Council ol Mayors South E<1Rt Queensland Public Transport in SEQ Options to deliver value and innovation in future South East Queensland public transport infrastructure January 2012 5 w -(/) u c ::J u0 GHD was commissioned by the Council This report not only develops a list of of Mayors (SEQ) to provide advice on priority projects, but proposes a new innovative and value for money options for vision for SEQ Public Transport that puts investment in the public transport network the commuter at the heart of the system. in South East Queensland (SEQ). It is being released to encourage public discussion about options for investing in A key challenge for the investment public transport infrastructure across SEQ. program for public transport infrastructure in SEQ is how to meet the needs of The report does not represent an endorsed a growing region within the financially policy position of the Council of Mayors constrained fiscal environment now faced (SEQ). which will not consider the report by all levels of government. and public reactions to it until after the 2012 local government elections. The A key concern is whether the funds exist Council of Mayors (SEQ) will consider to proceed with the State Government's all options in developing its future input iconic $7700M Cross River Rail project. into the next iteration of the Queensland Some SEQ Councils are concerned Infrastructure Plan. that funding the project may delay other important projects in the region, while The Council of Mayors (SEQ) looks forward failure to deliver the project may stymie to further developing a constructive growth of the regional rail network. working partnership with the Queensland For these reasons, GHD was asked to Government on planning for the consider whether the objectives of the infrastructure that SEQ will need over the Cross River Rail project can be met in a next decade to maximise the liveability, more cost effective way. sustainability and productivity of this great region. The State Government has invested an average of about $1500M annually over the last four years on public transport infrastructure. GHD was asked to consider what could be delivered if expenditure was maintained at around that level over the next decade, having regard to the priorities in the Queensland Infrastructure Plan and the priorities identified by the Council of Mayors (SEQ). Contents 06 40 Executive Summary On the Main Stage What Needs to be I 40 page 15 Delivered in the Next Five Introduction to Ten Years? Financing the Plan 142 page 16 Introducing Competitive 45 page State of Play Tension into the System Current Public Transport 116 page Proposals 46 Major Problems 19 page Conclusion The Opporunity 20 page Affordable, Timely and 22 page Innovative Solutions The Cleveland Solution 24 page Projects Beyond 2022 39 page Uncer·tarn Critical bottlenecks (such Commission Where Environment as the Merivale Bridge) are In recognising that policy strangling the network While vast improvements to the The current planning -the additions of new makers are at the cross roads public transport network have environment is uncertain: branch lines to the SEQ and face several critical been made over the last • The fiscal positions of the network effectively means decisions, the Council of decade, several critical State and Commonwealth train paths compete for Mayors, South East Queensland problems remain: (COMSEQ) has commissioned Governments are track in the congested CBD Servicing areas in the extremely tight- the ability core which progressively GHD to investigate innovative outer network where there and value for money options of the public sector to make dilutes the level of service in are low urban densities for investment in the public large investments in capital outer networks. -the busway system has projects has been greatly transport network in SEQ. It seems increasingly been a very effective diminished. unlikely that the current GHD's approach has been to strategy to address this • The private sector has Cross River Rail proposal answer five basic questions: issue but it is becoming a little appetite to take on can be afforded in the 1. What is the current state of victim of its own success as patronage risk for current fiscal environment play and priorities for public inner city connections congest in peak hours. transport projects -the - Cross River Rail can transport capital private sector is just not address many of the expenditure? • The inner city rail "core" is willing to invest through network connectivity issues 2. Where are the major at capacity and as new traditional PPP models, and bottlenecks in the core problems? branch and spur lines are particularly in public but the solution is expensive introduced, service levels transport projects. and currently unfunded. 3. What does the commuter and frequency in the wider Patronage has generally want from the public network are being • The sheer scale of the transport network in SEQ? increased and is expected Cross River Rail progressively diluted. to continue to grow- this investment may also act 4. What needs to be delivered • The demand for public is placing pressure on to 'crowd out' other in the next five and ten years transport is increasing and services and reliability. projects needed across and what can we afford? the availability of funds to • The costs (subsidy) to South East Queensland as 5. Are there innovative and service that demand is funds become increasingly deliver public transport value for money approaches constrained by a tight services has been steadily scarce to financing and delivering fiscal environment. increasing- in the order of • While rail is described as the priorities and delivering what • There is also a nagging $55 0M in 2007/2008 to 'backbone' of future public the commuter wants? issue of the conflict approximately $700M in transport infrastructure, between Citytrain services 2013/2014. buses carry twice as many and freight movements to passengers as trains and a the Port of Brisbane and balanced infrastructure across the CBD. plan needs to include all modes of transport. Public Transport in SEQ I Options to deliver value and innovation infullire South East Queendland public transport infrastructure I January 201121 7 What does the commuter To sum 1t up: GHD recommends a new in want? • South East Queensland vision for SEQ public a In framing our report and commuters want transport that puts the recommendations, GHD has increased service commuter first: The great urban rail (and sought to address the key quality, reliability and The public transport public transport) systems of question- what do SEQ greater frequency and system for SEQ will be the world (both large and commuters (and tax connectivity- "no characterised by high medium sized cities) are integrated networks that payers) really want? timetables-just turn up frequency peak services, adapt various modes of In this regard, South East and go". off peak services that transport for the function Queenslanders are no • South East respond to demand, required (and what the seamless interchanges, different to other urban Queenslander taxpayers commuter needs). real time passenger commuters. They want: want better value for They are true networks of money solutions. information systems, value • Enhanced performance for money, effective independent lines and service reliability These practical desires of integrating with each other delivery and a focus on through common nodes, • Increased service quality SEQ residents are consistent customer service that is where passengers change to with the Council of Mayors. Integrated Network and frequency second to none. other lines. • Better use of assets and COMSEQ wants a public From the users' perspective, increases in productivity transport system that is an they function effectively as engine for regional economic one mtegrated system • Cost reductions per growth, but also one that is regardless of veflicle type, • passenger journey greener and safer and When developing its particular technology and recommendations, GHD has improves quality of life in our mode. • Better connectivity and proposed both a broad opportunities to communities across the In Australia, our public whole of our region. philosophical change and seamlessly transfer to several pragmatic and value transport systems - different modes. for money alternatives. This particularly rail - have evolved from CBD based radial philosophical approach and systems progressively the value for money extending branch lines into alternatives are supported by new suburbs from the core. assessing the role of: In SEQ's radial network, • Different and new each new branch line technologies effectively adds another line through the central • Innovative financing core and can only be • Introduction of new accommodated 15y sharing • operators into the system existing stations and track or Radial Network by building new • System integration. infrastructure. 8 G'{tll!J!Cl Nvtth f\J,~,mbour L PJnd!:,hnrough Sandgate Ferny Gro..,e Robma • V3re1ty· Lakf!!~, .- Public Transport in SEQ 1 Options to deliver value and innovation in future South East Queendland public transport infrastructure I January 20112 1 9 The Cleveland Solution As the city grows, the The "Cleveland Solution" In essence, by extracting the solutions become very removes the Cleveland Line Cleveland, Ferny Grove and expensive - hence the services from the Merivale Doom ben lines lrom the core: $7700M1 cost of the current Bridge (almost 50% of its Nearly half of the Cross River Rail proposal. current demand) by ca[Jacity of train paths GHD argues that SEQ can constructing a new rail line on Menvale Bridge continue to compound the from the Park Road Station to become available at central core capacity problem Roma Street Station, via a about one-third of the with more branch lines and tunnel to Woolloongabba, CAPEX $2500M then a new bridqe over the current Cross River Rail Fleet and expensive core cost enhancements, or we can river beside (and imitating) the Captain Cook Bridge ana Platform and track space transition the existing radial through the central core is II Stations system to an integrated Riverside Expressway, and network.