Page 2261 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 4 August 2021
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new retail development opportunities facing on to the new bus station and locating rapid transport stops on Callam Street. The government is delivering on the intentions of the Woden town centre master plan in building an on-street Woden interchange, with construction due to commence towards the end of this year.
The new integrated public transport interchange on Callam Street will provide improved wayfinding, accessibility, modern safety measures, improved solar access and better lines of sight than is currently possible. It will include 10,000 square metres of passenger-friendly space and an expanded number of stops at 18, up from the current 11. The new interchange will be futureproofed to accommodate stage 2 of light rail from Gungahlin to Woden, with the light rail stops being built and used as rapid bus stops until construction on the line from the City to Woden is complete. The stops for both buses and light rail will carry through a similar design of the light rail stops on stage 1, which provide good shelter from the elements and which were subject to considerable community consultation.
The Woden town centre master plan also recommended that Launceston and Callam streets be low-speed vehicle environments that provide for public transport and private vehicles accessing the town centre. I am pleased to say that construction has already begun on package one, which involves the construction of a small bus layover on Easty Street and a new Launceston Street bus layover. These layovers are being supported by new traffic signals on surrounding roads to ensure the efficient flow of buses and private traffic in and out of Woden, delivering a lower speed and active travel-friendly environment.
As part of the development of an on-street interchange on Callam Street, the street will be closed from mid-August to private vehicles between Bradley Street and Matilda Street. However, the current bus interchange will remain fully operational until the new interchange is open early next year.
As anticipated in the master plan, traffic will be managed through Hindmarsh Drive and Melrose Drive. Updated traffic modelling confirms that the arterial roads are currently operating under capacity and can divert the approximately 600 to 900 cars that use Callam Street each day to around the edges of the centre and, as a result, adequately perform their role and function within the wider road network. This will mean a different way of moving around the town centre, clearly prioritising public transport on Callam Street and active travel as we build a vibrant, better connected and more sustainable town centre.
When undertaking pre-DA consultation on the public transport interchange late last year, we also heard from the community that they are still concerned about accessibility between the campus and the interchange, as well as the impact on local traffic needing to traverse the Woden town centre after Callum Street is closed. I am pleased that access will be maintained to the town centre for destination and local traffic, as well as people using public transport and active travel.
In response to the community and as part of delivering the campus within package three, we will create a new local access shared zone connection between Bowes and Bradley streets. The local access shared zone will include traffic calming devices,
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