METRONET extension to Byford reaches new milestone

28 June 2018

WA Government: Planning for the METRONET rail extension to Perth's fastest growing suburb, Byford, has hit high gear with key tenders now released ahead of construction starting in 2021.

The rail line will provide a public transport solution to the growing population in the Serpentine-Jarrahdale area, which has almost tripled in population since 2011 to 27,000 people.

Similar growth rates are expected to continue into the future, with a further 100,000 expected to move to the area by 2050.

Key consultants are now being sought to help prepare the business case and map out the design of the Byford Rail Extension.

The successful tenderer will undertake the necessary economic analysis and support business case preparation for the extension, which is proposed to connect Byford to the Armadale Line.

The current proposal involves extending the Armadale Line by about eight kilometres from Armadale Station to Byford. As part of the planning work, a further extension to Mundijong will also be considered to ensure the project integrates with potential longer-term land use and transport outcomes.

The METRONET team has also sought expressions of interest for engineering and land use planning consultants, who will undertake the key work required to inform the business case.

This will include studying station location and design options, potential land uses and development outcomes, rail alignment design works, traffic and access studies, and considering how the extension will integrate with surrounding precincts.

These tenders are a key part of the Government's commitment in the 2018-19 State Budget to develop suburb-transforming METRONET rail projects.

The McGowan Government successfully secured additional Federal Government funding for key projects, with $750 million allocated across the forward estimates for projects under development, such as the Byford project, including $21 million of State Government funding.

The business cases are expected to be completed by mid-2019 with the Project Definition Plan finalised in early 2020, allowing for works to start in 2021.

In the meantime, the METRONET project team continues to engage with the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale, the City of Armadale and the local community to discuss the options available for the project.

Local businesses are encouraged to tender for the works at http://www.tenders.wa.gov.au


Comments attributed to Premier Mark McGowan:

"The commitment, METRONET vision and funding for this project is already there - we are now progressing to the business end of the project, just like we promised.

"We are now looking for local businesses to help with detailed planning so we can bring this project forward into the job-creating construction phase.

"The Byford extension is a key component of METRONET stage one because it will link one of our fastest growing areas to the rest of our public transport system, providing access to jobs, schools, the airport and the CBD."

Comments attributed to Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:

"Byford and the wider Serpentine-Jarrahdale catchment is one of the fastest growing areas in Australia, and now is the time to strike when it comes to planning for the area's future.

"We know from projects like the Mandurah Line that linking our southern suburbs to the rail network can have an incredible transformative effect.

"Working with the local community on this project will be an important part of the overall project, because we want this project to progress hand in hand with the significant development in the area, creating new transport and housing opportunities for people in the Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale for the long term."

 

--ENDS--

 

Source:  Western Australia Government - www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au

Contact: Premier's office - 6552 5000  Transport Minister's office - 6552 5500

External Links:  N/A

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