The effects of sporting events on the

traffic congestion of Brisbane City

By Michael Simpson
Year 12
2014

Brisbane City

Brisbane City

Issues facing Brisbane City

Historical overview
Rail and tram network
Changes following World War
2
Move towards an automobile
dependent city

Automobile dependent city

Source: (Google, 2014)

Red DotsMain stadiums

Brisbane City: The use of private cars

Number of cars per household

Source:(Profile.Id: Community Profile, 2006)

Brisbane City: Impacts of motor vehicles

Economic

Cost of infrastructure
(Roads, Bridges, etc.)
Time costs associated
with traffic congestion.
Car transportation
system costs, which are
higher than transit
system costs by around
30 to 40 percent
Loss of productive land
to parking and roads.

Environmental

Social

Effects on atmospheric

quality, including smog

and greenhouse gases
Impact of sprawl on the
countryside in the urban
fringe

Impact of traffic noise,

road accidents, visual
intrusion.

Source:(Codrington, 2007)

Inequities associated
with being carless for
people who are too
young, too old, too poor,
or disabled
Inequities associated
with lack of transit
systems in suburbs built
in the era of the car
Less community and
neighbourhood
interaction
Less urban culture and
vitality when public
spaces are dominated by
cars
Reduction in public
safety

Brisbane City: Road layout

Impact of historical
transport modes on
current road layout.
Geographical
terrain of the city.
Resulting in large
arterial roads
running through
the city and highly
congested roads
lacking efficient
dispersal.

Brisbane City Arterial and main roads Map

Source: (Google, 2014)

The effects of a inadequate road layout on

traffic
Main roads
Bottle neck

Minor roads
Limits movement

Impact on the commuter

Longer travel time

Common impacts on traffic flow in Brisbane

Increased congestion peak hour
Traffic accidents
Road closures
Road work
Speed restrictions
Building development
and construction
Weather

Peak-Hour Traffic

Source: (Moore, 2010)

High impact periods

Weekdays
Increases in traffic are seen in
the Brisbane CBD
- 7-8.30 am
- 5- 6.30 pm

Times coinciding with arrival

and departure from work

Weekends
No predictable times
Slight correlation between
lunch time period and increase
in traffic.

Weekday Comparison
6:30 pm

11:00 pm
Brisbane CBD

Source:(Google, 2014)

Brisbane CBD

Source:(Google, 2014)

Weekend Comparison
12:30 pm
Brisbane CBD

Source:(Google, 2014)

6:00 pm
Brisbane CBD

Source:(Google, 2014)

The impact of sporting events on traffic

Movement of a large population to a particular
area during specific time period
Location of the sporting events
Types of transport
Time of the event

Traffic issues

Sporting event complexes

The two cases that will be examined are:
Suncorp Stadium
North side
Close to ICB

The Gabba
South side
Close to Riverside Expressway

Suncorp Stadium
Description

Home to the Brisbane

Broncos, QLD Reds, QLD
Roar, Socceroos, and the
Kangaroos
Located on the corner of
Castlemaine St and Caxton St,
Milton
Seats 52,500

Traffic Precautions

The shutting down of

Castlemaine St and Caxton St
Detours set up to avoid traffic
Personalised bus station
located underneath stadium.
Regulated parking
Located next to Milton train
station with a bridge to
prevent pedestrian traffic

Suncorp Stadium- Evaluation

Sunday at 4:30 normally

Game Day
Suncorp Stadium

Suncorp Stadium

Source:(Google, 2014)
Source:(Google, 2014)

The Gabba
Description

The Gabba is located in

Woolloongabba which is 1
kilometre from the Brisbane
CBD
Total capacity 42,000 seats
Venue for cricket and AFL
games
Day and night games

Traffic Precautions

The Gabba is located 1.5km

from the nearest train station
Close to a bus station
The Gabba also provides a bus
service through Translink
which links up with the Train
stations

The Gabba: Evaluation

Positives

Negatives

The Gabba provides a bus and

train service
Taxy drop off zone
Close to a bus station
There are no parking areas
around the stadium with a 15
minute limit
Only public transport close to
the stadium is buses which
adds to traffic.

The Gabba: Traffic example

Friday 1pm No Game
The Gabba Traffic Area

Source:(Google, 2014)

The Gabba: Traffic example

Friday 1pm Game Day Starting at 1pm
The Gabba Traffic Area

Source:(Google, 2014)

Roads affected
Game Day

This roads and streets were

effected on the highest level-Red.
Mostly surrounding the stadium:
Grey St
Vulture St
Ipswich Rd
Wellington Rd
Stanley St

Average traffic day

The days without a game at the

same time average out to have
only a yellow traffic warning.
This is caused by the increase
of traffic due to the game.
A factor that could also impact
this was the time of the game
during the day with less people
on the road.

The Gabba Traffic Area

The Gabba traffic area
Parking restrictions

The Gabba Traffic area

15-minute parking limit

applies to the traffic area
during the time of 7am to
10pm.

Increased traffic in drop off areas

Impact on Mater hospital
Impact on major road links

Source:(Google, 2014)

Steps that are being taken to prevent

traffic congestion
Solutions that are being taken to reduce traffic
congestion are:
Reducing the dependence on automobiles by
promoting public transport
The use of detours around roads to prevent traffic
effecting arterial roads
Mathematical traffic light systems to make sure
that the flow is constant

Sporting Complex's Rules of Traffic

Congestion
These guidelines include:
15 minute parking between certain times depending on
the venue.
Road closures and detours to improve traffic flow.
No car parks on private property owners land.
Parking permits for residents

Proposals

Proposal 1: Pedestrian flow tactics

To address issues arising from
Increased pedestrian flow before and after events
which impact on the traffic flow.
The main bus station is located on the west side of the
stadium. Pedestrians have to cross Ipswich Rd to
access the bus stop.
Jaywalking across Ipswich Rd.
Buses transporting people to Eastern areas leave from
the main bus station. This means these buses travel
through the Gabba traffic zone increasing congestion.

Proposal 1: Pedestrian flow tactics

Introduce the use of an additional bus stop on the
eastern side of the Gabba for eastbound public
transport.
Construct walkover bridges from the stadium to the
bus stops.

Proposal 1: Map
The Gabba and surrounding suburbs

Source:(Google, 2014)

Brown Lines Bridges

Red Dots Bus stops
Blue line Traffic flow

Proposal 1
Pro

Reduces pedestrian traffic on

roads
Reduces wait time at the bus
stops
Less bus traffic going through
the main roads
Reducing the number of buses
parked in one area

Con

Initial cost
Private transport vehicles not
addressed
Impact on the community

Proposal 2: Regulated Car Parks

To address issues arising from
People using private
transport
People with disabilities
People travelling long
distance (>1hr)

Proposal: Regulated car parks

Eligibility
People with disabilities
People travelling long
distance (>1hr)

Regulated by a high tech

system that scans drivers
licence (to calculate distance
from home to the stadium)
and disability permits

Proposal 2: Map
The Gabba and surrounding suburbs

Source:(Google, 2014)

Red circles - Car Parks

Green circle The Gabba
Black Line Direction of travel

Proposal 2
Pros

Provides an alternate for long

distance travellers
Reduces traffic around the
area with the use of directional
car parks
Car parks facilities available
for the public on non game
days

Cons

Does not eliminate the use of

private cars
New technology required for
scanning
Cost
Construction of car parks close
to the stadium

Proposal 3: Dispersal of traffic impacts

Issues

Exit crowd surge

Pedestrian bottleneck
Exiting motor vehicle traffic
Jaywalking
Pedestrian crowds crossing
main roads

Proposal

Stagger the pedestrian

entrance and exit flow from
the stadium and surrounding
area
Meet the players
Public game
Sport coaches for kids
Competitions

Proposal 3
Pros

Reduces bottleneck and crowd

dispersion issues
Sponsorship support
Promotes fitness awareness
Builds community identity
Increasing the amount of joy
brought from going to a game

Cons

Event Organiser
Potential damage to the field
Team participation
Volunteers

Recommendations
It is recommended to reduce traffic congestion
associated with sporting events held at inner city
stadiums the following proposals be
implemented
Proposal 1 Pedestrian Flow Tactics
Proposal 3 Dispersal of Traffic Impacts

Recommendations
Implementing Proposal 1 and 3 will
Reduce the bottle neck traffic congestion
associated with the beginning and end of the game
Reduce pedestrian traffic
Reduce bus traffic within the stadium traffic
zones.

Recommendation: Positives
Environmental

Ecological

Economical

Social

Reduces the
need for
automobile
dependence.
Reduces
greenhouse
gases

Reduces effects
on atmospheric
quality,
including smog
and greenhouse
gases
Reduces the
impact of traffic
noise, road
accidents, visual
intrusion.

Reduces time
Increase in
costs associated
pedestrian
with traffic
safety
congestion.
Increase
Increases the
community and
use of public
neighbourhood
transport
interaction
reducing
Less
transportation
community and
system costs.
social impacts
from traffic
congestion

Bibliography
Brisbane City Council. (2008). Managing Traffic Impacts from
Special Events for Small Cities. 1-4.
Brisbane City Council. (2012). Local Area Traffic Management.
Retrieved October 17, 2014, from Brisbane City Council:
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/trafficmanagement/local-area-traffic-management
Brisbane City Council. (2012). The Gabba (Gabba traffic area).
Retrieved October 17, 2014, from Brisbane City Council:
http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/traffic-transport/parkingpermits/special-event-parking/gabba-gabba-traffic-area

Bibliography
Brisbane City Council. (2014). Neighborhood Planning and Development
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Bibliography
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