METRONET extension to Byford reaches new milestone
28 June 2018
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Government forging ahead with METRONET Byford Rail Extension
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Project proposes to extend the Armadale Line about eight kilometres south to Byford
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Tenders for business case work, transport and land use planning and design now released
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More jobs created through METRONET and linking suburbs to employment areas
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The 2018-19 Budget included $3.6 billion for METRONET projects
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
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