Re: Sydney's New Transitway

["Garry R. Ford" <garry@apana.org.au>]

Glen Pagliaccio wrote:

> Slightly off topic.....
>
> Ten or so years ago, I remember a so called revolutionary "busway" being
> built in Adelaide which was called O-bahn (or something similar). The

Yeh, its so successful that they want to scrap it and extend light rail
along the route. Its a white elephant in that it cost more than light rail
but still works in the same manner.  Only special buses can be used on it.

At least the State Government in Queensland is not so easily duped.  When
Lord Mayor Soorley scrapped "his" plans to re-introduce trams/light rail [he
belatedly found out it had been National Party Policy since 1989 to do so]
he decided on an enormous smogway (orry busway) project over all of
Brisbane.  The Goss Labor Government sort of tied the Queensland Government
to supporting  such outrageous plans, however the Borbidge National/Liberal
government is ensuring that any busway built is easily converted to light
rail e.g. it is planned that they be built like areas of Sydney were for the
the currenr light rail project to enable extremely easy insertion of rail at
a latter date.

The big question is, will they ever see buses only or be dual bus/light rail
from  the outset.

There's nothing wrong with this proposal in Sydney despite what Rob may
think,
PROVIDING the transport minister takes the initiative to ensure they are
built to enable easy conversion, as Brisbane intends.

Cheers

Garry R. Ford
Chairman
Brisbane Transport Research Group