Planning for City to Woden light rail route enters next stages
06 September 2018
ACT Government:
Light Rail Stage 2 from the City
to Woden should go via Commonwealth Avenue and Barton to attract more
passengers, service more areas and make way for a future
light
rail route from Belconnen to the Airport, according to new analysis
prepared for the Federal Joint Standing Committee inquiry into Stage 2.
Minister for Transport Meegan Fitzharris said planning for future light
rail stages had already begun, with the ACT Government telling the Joint
Standing Committee that Commonwealth Avenue Bridge was the best option
when considering the broader light rail network.
“Canberra
is best served by a north-south light rail spine via Commonwealth
Avenue, which will provide better light rail coverage through the City
and Parliamentary areas, and result in higher passenger numbers, fewer
significant trees needing removal and better travel times.
“An alternative via Kings Avenue would ultimately be detrimental to both
the road network and the light rail network as it would force both the
route to Woden and a future route to the Airport to share the same track
along Constitution Avenue, creating significant delays to both routes.”
Minister Fitzharris said the ACT Government was unlikely to invest in
the project should it be required to cross the Lake at Kings Avenue.
“Up until now all our planning and design has been for a City to Woden
route that crosses the lake at Commonwealth Avenue. Crossing the lake at
Kings Avenue to get to Woden would increase the cost to around $1.9
billion, while isolating vast areas of the city.
“Given the lasting, sub-optimal outcomes this would produce for
Canberra, the ACT Government is reluctant to support it.”
Minister Fitzharris said a network view, rather than looking at each
light rail corridor in isolation, would ensure future light rail routes
are most effective.
“I’m not just focused on light rail to Woden. I’m now looking at where
to for stage three, four and beyond.
“Earlier this month it was great to see Labor Party members call for
stage three of light rail to go east-west, from Belconnen to the
Airport, and I’ll be looking into how we can make that happen.
“Ultimately we are building a light rail network that needs dedicated
corridors travelling east-west and north-south, both intersecting in the
City.
“We can’t look at each route in isolation – we need to think about how
it will work within the broader network if we want to get this right.
“That’s why I’d encourage the Joint Standing Committee to think about
the broader network and public transport outcomes we are seeking to
achieve when considering their approval processes for light rail stage
two.
“I look forward to the Joint Standing Committee’s final report so that
this vital public transport project can proceed with certainty as soon
as possible,” said Minister Fitzharris.
The full mid-year update and the final submission to the Joint Standing
Committee can be accessed from the TCCS website:
www.transport.act.gov.au/light-rail-project/city-to-woden-stage-two
--ENDS--
Source: ACT Government - www.cmd.act.gov.au
Contact: Claire Johnston 0452 597 459
External Links: www.transport.act.gov.au/light-rail-project/city-to-woden-stage-two
Recent news by: ACT Government