ACT Light Rail submission to the Sustainable Transport Action Plan

Barry Drive · October 01, 2009, 12:44:26 PM

Those interested, the ACT Light Rail lobby have submitted their feedback to the ACT Sustainable Transport Action Plan (STAP).

You can view their submission here (as a PDF) http://actlightrail.info/documents/STAP/ACT%20Light%20Rail%20STAP%20submission%2020090930.pdf
or read it here http://actlightrail.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=131&Itemid=27.

While I am still to be convinced about Light Rail in Canberra (and region), their submission does make for interesting reading. I would have liked them to include the possibility of initially building busways which could be converted to light rail rather than only pushing light rail, but since they are a Light Rail lobby this is what you would expect from them.

route56 · October 01, 2009, 10:55:53 PM

why would you build busways when for the same money you could build the light rail.

apart from the busway behind westfield belconnen, which is closed, has there been any others in canberra ? it would make the buses much faster if they didnt have to share the roads with cars.

Barry Drive · October 03, 2009, 01:09:22 PM

Quote from: route56 on October 01, 2009, 10:55:53 PM
why would you build busways when for the same money you could build the light rail.

Even if were true that you could build busways for the same cost as a light rail track (which it isn't), once you've built the rail track you will then need to buy the vehicles, build new depots and workshops, upgrade your electricity infrastructure and recruit and train (the verb) drivers, conductors (maybe), mechanics etc. With a busway, you already have the buses and drivers and depots and mechanics.

ajw373 · October 28, 2009, 07:59:05 AM

Quote from: route56 on October 01, 2009, 10:55:53 PM
why would you build busways when for the same money you could build the light rail.

apart from the busway behind westfield belconnen, which is closed, has there been any others in canberra ? it would make the buses much faster if they didnt have to share the roads with cars.

Yarra Glen/Adelaide Ave comes to mind as what I would call a busway. Ie dedicated lane both ways for most of the length of the road.

Barry Drive · October 28, 2009, 12:05:06 PM

You've been out of Canberra for too long. Yarra Glen/Adelaide Ave does not have a bus lane anymore - it's a T3 transit lane.

ajw373 · October 28, 2009, 06:21:10 PM

Quote from: Martin on October 28, 2009, 12:05:06 PM
You've been out of Canberra for too long. Yarra Glen/Adelaide Ave does not have a bus lane anymore - it's a T3 transit lane.

True, been out of Canberra way too long, but will be back in 15 months!

But if you look at the post I was replying to the question was "has there been any others in Canberra", the key word being has, ie past tense.

smitho · October 28, 2009, 07:14:01 PM

It's interesting that apart from the Adelaide O-Bahn, the Brisbane and Sydney busways and a busway being built on a former railway line near Cambridge, UK, there have been comparatively few major busways built around the world over the last 30 years - in comparison, there has been a huge number of new light rail systems opened over the same period.

I think the messages that come through from that are that if you're serious about attracting a significant number of car users over to public transport, light rail is the way to go. That's not to say there is no role for busways....

Irisbus Rider · October 28, 2009, 08:02:01 PM

Quote from: smitho on October 28, 2009, 07:14:01 PM
It's interesting that apart from the Adelaide O-Bahn, the Brisbane and Sydney busways and a busway being built on a former railway line near Cambridge, UK, there have been comparatively few major busways built around the world over the last 30 years - in comparison, there has been a huge number of new light rail systems opened over the same period.

Well, there have been lots of Busways constructed around the world, LA is a city that comes to mind which has dedicated busways around the City. There are many more, too many to mention, but the most grand busways would have to be in Istanbul, and Bogota.
Take at look at Wikipedia, it goes into depth about Busways, or 'Bus Rapid Transit': http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_rapid_transit

ajw373 · October 28, 2009, 08:08:50 PM

Quote from: smitho on October 28, 2009, 07:14:01 PM
It's interesting that apart from the Adelaide O-Bahn, the Brisbane and Sydney busways and a busway being built on a former railway line near Cambridge, UK, there have been comparatively few major busways built around the world over the last 30 years - in comparison, there has been a huge number of new light rail systems opened over the same period.

I think the messages that come through from that are that if you're serious about attracting a significant number of car users over to public transport, light rail is the way to go. That's not to say there is no role for busways....

Busways are really good at getting a large number of buses out of a central area quickly or for joining two major centres. Brisbane and the old Belconnen busways come to mind as prime examples for the former. But once in the burbs busways tend to be usless as you need to take the service to the people. No point have a flash busway if it is miles from where the punters are.

Bus 400 · October 28, 2009, 08:25:03 PM

There are rumours of a busway planned for Woden. It would start at the Callam Street/Launceston Street lights, run parralel to the stormwater drain & under the big roundabout & onto the Yarra Glen T2 Lane. This would save a fair bit of time getting out of Woden.

Buzz Killington · October 28, 2009, 08:36:04 PM

Wouldn't save that much time. The buses only really have to stop at the Tradies, at one red light and at the Melrose Dr bus stop.

The money should be spent duplicating Athllon from Drakeford to Sulwood, if they want to improve things on the southside.

ajw373 · October 28, 2009, 08:36:56 PM

Quote from: Bus 400 on October 28, 2009, 08:25:03 PM
There are rumours of a busway planned for Woden. It would start at the Callam Street/Launceston Street lights, run parralel to the stormwater drain & under the big roundabout & onto the Yarra Glen T2 Lane. This would save a fair bit of time getting out of Woden.

That would make quite a lot of sense and a prime example of how busways should be used in the ACT. Now if only Belconnen hadn't lost theirs and a real interchange!

Bus 400 · October 28, 2009, 08:39:24 PM

Quote from: smitho on October 28, 2009, 07:14:01 PM
It's interesting that apart from the Adelaide O-Bahn, the Brisbane and Sydney busways and a busway being built on a former railway line near Cambridge, UK, there have been comparatively few major busways built around the world over the last 30 years - in comparison, there has been a huge number of new light rail systems opened over the same period.

I think the messages that come through from that are that if you're serious about attracting a significant number of car users over to public transport, light rail is the way to go. That's not to say there is no role for busways....

Even as a part of the Southern Subrubs Railway in Perth, Rockingham City Council & PTA (Public Transport Authroity) constricted a new busway from Rockingham Station past Rockingham Shops, council offices & ended at the new Police Station. For parts of this there was no public traffic lane alongside. Anyway exiting the station the grooves have been made in the cement for tram tracks.

To view this busway search "contest parade, rockingham wa" & follow it south

ajw373 · October 28, 2009, 08:47:10 PM

Quote from: Irisbus Rider on October 28, 2009, 08:02:01 PM
Well, there have been lots of Busways constructed around the world, LA is a city that comes to mind which has dedicated busways around the City. There are many more, too many to mention, but the most grand busways would have to be in Istanbul, and Bogota.
Take at look at Wikipedia, it goes into depth about Busways, or 'Bus Rapid Transit': http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_rapid_transit

What about Jakarta, quite an impressive busway system there.

As for Istanbul was there a month or two back and was quite impressed with what I saw. They also have an interesting 'light rail' system too. The stops in particular are impressive. Thinking about the busway though it has been constructed as a precursor to conversion to light rail/metro in the future.

smitho · October 29, 2009, 12:37:24 PM

For sure, there are plenty of newish busways around the world - my point was that when it comes to MAJOR public transport upgrades designed to lure commuters out of their cars, light rail systems seems to be the preferred way to go, with busways serving more of a supporting role over shorter distances.

Perth is an interesting example - in the 1970s or early 80s, they closed the Perth-Fremantle line to passengers and built a busway (buslane?) to replace it....then in the 1990s, they reopened the railway to passengers, electrified it and bought new trains offering frequent serrvices - with buses largely reverting to a feeder role to the trains.

Irisbus Rider · October 29, 2009, 05:20:53 PM

Hmmm, yeah, I see what you're trying to say, and you're right, generally speaking, Busways don't look as attractive as Light Rail does to the average 'joe', such a petty thing, but would make a world of difference.