Re: [Fwd: BRISBANE LIGHT RAIL / TRAMS]

[gerrard@ontherun.com.au (Daniel Gerrard)]

On Sat, 13 Dec 1997 02:37:07 +1100, garry <garry@merddyn.apana.org.au>
wrote:

>Bill Bolton wrote:
>
>> There is plenty of evidence from recent LRT installations that
>> attempting to fit new tram systems into congested traffic patterns
>> just doesn't work.  Sheffield probably has some of the best examples
>> of this.
>
>Very true comments here Bill.
>
>> >Are these streets that have no public transport? No trucks?
>>
>> Traffic patterns today are very different from even 10 years ago, let
>> alone the nearly 30 years since trams last ran in Brisbane.  The areas
>> that seem to be the ones that Gary keep throwing up as objections
>> regarding clearances now carry traffic flows to major traffic
>> destinations that hardly existed in the 60s, such as the airport.
>
>Ann Street is the main arterey from northside industrial Airport to both
>western and south (unfortunately). Many truck owners are too lousey to pat
>the Gateway Bridge toll EVEN AFTER WE HALVED. Trying to stop trucks using
>Ann Street is becoming a nightmare. Perhaps light rail will! <snicker>
>
>Some have been convinced to travel vis route 5 - Junction Road, Stafford
>Road (unfortunately, past may place) and Wardell Street to Western
>Freeway, especially since Kaye Street was made less dangerous and the
>Enogerra overpass built. There has been quite some success in banning
>trucks of certain sizes from Ann Street and policing the ban.
>
>> In any case, its not at all clear why it would be necessary to operate
>> a new light rail system "trams" through the former Valley Junction as
>> there seem to be just as workable alternative routings close by which
>> could avoid many of the problems in the first place.
>
>Not really to the New Farm Area unless it goes down an incline railway to
>wharf level or through the Ivory Street tunnel to Adelaide Street. In that
>case the Valley Area misses out completely. I suggest you closely look at
>the map on their home page http;//www.briztram.qld.gov.au The basic New
>Farm Route is the old Bulimba Ferry line extended along the Wharves to the
>old New Farm Wharf line to form a loop. One could run up Doggett/Robertson
>Street or similar to avoid Ann Street, but you still have to get through
>the Valley bottleneck someway. Coming up McLaughlin Street is not on as
>its the main north-estaern exit from the Storey Bridge. The bridge traffic
>is the real problem. Fortunately only traffic on to the Bridge via Ann
>Street is affected by the proposed tramway. Ann Street is the logical
>choice alongth the Map shows Wickham Street, because it is wider where it
>counts - at the Story Bridge exit onwards to Adelaide Street. The problem
>is the Malls in the Valley cut off Brunswick Street from a through tramway
>unless the Malls are rebuilt yet again.
>
>The line to RBH is different. Even though the route shown uses Brunswick
>Street (very narrow and congested even outside of peak hours) the main
>Northern and north-western ext from the Bridge, the alternate route is
>much better using Constance Street or similar to the RBH cutting through
>the showgrounds (or using Gregory Terrace) to the hospital or in that
>general area as it avoids street running. Even if it uses Brookes Street
>and O'Connell Terrace it is better than using Brunswick Street
>
>> The more closely I look at the latest Brisbane proposal, the more its
>> seems like something which in many small way has almost deliberately
>> set up to be unworkable... politics in Queensland is a strange beast,
>> so I wont event try to speculate as to why that may be so.
>
>Now, Now Bill. Queensland politics aren't that bad. At least last quarter
>we created 95% of all new jobs in Australia and have the most efficient
>railway system. Whatever makes you think the government would pull that
>type of stunt. As an aside, if every Victorian for next 101 years plus
>were taxed an additional $100 per year, Victoria's total asset value would
>still not have caught up to Queensland's. Queensland governments over the
>past forty years must have got something right.
>
>Cheers
>
>Garry
>

Now, now garry we don't want to start talking about the "quality" of
Queenslands polititions or we might just have to go federal.