No cash, no timeline to fix notorious Altandi park n ride

Three hundred commuters battle for just 87 spaces, motorists risk thefts and even assaults, but there is still no cash in sight for an upgrade at this southside park n ride.

The Altandi park n ride facility.

No cash and no timeframe.

There is still no upgrade in sight for an overcrowded park n ride on Brisbane’s southside more almost one year on from a consultation report into a fix.

An initial Department of Transport and Main Roads (DTMR) survey almost four years ago into options to upgrade the facility found, even back then, that 300 people tried to park at the Altandi park n ride, an 87-space facility, on an average week day.

The fierce competition has led to road rage incidents and numerous cases of people parking in the sole disabled bay or risking fines for illegal parking.

Those who missed out on spots were forced to risk parking in dimly-lit surrounding streets, where youths have broken into vehicles.

“A few weeks ago a young female commuter, returning to her vehicle at 6.30pm in the dark, was assaulted in a drive-by snatch and grab,’’ Altandi Precinct Commuter Parking Action Group spokesman Chris Seen said.

The Altandi park n ride facility.

“The lack of a secure parking area, well lit and monitored by cameras, would have avoided this incident.”

The study also found DTMR land on the eastern side of the train station, at Gundooee St, was suitable for at least 50 more parking spaces and a new sheltered walkway

from the railway station to bus stops on Mains Rd.

“Surely after 12 months since this (DTMR consultation) report and over two years since the upgrade was proposed it is now time to do something,” Mr Seen said.

Proposed upgrade changes at the park n ride site.

“Or was the upgrade proposal purely a smoke screen prior to the 2020 state election?’’

A DTMR spokesman said Translink was “committed to providing an integrated and efficient public transport network for Queensland which is accessible to everyone’’.

However no funding had been allocated and any expansion, using adjacent state-owned land, would have to compete with other transport projects.

“The business case for the Altandi park n ride upgrade project has been completed,’’ he said.

A Flick pest control van parked in a disabled bay at the park n ride.

“Now that early planning is complete, the expansion project will be considered for future funding.

“Translink receives many requests for new and improved infrastructure, service extensions, increased service frequency and new routes.

“Public transport has a finite budget and factors such as competing priorities and demand for the infrastructure must be considered when allocating funds to projects.’’

Mr Seen said the only action since he wrote to (then) Acting TransLink Deputy Director-General Graham Davis in December last year was that some lines had been spray painted on the bitumen, closing scarce spaces for reserved parking.

Mr Davis said in his response to Mr Seen that TMR needed to “respond strategically to changes in the local environment, including Brisbane’s successful bid to host the 2032 Olympic Games and the COVID-19 pandemic’’.

Altandi station has high patronage, putting prssure on the park n ride. Picture: Steve Pohlner

“The Altandi station plays an important role in this strategic plan, and TMR must consider the next steps carefully to ensure investment in infrastructure provides sustainable and long-term benefits for the community,’’ he wrote.

The consultation report said Altandi train station had high patronage as it was an express stop and a bus-rail interchange.

“Demand for parking is exceeding the current supply, resulting in significant commuter parking in the local area,’’ the report concluded.

The initial DTMR survey in March, 2018 on options for an upgrade showed an overflow of about 220 vehicles parking on the surrounding streets.

There was also no formal kiss n ride area, with cars trying to manoeuvre in the tight space after dropoffs causing further congestion.