Post by @xssfox@cloudisland.nz

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> In Rockbank, in Melbourne's outer west, the sealed car park with 350 spaces is full by 7:15am, and cars spill out onto nearby streets, including on the side of the busy Leakes Road.

> He said the issue was a key source of frustration for residents and that the solution was clear: a new train station in Mt Atkinson.

At most the distance between ~95% of residential dwellings and Rockbank and Caroline springs station. While I think they should probably have a train station, and increased frequency, it seems like an easier win might be to reduce the number of cars trying to drive to the train station.

First thoughts looking at the area (note I have no local knowledge of it):
- The cycle infra design causes some people to have to add a km of more to their cycle to stay on dedicated cycle infra
- ... if you are lucky enough to have that. The surrounding area has no connections to the station
- there are several areas missing bus access

1/?

2 media

cycleosm showing the areas where there is cycle infra

bus stops showing lack of bus stops in many areas

12 Replies

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I love this, so I

@jpm@aus.social 3 hours ago

@xssfox And related, strangely enough @decryption and I were musing on exactly this earlier today: https://aus.social/@jpm/116960471632342470

I love this, so I

@jpm@aus.social 3 hours ago

@xssfox I am reasonably familiar with the area. It's all new estates with zero consideration for anything other than cars (the streets are too narrow for buses), that spew out on to formerly country-grade roads that they've only recently dropped the speed limit to 80 on (and are still sealing some of).

There is definitely a need for a new station at about Mt Atkinson half way between Rockbank and Caroline Springs, and they'll probably get it when the Ballarat line is electrified to Melton (in approximately 2358 judging by the way things are going).

I love this, so I

@jpm@aus.social 2 hours ago

@xssfox also, not that being able to get a car park after 7am will actually do anything about getting to the city on the train. From Rockbank, either you’re on the train at about 7am, or you’ll need to wait until about 9:30am for the crush-loads to subside.

XCondE

@xconde@social.chinwag.org 3 hours ago

@jpm “2358” I hope this is a post code

I love this, so I

@jpm@aus.social 2 hours ago

@xconde ಠ_ಠ

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@xssfox@cloudisland.nz 3 hours ago

@jpm good point about narrow streets and buses. Hadn't considered that. That's frustrating

I love this, so I

@jpm@aus.social 3 hours ago

@xssfox Yeah all the new housing estates out here are the same, can't fit a full size bus down anything except the main roads that existed before the housing estates were built. That's why the hilarious teeny “FlexiRide" buses that carry about 8 people in total are out here.

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@xssfox@cloudisland.nz 4 hours ago

There is a Parkiteer (secureish bike parking) but it only has 26, and lets be honest, Parkiteer doesn't have the greatest track record.

The bicycle infra doesn't seem very appealing when you have to contend with intersections like this and priority is given to cars. Maybe it's fine? I have my doubts. ?/?

intersection where bikes have to cross 4 places that intersect with car traffic.

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@xssfox@cloudisland.nz 4 hours ago

buses are every half hour which to me seems far to infrequent if you have the chaos with the train station parking.

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@xssfox@cloudisland.nz 3 hours ago

Oh yeah, this path just stops, it would be pretty much a direct route to the train station from here if it wasn't for it just ending. Best case adds 500m to peoples walk/ride.

I think they could solve the parking issue with getting a few more people walking, riding and bussing to the station with some changes that would be quick to implement and fairly low cost compared to building a new train station (which will take forever to do).

2 media

map showing the additional route needed due to the path ending

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@xssfox@cloudisland.nz 3 hours ago

> A typical 50-bay car park may cost anywhere from AUD $150,000 to AUD $600,000 or more, fully constructed and compliant.

fucking hell, you can buy a $3k ebike for 50 residents with that money.

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