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What should be the short and long term priorities to improve the ACT transport system?
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Comment 1 30 Jul 2009, 11:07 AM
Remove the word sustainable for a start and replace it with the word functioning. The goal should really be to get a working transport system, then increase efficiency and sustainability. The Government can replace the word ‘sustainable’ with ‘strategic’ so it still has a buzz word in the title.
If sustainability is your goal you could mandate biodiesel in all vehicles (ala Kalmar, Sweden).
If you want more people to walk and ride, the only way is to increase population density around the key work areas. If it is more than 20 minutes each way, I for one won’t walk. People further out will ride, but the second it starts to rain, 90% of those people will be in their car – so you will still need the car spaces for a wet day.
Comment 2 30 Jul 2009, 12:05 PM
Fire the current web team. Get a web site which works on phones, especially for schedule information. It turns out people aren't carrying around a desktop when trying to work out when the next bus is. Provide route, timetable and tracking information to third party applications and sites. Why is this information kept locked up? Is it because of embarrassment about service levels?
More buses is obvious too. If I have to wait 30 minutes for a suburban bus, I'm going to just drive.
Comment 3 31 Jul 2009, 9:50 PM
Short term...
More buses, more frequent. Better weekend/night services - allow people to go out and use the system!
Improve website as mentioned for mobile phones and provide real time info, tracking. Finally get ACTION into Google Maps.
Reimplement BIKE 'n' RIDE (Pre July 09)
Seriously consider Light Rail and start planning.
Med/Long Term...
Light Rail, integrated with the bus system.
Comment 4 2 Aug 2009, 9:15 PM
Short-term
Fixing parking in major centres
Developing a working bus network
Build the GDE properly
Fix traffic routes into Gungahlin
Medium term
Developing a safer cycle network that is direct and not combined with traffic
Resolve issues with Northbourne Avenue - free flowing traffic
Long term
Investigate light rail
Comment 5 6 Aug 2009, 10:14 AM
* Real Time Passenger Information for buses.
* Cycling priorities per Pedal Power preferences as they already looked into this.
* Fast train links interstate.
* Get freight off the roads and onto trains.
Comment 6 9 Aug 2009, 11:24 AM
Set up the system like light rail. You don't have to have trains to make it work. Travel corridors already exist in Canberra. - Monaro highway, Tuggeranong Parkway and Adelaide Ave/ Erindale drive to the South, Northbourne Ave/ Barton Highway and GDE to the North, Belconnen Way and Ginninderra Drive to the Northwest and Hindmarsh Drive to the west. These are all corridors that require stations (not stops) along the way that can have a timetable similar to a rail network set up on them. Plenty of parking and plenty of busses will encourage mass use. Couple this with a CAT system similar to Perths within the city regions and There you have it.
Comment 6.1 9 Aug 2009, 1:41 PM
I absolutely agree with you. The CAT system in Perth and the rail down the centre of the Freeway all work well to get people moved around at peak hour. Take a leaf out of the Canary Wharf light rail in London - and all of this would lead to better transport in the Capital.
Comment 7 9 Aug 2009, 1:44 PM
Short Term Priority
===================
(1) Stop speeding buses - I would not risk my life by getting on a bus doing 80 km/hr in a 50 km/hr zone - regular event all week down my street!! The Police don't care; Action Buses don't care - with careful planning the buses don't need to speed to meet expectations they are regular!!!
(2) Service the buses to clean up the masses of black smoke pumped into the suburbs they pass through (and clean them).
Long Term Priority
==================
Rethink Public Transport in this City and include light rail - and park and ride - in ALL new suburbs. How is ACT Planning getting away with not including mass transport options in all these northern 'new' suburbs!!
Comment 7.1 12 Aug 2009, 4:30 PM
* The mapping in the Parsons Brinkerhoff report (for 2031) did not include proposed Park'n'Ride locations e.g. in Molonglo. Should these locations be determined sooner, rather than later, so that they work with the setting aside of routes? For example in Molonglo, Park'n'Ride could be identified for various locations plus feed-ins from nearby suburbs e.g. Duffy which lack provision for Park'n'Ride now?
* Keep tourist and recreation routes happening e.g. current Black Mountain and Zoo route and something into Western Park.
Comment 8 12 Aug 2009, 4:23 PM
Grow the service to match seating needs. Standing room only does not encourage me to catch a bus e.g. Xpresso from Western Creek to the City.
Comment 9 30 Aug 2009, 7:41 PM
Short Term:
(1) Restore the profile of ACTION Park and Ride and open more P&R sites on the Intertown and Gungahlin routes.
(2) With a view to attracting car commuters, substantially upgrade the Intertown service to express standard with stops only at the interchanges and at Park and Ride locations with a view to achieving a 20% reduction in running times. Supplement this with Limited Stop services, running say every 10 minutes in the peak, to also service intermediate stops such as the Phillip Industrial area and College St.
(3) Prevent further parking expansion in Civic, especially the 3,000 car carpark proposed more…