Gold Coast Rapid Transit

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 This article or section contains information about a planned or expected public transportation infrastructure in Australia.
It may contain information of a speculative nature and the content may change dramatically as the construction and/or completion of the infrastructure approaches, and more information becomes available.

The Gold Coast Rapid Transit system is a proposed rapid transport system for the Gold Coast, Australia. The Gold Coast is one of the fastest growing cities in Australia with travel demands exceeding population growth. In order to tackle congestion effectively, there is a need to squeeze much more capacity from existing corridors. The system is expected to encourage visitors and residents to use public transport to reduce major traffic congestion and pollution problems.

A number of studies in the 1990s such as the Line Haul Public Transport Foundation and Feasibility Study in the City Transport Plan 1998 eventually culminated in the The Gold Coast Light Rail Feasibility Study. This started in 2001 with the Queensland and Commonwealth Governments each contributing $650,000. In 2004 the draft summary report was released.[1]

Queensland Transport through TransLink and Gold Coast City Council are jointly considering light rail and bus rapid transit options to deliver the project, although Council has given preference to the costlier light rail option.

A light rail train similar to what could be introduced on the Gold Coast.
A light rail train similar to what could be introduced on the Gold Coast.

Contents

[edit] Project details

An entire length system is anticipated to run between the northern Gold Coast and Coolangatta by 2015, with an interim terminus at Broadbeach by 2011.

Signal prioritization would be used for the entire route and sections where it is in traffic, where possible, would have priority lanes at traffic lights.

The frequency of the service is expected to run every five to ten minutes between 9 am and 6 pm with lower frequencies at other times.

$550 million in State funding has been earmarked for the corridor.

[edit] Proposed route

The route proposed in the Parsons Brinckerhoff study(Stage 1) is 17km long with approximately 90% of the route grade separated from general traffic with the remaining sections in traffic. (Part of the 10% of the route which would have to share road with regular traffic includes a 2km stretch through Surfers Paradise)

[edit] Stations

Proposed stations identified by Parsons Brinckerhoff are at:

More recently identified stations by Translink are at:

Information from TransLink suggests two northern options - Options A (to Helensvale via Harbour Town) and B (to Helensvale via Parkwood). The preferred route will be known in May 2007.

Information also suggests two routes through Southport, Queensland. Option A runs via Scarbrough and Queen Streets through Australia Fair and Option B runs along Nerang St and down Marine Parade. The preferred route will be known in May 2007.

Other stations locations in the northern section for Option A are expected to be identified early in 2007.

[edit] The Light Rail option

The study suggests the use of special third-rail configuration for the light rail option to reduce the visual impact of overhead wiring but this system would only be used sparsely due to higher construction costs.

At the time of the release of the 2004 study the light rail option was estimated to cost between $320m and $360m for the 17-kilometre route.

[edit] Effect on private properties

The proposed system would have limited impact on some freehold properties along the route. No private homes would be resumed along the proposed alignment and only one commercial development requires full acquisition. The remainder of the proposed route would use land currently controlled by the State Government or local government.

[edit] Impact on traffic

The rapid transit proposal is expected to contribute to improved traffic flow along the Gold Coast Highway, by removing buses from traffic lanes and using a segregated public transport corridor. Signalisation of six intersections along the proposed light rail route may also improve traffic circulation and reduce delay to through traffic; however, in some cases increased traffic circulation may occur as a result of restricting selected side streets to ‘left-in, left-out’ access.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

 This article or section includes a list of references or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks in-text citations.
You can improve this article by introducing more precise citations.

[edit] External links