Gold Coast Rapid Transit

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 inAustralia with travel demands exceeding population growth. In order to tackle congestioneffectively, 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. [http://www.pb.com.au/gclightrail]

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.

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 prioritisation 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.

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)

tations

Proposed stations identified by Parsons Brinckerhoff are at:

* Parkwood railway station (this has since been removed in later studies as a proposed station due to the costs in building the Railway Station)
* Griffith University
* Loders Creek
* Queen Street West
* Gold Coast Hospital
* Southport
* Brighton Parade
* Main Beach
* Paradise Waters
* Cypress Avenue
* Surfers Paradise
* Clifford Street
* Northcliffe
* Cascade Gardens
* Broadbeach
* Hooker Boulevard

More recently identified stations by Translink are at:
* Helensvale railway station
* Harbour Town

More details about the route and costings are to be detailed in the Concept Design and Impact Management Plan (CDIMP) to be released in July / August 2008.

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.

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.

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.

ee also

*Light rail
*Bus rapid transit
*Metro Light Rail
*Trams in Melbourne

References

* [http://www.pb.com.au/gclightrail/GCLR_Report/PDF%27s/Draft_Summary_Report.pdf Gold Coast Light Rail Feasibility Study, Draft summary report (PDF)]
* [http://www.translink.qld.gov.au/qt/translin.nsf/ReferenceLookup/Terms%20of%20Reference.pdf/$file/Terms%20of%20Reference.pdf GCRT Terms of Reference for development of Concept Design and Impact Management Plan (CDIMP)]

External links

* [http://www.translink.qld.gov.au/qt/TransLin.nsf/index/gcrt_home TransLink - Gold Coast Rapid Transit]
* [http://www.pb.com.au/gclightrail/ Gold Coast Light Rail Feasibility Study]
* [http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard2.aspx?pid=1327 Gold Coast City Council - Gold Coast Light Rail Project]
* [http://www.pm.gov.au/News/media_releases/2001/media_release910.htm Prime Minister of Australia - Announcement of funding by the Commonwealth of a feasibility study into a light rail on the Gold Coast]
* [http://www.abc.net.au/news/items/200607/1685398.htm?goldcoast ABC News - Planning under way for Gold Coast rapid transport scheme]
* [http://www.gccc.com.au/t_news_item.aspx?pid=6257 Gold Coast City Council - Rapid transit plan on the right track]