach apartment complex manager said the entire project would destroy the heart of the city.

``This would be disastrous. They've got to come up with an alternative,'' he said.

``We don't need more buses on the roads and we shouldn't wreck the road system trying to squeeze this through. I am all for strong public transport but we have to be smart about this.''

Further north at Paradise Waters, millionaire waterfront property owners have formed a residents group to fight the Main Beach station which will take out their views and vegetation.

Gold Coast mayor Ron Clarke said the State Government and TransLink needed to consider the long-term ramifications.

Cr Clarke said the Paradise Waters residents were concerned about the traffic in and out of Paradise Waters with the sole

entry point earmarked as a transit system crossing.

``At the mouth of Budds Beach and Paradise Waters these residents are going to be hemmed in by the transit route,'' he said.

``What people don't realise is that these carriages or buses will be operating every five minutes on peak and 15 minutes off peak.

``So you can imagine the frustration of locals getting in and out and the safety of people during Indy.''

Four buildings at the northern end of Surfers Paradise Boulevard - Surfers City Motel, Duvach Court, Raffles Royal and the

commercial ground floor section of the Centrepoint building - would be demolished to fit the track around the Indy precinct near the Holiday Inn.

The old Dolphin Arcade, which will be redeveloped, will also have a portion resumed by Main Roads.

At a Commerce Queensland meeting yesterday morning, mayoral candidate Cr Rob Molhoek spoke with Islander hotel owner Tom Tate about the future of the route.

``The business community is beginning to understand the need to rally together and present a united front to the State Government to make sure we get the system,'' said Cr Molhoek.

``If we are united, we can than approach the Federal Government and lobby them for funding to make sure we get it right.''

Millionaire mayoral candidate Keith Douglas also weighed in on the rapid transit route, claiming it had `unravelled'.

``It is clear that TransLink need to consider new options and it's clear that they failed to consider things such as ferry services and other peripheral transport factors,'' said Mr Douglas.

Expected to be up and running in 2012, the system would operate from Helensvale through Southport and south to Broadbeach as stage 1 of the Gold Coast Rapid Transit system.

TransLink this week told councillors a final transport mode decision - either rapid bus or light rail - would be made before Christmas.

But according to its website the business case to be presented to Mr Mickel won't be completed until mid-2008 - after the council election in March.

Mr Mickel has admitted to lobbying councillors to push his mandate for a consolidated approach to the project, otherwise he would pull the funding.

A total of 3300 letters have been sent out to Surfers Paradise, Paradise Waters and Broadbeach residents informing them that their business or homes would be affected by a rapid transit system.

Is TransLink on the right track? Tell us what you think. SMS us on 0416 905 147

GCB-20071103-B-004-321211
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Post by 08 XDi »

Most of the article is full of sloppy and inaccurate reporting:
- Depot, or high quality bus station replacing the shitty existing one at Pac Fair?
- I am under the impression DMR is not responsible for any roads in Surfers.

etc. Usual GC Bullshitin nonsense.
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Post by bunza »

From what the GCRT guys have told me, Pac Fair interchange is here to stay, at least for the inland routes. They're in talks with AMP about linking the two for pedestrians.
- I am under the impression DMR is not responsible for any roads in Surfers.
Correct. DMR do not control Gold Coast Highway from North St, Southport to Nerang-Broadbeach Road.
http://www.131940.qld.gov.au/Traffic%20 ... 202006.pdf

In other news, I used the recently resumed 'Auto Affair' car wash tonight. It'll be sad to see it go, it has better equipment than 'Mega Wash' on Ferry Road.
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Gold Coast "stop the rail" lobby group

Post by Newcastle Flyer »

Gold Coast stop the rail lobby group http://www.stoplightrail.com.au :x :x
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Re: Gold Coast "stop the rail" lobby group

Post by ABS »

Newcastle Flyer wrote:Gold Coast stop the rail lobby group http://www.stoplightrail.com.au :x :x
Probably funded by Ron Clarke... :roll:
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Re: Gold Coast Rapid Transit updates

Post by Newcastle Flyer »

Probably, and another politican (term used lightly!) claims that light rail is an outdated mode of transport! :roll: :roll: (See the right-hand column here)
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Re: Gold Coast Rapid Transit updates

Post by ABS »

I love how light rail destroys lifestyle...

Compared to what? B12BLE VSTs polluting the main street of Surfers Paradise with noise.
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Re: Gold Coast Rapid Transit updates

Post by Newcastle Flyer »

What UNFACTUAL garbage (PDF)
Gotta love these two:
Greenhouse gas emissions created by the production of
electric power for trains
But it's a proposed tram, not a train! :mrgreen:
Access problems for emergency vehicles particularly fire trucks
with ladders (overhead wires) and other emergency vehicles
Hmm they cope in Melbourne!
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I thought so

Post by Newcastle Flyer »

Why doesn't this group's links & partners surprise me :?: http://www.stoplightrail.com.au/links.html :roll: :roll:

EDIT (Corrected edit 14:53 Sat 07 Mar 2008): Just noticed that they use "SLR" on some of their pages, links, could mean "support light rail! :)
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