The ACT Government says it won’t build light rail between Civic and Woden if it is forced to take an alternative route over Lake Burley Griffin.
In four months, the first stage of Canberra Metro will open between Gungahlin, in Canberra’s north, and Civic, the city centre.
Work is now well underway planning the second stage, which is to connect Civic and Woden, in Canberra’s south.
But the project would cross federally-controlled land, and as such is now being scrutinised by the Commonwealth’s Joint Standing Committee on the National Capital and External Territories.
Several submissions to the Committee’s inquiry questioned the proposed route along Commonwealth Avenue, one of the bridges across Lake Burley Griffin.
The alternative route proposed by many is along the less conspicuous Kings Avenue, which sits further to the south-east.
ACT transport minister Meegan Fitzharris on August 28 dismissed this proposal, however, saying it was more expensive, and less effective than the original plan.
“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,” Fitzharris said.
“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.”
Fitzharris said the Barr Government’s plan would also make way for a future light rail route from Belconnen to the Airport.
She 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,” the minister outlined.
“Given the lasting, sub-optimal outcomes this would produce for Canberra, the ACT Government is reluctant to support it.”
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.
“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.”
Fitzharris said the ACT Government looked forward to the Joint Standing Committee’s final report, “so that this vital public transport project can proceed with certainty as soon as possible”.