COM: Glenelg Tramline Upgrade

[Omicron]

I tell you what's not complete on that section - the ridiculous traffic-light sequences at both the tramline and Anzac Highway/Morphett Rd intersection.

[AtD]

Overpass bike track welcomed
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008 ... 311527.htm
Posted Wed Jul 23, 2008 7:23am AEST


Bikes and people will cross South Road without stopping traffic (Transport SA)


A decision to add a pedestrian and bicycle track to a tram overpass at South Road in Adelaide has been welcomed by the Greens.

The $28 million overpass is part of upgrading work on South Road and Anzac Highway, south-west of the city.

Greens MP Mark Parnell says the bike and pedestrian track will add little cost of the project.

"Cyclists were getting ready to protest and to rally - they won't need to do that now," he said.

"It's good that the Government's seen common sense and really, from now on, every piece of road and public transport infrastructure should have an eye to increased petrol prices, to climate change and must make allowance for bikes and pedestrians."

[Norman]

Good to hear. Now lets see this go ahead!

[cruel_world00]

Excellent.

Now just get to the building it part.

[urban]

An integrated bike and pedestrian path is such a logical step. It would only cost a little extra to do it now but would be prohibitively expensive to do later. It says something about DTEI's mindset that it wasn't included in the original proposal.

[Ho Really]

While they're at it they should widen South Road under the Glenelg tram overpass. Never know, that third lane could come in useful (even as a bus lane!).

Cheers

[Shuz]

I asked them that exact thing, about accomodating room for a widened South Road underneath the overpass. I was told that there would be provisions made available, and am under the impression that the carpark on the western side (which needs the same overpass height above) would act as the 'extra lanes' when the time comes. It should be noted that the Anzac Highway underpass took out properties on the western deviation which indicates that the trend will continue.

Regarding tramming arrangements - a lot of trams of late have been running about 5-10 minutes behind schedule, and are slowing at the Goodwood overpass. What the hell's going on? Even the other day a 2:37 tram was scheduled to arrive, one came - Not In Service - and was forced to wait until the 2:57. Shocking...

[Will409]

Could be in preparation for trackwork at Goodwood overpass.

[Norman]

Yes, there are parts near that Goodwood flyover where track is quite poor compared to the rest of the system. I think there is a 25 TSR between just after Goodwood Road and the Goodwood Flyover.

[cruel_world00]

As I've been riding along the bike path next to the tram line I have seen machinery there. Is there any track work going on?

[Will409]

There has been rumours of trackwork being undertaken at the Goodwood Flyover for some time now and rail to do the work is available. I'll be heading down to Glenelg later on today so I will find out.

[Norman]

Rerailing of the Goodwood Flyover is now complete.

[DM8]

Tuesday tram strike over CBD risk
Article from: Sunday Mail (SA)

RENATO CASTELLO

August 17, 2008 12:30am

TRAM drivers have called a snap strike for Tuesday, asking for extra money to compensate them for the stress of driving through the city.
The tram system will halt for four hours as staff walk off the job as a 12-month pay dispute with TransAdelaide reaches crisis point.

As part of the dispute, drivers want higher wages because the tramline extension last October has put them at a greater risk of accidents with pedestrians and traffic, their union says.

They also believe that TransAdelaide has not adequately compensated them for improvements in productivity.

The Glenelg to city service will stop from 10am to 2pm to allow staff to attend a stopwork meeting, where it is expected they will reject TransAdelaide's offer of a 12.5 per cent wage increase, spread over three years.

The Australian Rail, Tram and Bus Industry Union SA branch is demanding 15 per cent and has not ruled out further industrial action to push its case.

Under the union's claim, the drivers' average weekly wage would increase from $810 to $937 at the end of the agreement.

It comes as the union also revealed TransAdelaide wants to remove conductors from the city's popular free shuttle service between South Tce and Victoria Square, introduced when the tramline was extended last October.

Union secretary Ashley Waddell said staff had been under unprecedented pressure since the tramline was extended to the city's West End.

He said drivers were facing greater risks of accidents, with pedestrians and traffic cutting in front of trams.

And he said the workload would only worsen in future, following the State Government's Budget announcement to extend the tram system down Port Rd to the Entertainment Centre.

"The RTBU has been arguing that these (free) shuttle services have placed an increased workload on the operators, as they are exposed to a higher risk environment from operating through the busiest part of the CBD for extended periods of time," he said. "With the extension occurring towards the end of next year or early 2010, there is going to be further exposure to that high-risk environment.

"We are basing this claim on the increased flexibility TransAdelaide are asking for, and productivity that we believe we have delivered TransAdelaide.

"We apologise to the public for the disruption to services but it is now unavoidable."

He said Melbourne's tram drivers were paid about $903 a week, and his members had not received a pay increase since January, 2007.

He said the union was scheduled to meet TransAdelaide again on Thursday but did not rule out further industrial action.

Mr Waddell also told the Sunday Mail that TransAdelaide wanted to remove all conductors from the shuttle service as a bargaining tool in the wage dispute.

"They want to remove conductors because it's a free service," Mr Waddell said.

"We have said: `Who is going to handle wheelchairs or advise passengers who might be from out of town?' Even if they are not selling tickets, they are still performing a service role and other duties."

TransAdelaide refused to comment on the dispute.

[Cruise]

Under the union's claim, the drivers' average weekly wage would increase from $810 to $937 at the end of the agreement.

Is that for a regular 38 hour week?

If so, how does one apply for such a job?

[monotonehell]

How much to bus drivers get, out of interest?