Symposium on Public Transportation in Indian Cities with Special focus on Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) System New Delhi 20-21 Jan 2010 BRT in Developed Countries The Brisbane Experience Brian Bothwell Network Planning Manager Brisbane Transport
Contents Brisbane Context BRT Network BRT Infrastructure BRT Service Design Delivering Growth
Brisbane Context Sunshine Coast 300,000 Caboolture & Redcliffe 340,000 Brisbane 1,000,000 Redlands & Logan TransLink South East Queensland (SEQ) network spans a distance of 200 km Brisbane Transport (BT) operates in central part BT carried 72.5m in 2008/09 (40% of total SEQ patronage) Rail carried 33% of SEQ total Ipswich 150,000 400,000 Gold Coast 480,000
Brisbane BRT Network University of Technology Northern Busway Cultural Centre University of Queensland RB&W Hospital South Bank Mater Hospital Eastern Busway RC Hospital CITY CENTRE PA Hospital Woolloongabba Sports Arena Brisbane River South East Busway Griffith University 25 km of dedicated busways 19 busway stations Numerous tunnels & viaducts (bridges) Several linkages to/from road network Garden City Regional Centre Existing Busway & Stations Busway Under Construction Bus/Rail Interchange Stations Eight Mile Plains Park & Ride
Infrastructure Dedicated bus-only roadways separated from general traffic
Nearly 4 km of tunnels Longest tunnel 640m
Contents Numerous viaducts
Contents Green Bridge for buses, pedestrians & cyclists
Stations
Station within major hospital complex
Stations serving the Gabba cricket ground and park & ride lot
King George Square underground station in City Centre
Queen St underground station below main shopping mall
Bus / rail integration
Protection from golf balls!
Service Design The key to maximising the benefits of BRT infrastructure Opportunity to take advantage of combination of traditional rail and bus service design types As a result, delivers direct benefits to much wider area than actual BRT corridor.
Service Design Cultural Centre Recreation Education Hospital All-stations Limited Stop Non-stop On-street bus stops CITY Office Precinct Residential Residential Residential University Regional Shopping Centre Park & Ride Mixture of stopping patterns all-stations limited stop express non-stop (on busway) Provides faster journeys for most passengers Avoids bus congestion at stations
Service Design Mixture of service types 66 RBWH rail-style dedicated busway services (5 routes) UQ 109 City Centre WG 111 160 169 services travelling both on and off busway (118 routes) 63 routes at busiest station Maximises passenger attractiveness and catchment potential EMP Dedicated Busway Routes as at 22 Feb 2010
Service Design BUZ Network Direct services where demand warrants Transfers for small markets or dispersed catchments, using high quality stations Strategy: minimise the need to transfer but maximise the opportunity to transfer
Service Design University of Queensland 35 routes 21 routes Route 109 Rail City Green bridge Rail lines 9 routes 22 routes Route 209 19 routes & Rail 3 routes 1 route Stones Corner 8 routes Route 169 Example of dispersed catchment strategy When green bridge opened to university, 4 high frequency routes introduced Connections at busway stations with over 130 bus routes and most rail lines Route 139 8 routes 13 routes
Service Design Inbound buses per hour AM peak - 2009 Full-time routes Peak-only routes 203 City 195 341 bus every 10.6 secs Diversion of peak-only services off busway just short of City Centre (CBD) Provides direct service to office block sectors of CBD Avoids congesting inner busway Virtual busway
Service Design Numerous peak period pre-paid services Pre-paid ticketing at inner stations in afternoon peak reduces boarding times at busiest stations increases bus throughput Fully-pre-paid system by end of 2010
Delivering Growth We ve taken busway capacity well beyond expectations 20,000 passengers per hour in peak direction compared with long term estimate of 10,000 room for considerable further growth Patronage has almost doubled since first busway opened
Conclusion A well-designed BRT system can transform a bus network Quality infrastructure which combines advantages of a rail line and flexibility of buses Service design with mix of operating patterns tailored to unique local characteristics.