Cairns Transit Network Concept Design Report Table of contents 2 Project description ........................................................................... 2.2 2.1 Introduction.....................................................................................................2.2 2.2 Description of the Cairns Transit Network...................................................2.2 2.3 Bus priority treatment options ......................................................................2.4 2.3.1 Central – City Place..............................................................................................2.5 2.3.2 Northern corridor ..................................................................................................2.6 2.3.2.1 Section N1: Cairns City to Airport Avenue................................................................. 2.6 2.3.2.2 Section N2: Airport Avenue to Skyrail ....................................................................... 2.6 2.3.2.3 Section N3: Skyrail to Trinity Park ............................................................................. 2.7 2.3.2.4 Section N4: Trinity Park to Palm Cove ...................................................................... 2.7 2.3.3 Southern corridor..................................................................................................2.8 2.3.3.1 Section S1: Cairns City to Moody Creek ................................................................... 2.8 2.3.3.2 Section S2: Moody Creek to Earlville ........................................................................ 2.8 2.3.3.3 Section S3: Earlville to Edmonton ............................................................................. 2.8 2.3.3.4 Section S4: Edmonton to Gordonvale ....................................................................... 2.9 2.3.4 Western corridor...................................................................................................2.9 2.3.4.1 Section W1: Cairns Base Hospital to Manoora ....................................................... 2.10 2.3.4.2 Section W2: Manoora to Skyrail .............................................................................. 2.10 List of figures Figure 2.1: Cairns Transit Network corridors............................................................................................. 2.3 Figure 2.2: Busway.................................................................................................................................... 2.4 Figure 2.3: Median bus-only corridor......................................................................................................... 2.4 Figure 2.4: Kerbside bus/transit lane......................................................................................................... 2.5 Chapter 2 Project description Page 2.1 Cairns Transit Network Concept Design Report 2 Project description 2.1 Introduction This chapter provides a description of the Cairns Transit Network. It identifies where the future transit network will be situated, station positions and identifies the location of stations and associated infrastructure such as park and ride and driver facilities. 2.2 Description of the Cairns Transit Network The Cairns Transit Network is approximately 70 kilometres in length. It will connect the major communities in Cairns from Palm Cove to Gordonvale via Smithfield, Redlynch, Earlville, Cairns city centre and Edmonton. The network comprises three key corridors: a northern corridor, a southern corridor and a western corridor, all of which connect with City Place. Figure 2.1 shows the network diagram and three corridors (shown as blue, red and green lines) which make up the Cairns Transit Network. This chapter outlines the attributes of the Cairns Transit Network described within four sections. These are: • Central – City Place • Northern corridor – Cairns City to Palm Cove (via Smithfield) • Southern corridor – Cairns City to Gordonvale (via Earlville and Edmonton) • Western corridor – Cairns Base Hospital to Skyrail (via Redlynch). Chapter 2 Project description Page 2.2 Cairns Transit Network Concept Design Report Figure 2.1: Cairns Transit Network corridors Chapter 2 Project description Page 2.3 Cairns Transit Network Concept Design Report 2.3 Bus priority treatment options The Cairns Transit Network will be made up of a combination of dedicated busways, median bus-only corridors and bus/transit lanes. On some small sections of the network, buses will not receive priority and will mix with general traffic on existing roads. • Busway - A busway is a two-way road exclusively for the use of buses and is separated from general traffic. Emergency vehicles are the only other vehicles which are permitted on busways. Coaches and tourist buses may also be considered as planning progresses (Figure 2.2). Figure 2.2: Busway • Median bus-only corridor - A bus-only corridor operates in the middle of the road. Stations are located in the median and accessed by traffic lights, zebra crossings or pedestrian overpasses ( Error! Reference source not found. ). Figure 2.3: Median bus-only corridor Chapter 2 Project description Page 2.4 Cairns Transit Network Concept Design Report • Bus/transit lane - A bus/transit lane provides buses and/or high occupant vehicles carrying two or more people with their own traffic lanes to bypass road congestion (Figure 2.4). Figure 2.4: Kerbside bus/transit lane 2.3.1 Central – City Place The existing Lake Street transit mall located between Spence Street and Shields Street will be upgraded to allow buses to travel in both directions along Lake Street, crossing Shields Street and City Place in a new slow-speed, bus-only connection. The upgrade will improve passenger amenity and weather protection and reduce bus travel time through the city, improving the reliability of services. Buses only will be allowed to drive through City Place with four new northbound stops located on the western side of Lake Street (between Shields Street and Aplin Street). Four southbound stops will be provided on the eastern side of Lake Street (between Shields Street and Spence Street). This will involve the reconfiguration of the existing bus bays and modifications to traffic operations along Lake Street (between Aplin Street and Spence Street). Cars using Lake Street will be able to turn left around the corner into Shields Street with a new access provided. Cars will not be able to drive across City Place. Provision for pedestrians and cyclists will be improved with a pedestrian priority zone provided across City Place. Refinements have been made to the original draft plans to minimise impacts on parking and the existing taxi rank is proposed to be relocated to Shields Street. As part of the expansion and upgrade of the existing Lake Street transit mall, Council’s existing performance facility (locally referred to as ‘The Mushroom’) will be removed which Council may wish to relocate. Chapter 2 Project description Page 2.5 Cairns Transit Network Concept Design Report The new-look City Place will continue to be a major destination and focal point for public transport services across the city. It will perform the role of a major interchange and provide passengers with the ability to transfer easily between all services that use the station. To support the transit network and protect the long term capacity of City Place it is intended that there will be two additional bus layover areas. One will be located at Cairns Central Shopping Centre on Bunda Street and the other will be adjacent to Munro Martin Park on Grafton Street. This will reduce the need for buses to idle unnecessarily within the city centre whilst drivers take a break. The layover facilities will provide capacity for four bus bays at each location with the opportunity of providing a toilet and driver meals room to be investigated in the future. 2.3.2 Northern corridor The northern corridor extends for 29 kilometres from Cairns city centre via Smithfield to Palm Cove with 20 stations identified. The northern corridor will service the suburbs of Cairns North, Aeroglen, Stratford, Machans Beach, Holloways Beach, Yorkeys Knob, Smithfield, Trinity Park, Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach, Clifton Beach and Palm Cove. 2.3.2.1 Section N1: Cairns City to Airport Avenue Between Cairns city centre (Aplin Street) and Airport Avenue the alignment for the Cairns Transit Network will run within the existing road reserve of Lake Street in a median bus-only corridor. There are four stations within this 3.6 kilometre section which include: • St Monica’s station, between Florence and Minnie Streets • Cairns Base Hospital station, between Gatton and Grove Streets • Cairns North station, between McKenzie and Smith Streets • Tobruk station, between Lily and Rutherford Streets. At Moffat Street intersection, the Cairns Transit Network will extend through bushland to connect with Airport Avenue. An opportunity exists for buses to service the airport from here. 2.3.2.2 Section N2: Airport Avenue to Skyrail For this section the Cairns Transit Network will operate as dedicated busway. From Airport Avenue the transit corridor will remain on the southern side of Airport Avenue and cross over to the western side of the Captain Cook Highway between the highway and railway. The transit network will run at grade along the western side of the Captain Cook Highway, cross Aeroglen Drive and the heavy rail line to Stratford. At Stratford the transit network will turn into Rinks Close crossing the heavy rail line with a new connection