Obviously I’m pleased that this is going ahead. I still can’t think of any reason why these two stages were ever numbered 3a and 3b instead of 3 and 4 but at least they have fixed it.
It’s interesting that Stage 4 is stated to be 13 km long. When preparing the bus ride video of this stage I checked with the Google Earth measuring tool and also a map measurer on my street directory, and both of these came up with 11.5 km, right into the airport.
It’s also interesting that the official maps show the line going straight past the airport with no entry into the airport grounds, 600 m away and much too far to lug baggage. My suggestion is below.
Personally I hope that CPB is is the successful tenderer as they did a great job in the opening of Stage 2 a couple of months early and possibly under budget.
On another tack, I was chatting to a ticket inspector on the tram yesterday after he had finished his checking of the tram passengers. He said that ridership is picking up nicely again but also stated that for a while nursing staff were not using the tram to get from the Parkwood park and ride to the hospital because other passengers were abusing them and accusing them of bringing Covid onto the trams. Disgusting.
Nevertheless with university still providing virtual lectures into students’ homes, the Parkwood park and ride is only about a third full, largely hospital staff I expect.
The only potential difficulty at this stage would be a change of government at the state election in October. The opposition is unfortunately somewhat impotent but you never know what the voting public might do.
Regards,
>> On 11 Aug 2020, at 4:10 pm, Tony Galloway arg@...> wrote:
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>> https://www.railexpress.com.au/go-ahead-for-business-case-for-gold-coast-light-rail-stage-four/
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>> Go-ahead for business case for Gold Coast Light Rail stage four
>> Connor Pearce
>> <G-link-Gold-Coast-Light-Rail-Goldlinq-825x400.jpg>
>> The Queensland and Gold Coast governments will jointly fund the business case for stage four of the Gold Coast Light Rail line.
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>> Stage four, previously known as stage 3B, would see the light rail line extended for 13 kilometres from Burleigh to the Gold Coast Airport at Tugun, at the southern tip of the Gold Coast.
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>> The $7 million business case would be funded in a 50/50 split between the state and local governments, said Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.
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>> “This business case will support the next critical steps needed to push major transport investments on the Gold Coast forward which is vital for Queensland’s economic recovery,” the Premier said.
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>> “This is about building a pipeline of projects that can continue to support and create jobs, boost our economy and improve transport for locals, particularly those living on the southern end of the Gold Coast.”
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>> City of Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said that the connection would provide the public transport backbone for the region.
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>> “It will result in a 40km public transport spine linking key employment, transport, health and education nodes, with an opportunity to also connect with the growing northern New South Wales economic region,” he said.
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>> As part of the business case, options for future spur lines on east-west corridors will be investigated, and whether these should be served by light rail or feeder buses.
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>> Currently, the Gold Coast light rail ends at Broadbeach. Stage 3A, which would extend the line from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads, is awaiting the final announcement of the chosen contractor to build the link. In February, three contractors were shortlisted, John Holland, a joint venture between Fulton Hogan and UGL, and a joint venture between CPB Contractors and Seymour Whyte Constructions. Construction is expected to begin in 2021.
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>> Tate said that he hopes construction of stage four would begin once stage three is complete.
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>> “Ideally we will finish Stage 3 and immediately break ground on Stage 4.”
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>> Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said that the community preferred an alignment which travelled down the Gold Coast Highway. Other options suggested taking the light rail line west and using the existing heavy rail corridor, however 87 per cent of local respondents wanted to retain the option of future heavy rail to the airport.
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>> Tony
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