08/09 state budget announcements

[adam73837]

When you take it all into perspective, the budget is very well thought out and put together. However they're mainly focusing on this new 'coast-to-coast' thing, which has it positives and negatives. First the positives. It will allow for tourists to get to the Entertainment Centre, Port Adelaide, etc. easier and in a far better way. It may also reduce traffic along Port Road (and possibly Torrens Road... ) which is always a good thing.
However it is because they are focusing so much on this that they are forgetting about other areas of the city. For example, I live in Hazelwood Park (in the Eastern Suburbs) and there is no efficient bus system (other than 141, 142 and 143 -which are always packed like most public transport vehicles in Adelaide) that really services the area. And if you were to sit on Greenhill Road in the morning and watch the many, many, many cars that come down that road (particularly during the Clipsal), you think to yourself "Why isn't there an efficient bus service -or possibly better still the tram service that used to operate there is the 50s and 60s- that comes down this major arterial road? I know that the same applies for the Western, Southern and Northern Suburbs, so can't this new 'transport revolution to Port Adelaide) wait a little bit longer, because we in the Eastern, Western, Southern and mid to far northern suburbs are really suffering here!
I mean, sure, they're electrifying the railway lines to the Northern and Southern Suburbs, but can't they also do what Sydney does which is have bus services branching out from the major train stations, etc. In Adelaide, stations such as Hallet Cove (if there is one, I haven't looked at the map for a while, but you know what I mean), Salisbury, Noarlunga and Elizabeth, should have all the surrounding buses servicing them so that it is easier for people to access them and therefore access the city. I'm not saying that this is THE OPTION, but it may be a start, but no, we have to place a huge emphasis on everything we do and play the media game, that's how we've earnt our famous nickname: Media Mike.
BTW, can anyone tell me what the difference is between increasing public transport prices to create better services and creating Toll Roads which also create better services? I'm only asking because Media Mike and Clowning Kevin stated that they do not want to build Toll Roads in Adelaide because of whatever stupid reason and yet here they are doing pretty much the same thing (unless anyone can state otherwise -please feel free to do so because I honestly want to know what the difference is.)

[urban]

The area between Port Adelaide and Adelaide has been chosen for the attention because it is deemed the area with the greatest capacity for TODs, infill development and increased density to help alleviate the pressures on the urban growth boundary. This rail development will achieve the most for the money spent.

I think everyone would agree that the entire PT system requires an overhaul but that leaves the question of where do you start. The train system is not far away from total collapse and the govt is right in using it as the starting point for the overhaul.

From an environmental point of view (and urban design) the long term goal must be to make PT significantly cheaper than private vehicle use. Tolling roads instead of raising PT ticket prices is one way of achieving that.

[Norman]

Adam, trams may return to the eastern suburbs after this rail revitalisation project. They want to get Heavy Rail moving again, this is their priority. Because the Outer Harbor line is being electrified for Heavy Rail, the new tram to West Lakes and Semaphore are very easy to implement... little extra infrastructure is needed for the trams to run on the train line.

And just for bus users, 80 more buses (extra buses, not replacement buses) have been tendered for, so you will get more buses out that way.

[monotonehell]

When you take it all into perspective, the budget is very well thought out and put together. However they're mainly focusing on this new 'coast-to-coast' thing, which has it positives and negatives. First the positives. It will allow for tourists to get to the Entertainment Centre, Port Adelaide, etc. easier and in a far better way. It may also reduce traffic along Port Road (and possibly Torrens Road... ) which is always a good thing.
However it is because they are focusing so much on this that they are forgetting about other areas of the city. For example, I live in Hazelwood Park (in the Eastern Suburbs) and there is no efficient bus system (other than 141, 142 and 143 -which are always packed like most public transport vehicles in Adelaide) that really services the area. And if you were to sit on Greenhill Road in the morning and watch the many, many, many cars that come down that road (particularly during the Clipsal), you think to yourself "Why isn't there an efficient bus service -or possibly better still the tram service that used to operate there is the 50s and 60s- that comes down this major arterial road? I know that the same applies for the Western, Southern and Northern Suburbs, so can't this new 'transport revolution to Port Adelaide) wait a little bit longer, because we in the Eastern, Western, Southern and mid to far northern suburbs are really suffering here!
I mean, sure, they're electrifying the railway lines to the Northern and Southern Suburbs, but can't they also do what Sydney does which is have bus services branching out from the major train stations, etc. In Adelaide, stations such as Hallet Cove (if there is one, I haven't looked at the map for a while, but you know what I mean), Salisbury, Noarlunga and Elizabeth, should have all the surrounding buses servicing them so that it is easier for people to access them and therefore access the city. I'm not saying that this is THE OPTION, but it may be a start, but no, we have to place a huge emphasis on everything we do and play the media game, that's how we've earnt our famous nickname: Media Mike.
BTW, can anyone tell me what the difference is between increasing public transport prices to create better services and creating Toll Roads which also create better services? I'm only asking because Media Mike and Clowning Kevin stated that they do not want to build Toll Roads in Adelaide because of whatever stupid reason and yet here they are doing pretty much the same thing (unless anyone can state otherwise -please feel free to do so because I honestly want to know what the difference is.)

Adam read it again and pay attention to the extra buses being purchased to bolster the network. There's something for everyone in that budget, transport-wise.

You can't run trains to close sprawl very effectively, so they are attempting to encourage TODs, but at the same time catering for the sprawl with bus and OBahn upgrades.

They are connecting bus routes with train stations, have a look at the threads on here .. Oaklands park, Mawson Lakes etc.

Creating toll roads doesn't decrease traffic congestion. Sure you can get an extra few cars from point A to point B more quickly, but once they get to point B they spew into the standard grid and snarl. Also if you increase road capacity, people are encouraged to drive, which takes up the capacity meaning you are back where you started. It's been proved in all major cities, freeways DO NOT reduce congestion.

[Cruise]

Adam read it again and pay attention to the extra buses being purchased to bolster the network. There's something for everyone in that budget, transport-wise.

please try and explain that to all those that live in rural SA.

[crawf]

Well I'm pretty sure I heard it included major upgrades for the Berri & Whyalla hospitals.

[Will409]

Upgrades to the Duke's Highway were also announced.

[rhino]

How do Berri and Whyalla hospitals affect transport?

[monotonehell]

Adam read it again and pay attention to the extra buses being purchased to bolster the network. There's something for everyone in that budget, transport-wise.

please try and explain that to all those that live in rural SA.

I'm sorry, rural what now?

What do you think that we need to improve things out there? And don't say passenger rail, we had that and no one rode it past 1980. Unless you think there's a change in demand for it? If you do, please explain? If you're in the country you need a car, so are the roads in need of repair? (Forgive my ignorance, but I've not been north of Gawler since 2004, most of my family have moved from the mid north to Adelaide now).

[Shuz]

Wasn't there talk sometime back about duplicating the Wakefield Highway from Port Wakefield to Port Augusta? That would be something a lot of rural voters would appreciate. That and an improvement to country educational and health services.

[Will409]

Looks like the Libs have had their budget reply speach. This is from Railpage/ABC News.

http://www.railpage.com.au/news-5811.htm

South Australia's Opposition Leader Martin Hamilton-Smith says a tramline extension planned for Adelaide's western suburbs would be scrapped under a Liberal government. In his Budget reply speech, Mr Hamilton-Smith promised to also match the Government's pledge to electrify the rail lines in northern and southern Adelaide. But he also wants to extend the train line to Seaford in the south, with a feasibility study on expanding services to Aldinga.

Mr Hamilton-Smith says the Government has its priorities wrong by concentrating on Adelaide's west for its public transport overhaul. "If I was premier, for this Budget deliberation I would have resisted the $162 million tram to the Entertainment Centre and its concurrent $50 million refurbishment, sold the remaining land at the site and use the combined proceeds to relocate the Entertainment Centre to City West in place of the Marjorie Jackson-Nelson Hospital," he said. The Liberal leader says improved transport services are needed to suburbs including Modbury, Norwood, Blackwood and Aberfoyle Park. "We oppose the tram extensions in their entirety, including to the Entertainment Centre extension and those to all other proposed destinations west," he said. "You've got a very clear point of difference. These areas are already serviced by bus and train."

Transport Minister Pat Conlon has told Parliament the Opposition Leader has contradicted himself. "This leader of the Opposition hopes that people won't remember the day before," he said. "You know you've got an Opposition floundering on bank like a gasping fish when the first thing they say about a budget is how good it is, it's all my idea, but apparently it's not anymore," he said.

ABC News

[Cruise]

Adam read it again and pay attention to the extra buses being purchased to bolster the network. There's something for everyone in that budget, transport-wise.

please try and explain that to all those that live in rural SA.

I'm sorry, rural what now?

What do you think that we need to improve things out there? And don't say passenger rail, we had that and no one rode it past 1980. Unless you think there's a change in demand for it? If you do, please explain? If you're in the country you need a car, so are the roads in need of repair? (Forgive my ignorance, but I've not been north of Gawler since 2004, most of my family have moved from the mid north to Adelaide now).

If anyone once again proposes rural rail services i'll will smack them with my mallet.

but i seriously believe rural roads need to be uprgaded, i'm not going to say we need some super long freeway, but just extra overtaking lanes and resufacing on some of the more minor roads (i have noticed some roads around the yorke peninsula in a dire state) and atleast sealing the shoulder on many other minor roads.

your family is from the mid north? if so where abouts? i'm from up that way

[monotonehell]

...your family is from the mid north? if so where abouts? i'm from up that way

Cruise, you are not my father...
My lot are from Peterborough (Former major rail hub!) and surrounds.

[Norman]

...your family is from the mid north? if so where abouts? i'm from up that way

Cruise, you are not my father...
My lot are from Peterborough (Former major rail hub!) and surrounds.

I thought you were from New York or New New York... and your own Grandpa as well.

[Cruise]

...your family is from the mid north? if so where abouts? i'm from up that way

Cruise, you are not my father...
My lot are from Peterborough (Former major rail hub!) and surrounds.

I'm from Port Pirie.

also that is a scary quote though, my name being Luke and all