Sensational-Adelaide.com

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.”

madelaide wrote: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 wrote:

madelaide wrote: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

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

duke wrote:

GoodSmackUp wrote: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 wrote:

duke wrote:

GoodSmackUp wrote: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.

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