2019-10-08 Services & Organisation Committee Agenda

SERVICES & ORGANISATION COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA                                8 OCTOBER 2019


It is relevant to note that the separate report to Council on the legislative framework for public
transport services and operations in Queensland identified that the TransLink Division of the
Department of Transport and Main Roads has overall responsibility for transport coordination and
regulates all public transport. In light of the legislative framework, Council has undertaken a
public transport network review to inform negotiations with TransLink about how Council could
best contribute to an improved public transport network for Noosa.

The objective of the network review was to investigate the current public (urban) bus network for
Noosa and identify opportunities for improvement, including service uplift and flexible transport
options. The network review acknowledged the interdependency of TransLink’s demand
responsive transit trial evaluation and the Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) proof of concept. The
MaaS proof of concept includes exploring opportunities in Noosa to improve customer journeys
and optimise the network. Critically, the network review involved TransLink, given their key role in
the provision of public transport in Queensland. Sunbus, the urban bus service provider, was also
engaged through the review process.

2.   Network review process

The network review methodology adopted was as follows:
   Council contracted the services of a transport planning consultancy, Accession Consulting
     Pty Ltd, to undertake the network review.
   Project initiation, including stakeholder engagement with the Department of Transport and
     Main Road’s Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) team to ensure clarity of scope in light of the
     MaaS in Noosa Region proof of concept (refer section 5 of this report on an update of the
     proof of concept).
   Public transport service data analysis of 9 urban (bi-directional) bus routes for an average
     week (7 days), considering service coverage (geographic), level of service (frequency,
     span of hours, connections), operational parameters (service per day, service kilometres
     and average speed by route) and patronage data (patronage by day of week, services by
     day of week, passengers per service kilometre, passengers per service by day, service
     patronage by time of day and boardings and alightings per service) as well as macro
     analysis of year on year patronage trends and Free Holiday Bus period patronage and
     survey analysis.
   Internal project team workshops on network analysis and barriers to increasing uptake of
     public transport in Noosa.
   Stakeholder engagement with the Department of Transport and Main Road’s Network
     Management and Public Transport Contracts team.
   Identification of public transport network opportunities.

3.   Network review insights

The public transport network review identified the following key insights;
   11% year on year patronage growth to 2018/19 with 41% year on year comparing Free
     Holiday Bus 2017/18 and 2018/19, however this hasn’t been sustained after the Free
     Holiday Bus period.
   High frequency trunk corridor between Tewantin and Noosa Junction (during hours of 7am
     – 6pm).
   Generally, fairly limited late-night service frequency after 7pm.
   Less services operate on a Sunday and as a result it is the lowest patronage day of the
     week.
   The opportunity to encourage more weekend travel (peak times) given children under 14
     travel free on weekends (with an orange go card) under the existing TransLink fares.
   62% Noosa Council residents are within 400m of a bus stop.



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