Infrastructure Discussion

[King of Buses]

Can't recall if there's a Woden Interchange dedicated thread somewhere. But Woden Interchange closed this evening.

The final departure was a route R4 to Tuggeranong at 2141, operated by BUS376.

The final service altogether was a terminating route 65 to Woden, arriving at 2154, operated by BUS384.

Kudos to whoever planned the double matching Gas MANs!

[triumph]

From Transport Canberra Newsletter today
"The ACT Government has engaged Evoenergy to undertake electrical infrastructure works at Woden and Tuggeranong bus depots so they can house up to 300 battery electric buses.

With the first of Canberra's 12 electric buses now on the road, Transport Canberra is continuing the transition to a cleaner, more sustainable future by building the infrastructure we need to power a zero-emissions public transport fleet.

The installation of high voltage cables, which will span 11.9 kilometres, will support the new Woden bus depot with capacity to charge up to 100 buses and upgrade Tuggeranong depot to charge up to 200 buses.

Procurement is also underway for a further 90 electric buses as we transition to a fully electric bus fleet by 2040.

In the short term, internal electric works at the Tuggeranong and Belconnen bus depots will increase electrical capacity to enable more flexible charging arrangements."

This is one of the major costs in switching to an electric fleet. The supply has to be strengthened all the way back to the substation! Compare also with the multiple installations necessary to supply Light Rail power (though voltage conversion, reducing transmission loss, peak demands from acceleration of vehicles, and redundancy are also relevant to the arrangements).

Apparently this is also apparently a major constraint on the gas bus fleet size - it is said the gas network pressure could not be sustained for the refuelling at night of a larger fleet.

(This is likely to become a more general electricity local grid/retail network issue as more and more electric vehicles and other equipment is deployed to reduce carbon emissions. Fast chargers make it worse as they have higher current demands. In rural towns this could be a very difficult situation with potential, at least initially, to severely limit the number of fast chargers that can be simultaneously used/deployed.)

[Barry Drive]

The Media Release from A Barr and C Steel gives a little more detail:

This work involves augmentation of Evoenergy's electrical distribution network by connecting two bus depots, via two new 11 kV dedicated underground feeders from Evoenergy's Wanniassa Zone substation, to help manage maximum demand of up to 12.2MVA at Tuggeranong and 5.1MVA at Woden.

$26.3 million over three financial years will be invested to complete these critical electrical infrastructure works and will ultimately provide the depots with the energy required to charge and operate up to 300 battery electric buses.

I'm no electrical engineer, but I presume that each depot will also need a new substation.

A certain opposition transport spokes-idiotperson has made the claim that his party will "deliver electric buses quicker than Labor". This is despite there not being any suitable depots to house or charge them at. So even without having to wait for Woden Depot to be built, it may still take three years for Tuggeranong Depot to have a suitable power supply to support charging more than 12 electric buses.

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Oh so that's why I keep getting brownouts at night, cuz they're charging the bloody electric buses...

[triumph]

Wow, standby to receive, when they get a few more up and running.....

[Barry Drive]

The two metal shelters on Gundaroo Drive at Chuculba Cres have been removed due to the upcoming road duplication works.

One of them has been installed at Hardwick Cres 4860 (near Caltex). Any sightings of the other one appreciated.

*cough* Ampol.

Might have found the other one. Stop 2135 on Renmark St has a recently relocated metal shelter. Google streetview only has a 13 year old photo of an aluminium shelter at that location.

[triumph]

City West layover was ostensibly fully replaced by Turner Layover with the new 30/1/23 Time Table - yet there was an Action bus in the City West layover mid afternoon today!

[743]

Some changes along John Gorton Drive noted today.

Frames for shelters (no seats or glass as yet) have been installed at stops 2839 and 2837. Unfortunately I'm not familiar enough with shelter design to know what make these are. These are the first two stops for Route R10 on the inward after turning on to John Gorton Drive.

Bus stop flags have been installed at stops 2738 and 2838 for Route 47. These are the stops on John Gorton Drive between   the turns out of Denman Prospect and Whitlam. I believe the stops have been active for this route since its commencement however there were no flags until now, just pads and Bus Zone signs.

[Barry Drive]

I noticed those shelters, but wasn't sure if they were new. Further south there are R10 stops which actually have decent patronage that still don't even have seats, so why those two stops are getting shelters is questionable.

I believe they are Stoddart "classic" shelters, which are the RoadsACT standard shelter.

[Northside]

I wonder if Capital Airport Group have paid for them. The shelters on Holborow went up long before they even had passengers. The stops on John Gorton that receive larger passenger numbers are located in Coombs/Wright. Coincidence??

[triumph]

Canberra Hospital Main Entrance has been constructed across Hospital Road, thus dividing the road into two sections.

Unless the new entrance (it is in use) is a substantial temporary building, it would seem that effective Transport Canberra service to the entrance (as existed when buses were routed along Hospital Rd) is now unlikely. Caveat - on the leg from Bateson Rd there is a small roundabout at the entrance which might be useable one day for buses to divert to the entrance, if in fact the buses can fit round it.

(The existing stops involve an unsheltered uphill walks to the main entrance areas and thus I don't call them effective for a Hospital service.)

[743]

I noticed those shelters, but wasn't sure if they were new. Further south there are R10 stops which actually have decent patronage that still don't even have seats, so why those two stops are getting shelters is questionable.

I believe they are Stoddart "classic" shelters, which are the RoadsACT standard shelter.

A shelter is currently being installed at stop # 2846 John Gorton Dr opp Opperman Ave, Coombs. This was the only remaining stop on John Gorton Dr for the R10 citybound without a shelter.

[triumph]

Old City West bus layover has still been regularly used by some drivers. That has now come to an end with the fencing off of the site for a Light rail 2a construction depot.
There is still at least one die hard out there - a bus laid over on Saturday in a part of the adjacent City West bus stop. 

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Really glad I didn't decide to go shopping at Woden just now, it just started pouring. Why am I posting my thoughts about this here... I dunno, but let's just say I think they forgot to add something to the Woden Temporary Interchange that makes it easy for shoppers to catch a bus in the rain. No more literal concrete bridge cover or Corinna Street anymore...

[triumph]

Sylvan, your comment touches on the broader issue of how badly public transport customers are viewed and treated. Other examples include integration of services and flexibility to account for late connections, disrupting services at the drop of a hard hat (construction sites), for events, providing stop shelters that often don't (Westfield Belconnen), services to places like Hall and Hume (ever needed to go to Hume to collect a parcel from a courier depot?), stops remote from shopping centres (Majura Park is terrible - cars prioritised over buses), spread of hours to suit workers (I recall a conversation near me by a teen explaining that they had to turn an employment offer down because of no suitable public transport). etc etc. I could go on, but better end this opportunity to rant about it.

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

Yup, and it's all Labor's fault.
What were those signs along Hindmarsh Drive saying... "23 years is too long enough". That's exactly how long our transport infrastructure and networks have been deteriorating for.

[triumph]

Nope, longer than that.
We were dudded in 1998 - moving to Canberra, chose a dwelling near a bus route "being improved"  ACTION told us - route disappeared within a couple of weeks of moving in.

Am tempted to say the rot began after Ian Cooper left ACTION. As for Labor, as you say they mostly continued the deterioration, John Hargreaves, weekend services, disability compliance, etc. are just a few random items that come to mind. On the positive side, the electric bus fleet (44 on hand and rising), light-rail (a dominant positive), weathering Covid disruptions, and early expansion to recent new suburbs come to mind; but I find the positives harder to think of.
(It is yet to be shown, by the Standing Committee enquiry, if Labor through Transport Canberra or NEC are largely behind the MyWay+ dramas. But, as a positive, the vision was good.) 

[triumph]

Woden Temporary Interchange bus movements have changed from 19th June, with further changes expected to be announced in August.

Details noted/observed are:
- Changes are due to closure for works in Callam St between Wilbow and Launceston Sts.
- All arrivals and departures are via Bowes St. from/to Launceston St.
- Interchange platforms 1, 2, and 4 operate N to S. Arrivals are via Bowes and Matilda Sts. Departures are via Bowes St.
- Interchange platforms 3,5 and 6 operate S to N. Arrivals are via Bowes St. Departures are via Matilda and Bowes Sts.
(Note: Bowes St makes a right angle bend, thus a section of Bowes St is parallel to Matilda St.)
- All services using Callam St between Hindmarsh Dr. and Wilbow St. divert via Wilbow, Easty, and Launceston Sts, and vice versa, to reach Bowes St.
- Only one stop is closed, being the stop in Launceston St approaching Bowes St to enable lane selection for the RH turn.

Bowes St is now extemely busy and congested.

(If above has been covered elsewhere, apologies but I couldn't find any relevant posts.}

[Bus 400]

With Hindmarsh Drive services (63,64,65,70,71) leaving Woden via Melrose Drive.

If you want to watch the new Woden Interchange being built. There's a window in the fence behind platform 1.

[triumph]

Thanks - hadn't picked up on that. A bit inconsistent, as other services using the Easty St diversion could also proceed via Melrose and Hindmarsh Drvs to Athllon Drv. or Ainsworth St. (Perhaps, taking into account traffic signals and potential peak congestion, the Easty St route is more efficient for these.)

[Sylvan Loves Buses]

And yet they still refuse to put in a replacement bus stop for Corinna Street even though there was literally one at some point in the past next to the underpass. When will this public disservice ever end...

[Bus 400]

And yet they still refuse to put in a replacement bus stop for Corinna Street even though there was literally one at some point in the past next to the underpass. When will this public disservice ever end...

Until late August, Corinna St southbound is closed whilst they do plumbing upgrades. Before the diversion there was the Woden to Woden Seniors bus.

Thanks - hadn't picked up on that. A bit inconsistent, as other services using the Easty St diversion could also proceed via Melrose and Hindmarsh Drvs to Athllon Drv. or Ainsworth St. (Perhaps, taking into account traffic signals and potential peak congestion, the Easty St route is more efficient for these.)

For those that remember, the route you mention was the route taken by the Intertown buses to access/leave Woden when there was an accident at Callam/Bradley St/Woden Interchange exit. The intersection that confused drivers. 

[Bus 503]

Does anyone know how the Alinga St light rail stop will operate once stage 2a is complete? Will the current stop be extended/lengthened to accomodate two light rail lines departing from the same platforms (Gungahlin/City services plus stage 2a) or will an entirely new light rail station be built be built on Northbourne between Alinga St and London Cct exclusively for stage 2a?

[Bus 400]

Alinga Street stop should operate as a normal stop. 
Commonwealth Park & eventually Woden services will use Platform 1, Gungahlin/EPIC services use Platform 2.

Once the Belconnen to Airport service start, that will make things interesting.

[triumph]

Interesting question. The rolling stock will be compatible with both Stages 1 and 2a, and presumably the later 2b (also noting that the initial t*****e is being retrofitted with the necessary power batteries). It thus becomes an issue of operation and timetabling. It is hard to imagine that through travelling customers would be expected to change. I have attended some presentations, mostly of a technical nature, and it has always seemed to be a given that 2a would be served by through operation with no need to change.
But will there be some additional peak hour services that do not use stage 2a, or even the whole of stage 1? The potential for operational complexity and customer confusion suggests that is unlikely, especially as existing, mainly off peak, depot short workings already catch customers out.
A related aspect I have noted no emphasis on, is Alinga Street dwell time. If large numbers of passengers continue (or are expected) to use Alinga Street, then some adaptation need might become apparent.
So the question is not definitively answered, but the likelihood of through operation using the existing Alinga Street station  being the norm seems high.   

[Busnerd]

Alinga Street will be used as a normal stop but also can be used as a turnback during incidents, there will be no need to 'change trams' as Commonwealth Park will become the southern terminus once it opens, services will continue to operate the entire line excluding those peak positioning trips which are short workings to/from the depot.

[Northside]

Part of the expense of the 2a extension is that ALL light rail vehicles will be retrofitted with batteries so all vehicles can operate the full line. There will be only one R1 route which will run all stops Gungahlin Place to Commonwealth Park. The only exception being depot runs, diversions due to accidents etc. and possibly for events at Epic. It means all Gungahlin bound trams departing Alinga St will do so from Platform 2. The alternating platform routine will now move to the new terminus of Commonwealth Park.

[Bus 503]

Bus 400 raises an interesting point about where the City light rail station will be for stage 3. One issue is we don't know much about the alignment of stage 3. But presuming it goes down Alinga Street,it may have its station on Alinga St perpendicular to Gungahlin-/Commonwealth Park-bound services - perhaps where current bus platforms 1/2 or 3/4 are located. This would mean the removal of said bus platforms, but then again, presumably those bus stops won't be needed that much anyway, given the light rail will render large portions of the R2, R3, R4, and R5 unnecessary.

[triumph]

The detailed documentation (re works approval I think) for stage 1 included a requirement to provide for quick (about a week if I remember correctly) turnout construction at Barry Drive.
 

[triumph]

Platform 4 road pavement at the Woden Temporary Interchange, despite relatively recent construction, has developed a large pothole and pavement distortions. The pavement next to the platform has now been replaced with concrete.

This was designed and constructed specifically as a bus facility, yet the pavement has not been able to withstand the impact of frequent bus usage.
 
There many other locations round the network where pavements, particularly near stops are exhibiting distress from bus usage. The London Circuit outbound stop opposite the Legislative Assembly is a good example.

         

[Buzz Killington]

This was designed and constructed specifically as a bus facility, yet the pavement has not been able to withstand the impact of frequent bus usage.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought they just did a layer of hot mix over the existing asphalt - which was presumably designed for standard carpark usage as opposed to heavy vehicles.

[triumph]

I think you are correct. A close examination of an image of the pothole I have indicates 2 layers. Never-the-less, part of the design would require an assessment of the existing pavement and application of design criteria to determine an adequate thickness of the additional asphaltic concrete (hot mix) layer(s) to gain the needed strength.
The point is that repeated frequent use by heavy vehicles of flexible (as opposed to rigid cement concrete) pavements is a sure way to expose inadequacies or weak spots.

[L94UBbusfan]

Not sure why this has popped into my head now of all times, but since when did Hazel Hawke Ave in Whitlam have a bus stop? I literally just found out these stops existed 2 minutes ago when I saw a Facebook post saying that those stops are closed due to a police operation. I couldn't find any information about when these bus stops were installed, I'm pretty sure they weren't there when I last caught the 47 back in January. Does anyone know when they were installed?

[Bus 400]

I think it may have been around the start 4. They were definitely needed, unofficially drivers were stopping on Hazel Hawke to drop people off before then anyway. 

[L94UBbusfan]

I think it may have been around the start 4. They were definitely needed, unofficially drivers were stopping on Hazel Hawke to drop people off before then anyway.

Yeah I'm surprised there weren't any stops on Hazel Hawke originally, I checked the Google Earth coverage and I can't see bus stops and they weren't there when I caught the 47 last (or at least I think they weren't there, I was on 336 which didn't have any stop announcements and I may not have been paying attention). I plan to go on a bus trip in early January and depending on how it goes I will try to catch the 47 and see this stop for myself.

[Bus 400]

Before there was only 2 sets of stops on Sculthope Avenue. Presumably once the bridge is complete, the 47 will revert to just using Scunthorpe Avenue (pending work in the middle of Sculthope being completed in time)