Developing a rapid transit system for the Gold Coast and its integration with a high density, car oriented urban form. David Mepham Coordinator Transport Futures, Gold Coast City Council
Ideas and issues Mobility shapes the city. Rethinking mobility on the Gold Coast. Gold Coast Rapid Transit project. GCRT - Route and Stations. Challenges for transit in an urban context. Opportunities for transit. Transit, walkability and great places.
Shape of the City Sea and beach, High density urban edge, Canals and suburbia and then hinterland. Implications for accessibility: Many impermeable edges, Strong growth on edge but limited north south capacity.
Main Beach to Southport - 1965
Southport 1960 s
Looking towards Surfers Paradise - 1967
Surfers Paradise Broadbeach 1960 s
Burleigh Heads 1960 s
Rethinking Mobility for Gold Coast City Increasing densities on the edge. Ageing of the population Providing affordability Mobility, accessibility and citizenship
A Transit Oriented Future Responding to the changes in the SEQ region: SEQ Regional Plan emphasis on Transit Oriented Development. GCCC Local Growth Management Strategy developing accessible activity centres and nodes. A hierarchy of centres. Gold Coast City Transport Plan A public transport solution. A Beachside Transit Precinct.
Transit Planning for Gold Coast Mode needs to have the capacity to meet growing needs of the city 30, 40, 50 years? Route to support development opportunities. Station locations that act as hub/nodes and provide connectivity to local areas. Rethinking the highway mentality. Supportive of walking and cycling options. Not just mobility providing accessibility
Gold Coast Rapid Transit GCCC Light Rail Study early 2000 s. $600 mil announced in 2006 by State with GCCC commitment $100m+ partnership. CDIMP - early 2008. GCRT Services running in 2011/12.
Route Station - Place Route determined largely by the constraints of the corridor, dependent on highway corridor. Stations spacing and placement. Place tie station into its environment.
Rethinking the highway Getting beyond the highway mentality: drive by signage, poor footpaths, pavilion style buildings, the drive in restaurants and shopping centres set back from road. long continuous blocks, 500 700 metres long without crossings - with barriers/fencing. Getting beyond the simple solutions: Need to locate stations where people live and work. Stations as part of the centre not the edge.
The Transit Station The Station Precinct The desire to develop quality centres. The 5 minute walk. Achieving accessibility, permeability, legibility. Achieving appropriate spacing balance between access and efficiency of system. Fitting stations into a highly developed urban environment
The Challenge for Rapid Transit Recognising and resolving design conflicts Between the provision of transit and the desire to create a quality place. Perceptions of stations/stops, tracks, catenaries. Look and feel of the mode how sexy? Noise, vibration, privacy. Interchanges and locally generated traffic. Public nuisance, crime/safety.
From Challenges to Opportunities Achieving accessibility Within precinct and from station to destinations. Local traffic conditions. Legibility to and from station language, signage, lighting, landmarking. Dealing with cars roundabouts, ped crossings. Connection to other modes. Walk/cycle opportunities.
Light Rail in Strasbourg
Connectivity & walkable environments Transit and TOD succeed where pedestrian accessibility is achieved. Pedestrian Access and Mobility Planning tools to achieving TOD environment. Walking distances can be increased in high quality urban spaces and corridors research shows up to twice the distance. A walkable environment is a product of a pleasant environment active street fronts, quality footpaths, landscaping/trees, seating, art, traffic calmed.
Tension between transit and place Moving Alone with strangers Fast Away from home Discomfort Unsafe Placelessness Anti social behaviour Bored Resting Social with friends Slow Feel at home Comfortable Safe Community Friendly behaviour Engaged
Copenhagen Emphasis on quality urban design and facilities at transit stops. Study of access trips to 15 suburban stations Walking dominated for distances up to 1 km from stations 38 100% of access trips - 1 1.5km cycling is dominant access mode at 40 % of trips. Beyond 1.5km buses at 40-50% and at 2.5km 30% cycling v 19% car. Source: Robert Cevero, The Transit Metropolis:150
Tokyo Tama Denen Toshi Private rail development where pedestrians rather than cars dominate the station precinct. Use of compact mixed use development around transit with high quality, landscaped walkways radiating into surrounding neighbourhoods. High quality bus connections - no park and ride. Access to transit 68% ped/cycle & 25% bus. Source: Robert Cevero, The Transit Metropolis:200
Bretten, Karlsruhe Upgrade of rail first week of service saw 600% increase in patronage. Issues shorter space between stations 300 400 metres, improved ped/cycle access, removal of car traffic from centre. 70% of passengers access station by foot. Improvement air quality, economy and level of services near stops. Source: Robert Cevero, The Transit Metropolis:358
Opportunities for Quality TOD Helensvale Westfield/Station Griffith University/Gold Coast Hospital Southport CBD Surfers Paradise Broadbeach CBD Burleigh Heads
Helensvale Westfield/Station
Griffith University/Gold Coast Hospital
Southport CBD
Surfers Paradise
Broadbeach
Broadbeach
Burleigh Heads
Final Comments Transit and transport - the DNA of the City Demographic change New challenges. Rethinking access and mobility. Adapting for global change From the highway to boulevard. Visions for the century Quality transit as a vehicle to place making.