The options for the route of stage two of Canberra’s light rail have been refined and amended, following expert technical analyses and feedback from the community and stakeholders.
With track installation underway for stage one of the light rail corridor that links Gungahlin to the City via Dickson, the ACT government has been carrying out planning work over 2017 for stage two’s extended line to the south, linking the City to Woden.
Two route options for stage two were opened up to community feedback earlier in the year. Meegan Fitzharris, ACT’s transport and city services minister, said that responses had helped the government refine the two options prior to making a final decision on the path the light rail will take to Wodan.
“It’s great that we have been able to combine feedback from the community and stakeholders with our expert technical analysis to determine the most beneficial options for stage two of the city-wide light rail network,” Fitzharris said.
Option one, which would see trams travel from the City to Wodan via Parkes, has remained largely unchanged apart from slight changes to possible stop locations, while option two, which instead goes through Barton, has been amended to enable better access to the Parliamentary Triangle and includes a section that doesn’t follow a current road.
“This design option would allow the route to get through Barton more quickly while also servicing more employment hubs and our important national institutions and tourist attractions,” Fitzharris said.
Approximately 75% of respondents reportedly want the light rail to travel through Barton.
“Having considered this feedback, and following consultation with key stakeholders, we have refined the route options for the ACT Government to now consider further,” the minister said.
Once the government has decided on the final route for stage two – expected to take place at some point next year – further consultation will be sought on the exact stop locations before the development of a business case including the procurement approach, detailed costs estimates, benefits, and economic analysis for the project.
The existing ACTION express busroute from Woden to City travels along Adelaide Ave, with limited stops enroute. I am concerned that the ACT Government is trying to have their cake, and eat it, by trying to access Barton (or Parkes) with a line that will delay any commuters that need to get to/ from Woden to Civic and beyond. Barton (particularly down National Circuit) has quite a number of good feeder bus services, and proper interchanging with the light rail is in my opinion a better way to go.