News & Discussion: O-Bahn

[notmichaeljfox]

Govt abandons Hackney Rd O-Bahn footbridge
http://indaily.com.au/news/2016/05/25/g ... ootbridge/

The State Government says it won't build a proposed pedestrian bridge over Hackney Road after two councils refused to help fund it.



The Government's original plans and visualisations for the O-Bahn project did not feature a footbridge over Hackney Road.

The Adelaide City Council confirmed at a meeting last night that would not be contributing the $1 million requested by the Government to co-fund the $7-$8 million proposed bridge.

The council endorsed advice from its administration, as reported by InDaily yesterday, that helping fund the bridge was not the council’s responsibility because, among other things, it would be outside of the council’s jurisdiction.

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan told InDaily this morning that without money from the city council, and from the City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters, which has also rejected making a contribution, there would be “insufficient funding” for the project.

“The State Government said it was willing to consider a footbridge provided the City of Norwood, Payneham and St Peters and Adelaide City Council also made a contribution towards the cost,” said Mullighan.

“Without this contribution there is insufficient funding for the footbridge.

“Given both councils have indicated they are unwilling to contribute to the project, a footbridge will not be added to the project scope.”

Mullighan said the Government had taken pedestrian access across Hackney Road into account in its designs for the O-Bahn extension project, but had considered constructing a pedestrian bridge after St Peter’s College, among others, requested it.

“Appropriate pedestrian refuges to provide for pedestrian movements across the Hackney Road corridor were included in the O-Bahn City Access Project plans, which were approved by the independent Development Assessment Commission,” Mullighan told InDaily.

“A separate footbridge proposal was developed after stakeholders such as St Peter’s College raised the proposal.”

The city council’s administration had advised that “issues with ease of access that result from the impact of the [O-Bahn extension] project should be the responsibility of the proponents to resolve”.

The Government had also asked St Peter’s College to help fund the project, but asked by InDaily if it were willing to contribute funds, the school said: “We are looking forward to the State Government’s plan to address the safety of residents crossing this major arterial road particularly as the Hackney Road corridor increases in population in alignment with the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide”.

“St Peter’s College is concerned about the safety of the whole community crossing Hackney Road both now and post the implementation of the O’Bahn development.”

[EBG]

Concreting on western entrance to tunnel in the parklands has started. At the tunnel entrance there is a deep sump area which has filled due to rain this week and is being pumped out.

[Kasey771]

Following on from the pic above of the Western entrance...this interesting view from the exit(I think?) looking back into the future tunnel popped up on The Advertiser's morning live feed of the news:aka "The Pulse" about a week ago. taken by a news limited snapper.

Apologies I didn't note down his/her name. NOT my work!

[EBG]

Here are some updates from today Sat 25 June 2016. 1 on the western side the walls for the cutting are being reinforced (Looking back towards Grenfell St).
2 looking east where the tunnel will be. The intersection of Rundle Rd and Dequeteville tce is behind the piling rigs. Yes they were working today.

[madelaide]

Has there been much discussion on using the O-Bahn Busway like a train system by putting more stops along the track?

I would imagine Park & Rides at Walkerville and Holden Hill would be fair editions, and cost effective, by allowing people in those areas access to the busway. The current Express system could still be active as designated express busses continue through the terminals at a reduced speed.

Increasing the usage of the infrastructure we already have, at a relatively low cost, seems like a viable option.

[claybro]

Has there been much discussion on using the O-Bahn Busway like a train system by putting more stops along the track?

I would imagine Park & Rides at Walkerville and Holden Hill would be fair editions, and cost effective, by allowing people in those areas access to the busway. The current Express system could still be active as designated express busses continue through the terminals at a reduced speed.

Increasing the usage of the infrastructure we already have, at a relatively low cost, seems like a viable option.

There has been discussion previously about putting in a stop at Walkerville, but too many stops would render the Obahn next to useless as a rapid transit. As for making it "more like a train system"...well it depends what type of train system. Adelaide's train system is more of a commuter style, which is supposed to be long distances at speed with fewer stops, but has way too many stations slowing the whole system down. Express trains can get held up by all stoppers, services have to be timed further apart etc. A metro style train, which suits much tighter urban areas would not suit Adelaide sprawling suburbia, which is what the Obahn is designed to suit. Given the slow loading/ unloading times of buses, maybe one extra stop would be it, even given the faster route into the CBD

[Brucetiki]

Has there been much discussion on using the O-Bahn Busway like a train system by putting more stops along the track?

I would imagine Park & Rides at Walkerville and Holden Hill would be fair editions, and cost effective, by allowing people in those areas access to the busway. The current Express system could still be active as designated express busses continue through the terminals at a reduced speed.

Increasing the usage of the infrastructure we already have, at a relatively low cost, seems like a viable option.

There has been discussion previously about putting in a stop at Walkerville, but too many stops would render the Obahn next to useless as a rapid transit. As for making it "more like a train system"...well it depends what type of train system. Adelaide's train system is more of a commuter style, which is supposed to be long distances at speed with fewer stops, but has way too many stations slowing the whole system down. Express trains can get held up by all stoppers, services have to be timed further apart etc. A metro style train, which suits much tighter urban areas would not suit Adelaide sprawling suburbia, which is what the Obahn is designed to suit. Given the slow loading/ unloading times of buses, maybe one extra stop would be it, even given the faster route into the CBD

I'd have to agree - Walkerville and Holden Hill stops would be pointless as it makes the whole system stop/start. No sooner you'd be on the tracks you'd be off at a station.

[Goodsy]

wasn't a station planned for grand junction road originally?

[duke]

wasn't a station planned for grand junction road originally?

I heard that. But I also heard there were plans for something higher up around Trellios Street Modbury.
That whole area is newer than the surrounding houses. It was owned by the government. They held onto it for some time before selling it off for development.
Both seem too close to TTP anyway.

[Kasey771]

wasn't a station planned for grand junction road originally?

I heard that. But I also heard there were plans for something higher up around Trellios Street Modbury.
That whole area is newer than the surrounding houses. It was owned by the government. They held onto it for some time before selling it off for development.
Both seem too close to TTP anyway.

I wonder if Trellios Street was the original end of the line and perhaps Westfield lobbied the govt of the day to go the little bit extra to ensure TTP was the location people would be getting on and off the buses? That sounds plausible from a business PoV.

[monotonehell]

wasn't a station planned for grand junction road originally?

I heard that. But I also heard there were plans for something higher up around Trellios Street Modbury.
That whole area is newer than the surrounding houses. It was owned by the government. They held onto it for some time before selling it off for development.
Both seem too close to TTP anyway.

I wonder if Trellios Street was the original end of the line and perhaps Westfield lobbied the govt of the day to go the little bit extra to ensure TTP was the location people would be getting on and off the buses? That sounds plausible from a business PoV.

Trellious Street and Grand Junction Road are only about 500 metres apart, I think you are talking about one in the same thing.

I've not heard anything about TTP being an "extension" of the original route. The (ex-MATS) corridor was always there right up to TTP's doorstep.

Space for the Grand Junction interchange was certainly provisioned, but never employed. It was to be like the original Klemzig Interchange; a small hop-on hop-off point for feeder routes servicing more locally. But for various reasons and changes in planned services, the idea was abandoned. Klemzig became an interchange with its gates closed most of the time and Grand Junction wasn't even built.

Funnily enough, more recently Klemzig's gates were opened and several feeder routes were trialed. (Are they still being run?)

[PeFe]

Does anyone know if the tunnel being built through the east parklands will be able to accommodate light rail in the future?

[adelaide transport]

Does anyone know if the tunnel being built through the east parklands will be able to accommodate light rail in the future?

No-Light Rail will not be feasible for the O-Bahn due to low bridges and soil type.

[adelaide transport]

The only service operating on the O-Bahn that leaves the track(and returns to it) from Klemzig Station is the 528 which runs from the City to Northgate via OG Road.

[EBG]

some pictures from 16 July 2016.
(1) Hutt St is being realigned where it meets Grenfell St.(Sorry about the light pole in the picture). (2) south west side of rundle Rd looking South west towards Grenfell St.(3) over the road from picture 2 looking from Rundle Rd towards Dequettivelle Tce.