Page 543 - Week 02 - Wednesday, 13 February 2013
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(c) the Government is committed to continuing its thorough planning and investigations including such studies as the Light Rail Integration Study, for which tenders have now been called, and the Light Rail Product Identification Study to be commenced in April this year;
(d) the Government has released an indicative timeline through the Concept Design Report and has committed to laying the first light tracks by 2016 through the Parliamentary Agreement;
(e) the people of Canberra will be given many opportunities to be involved in this project as it progresses, through an ongoing program of public consultation; and
(f) the Government will continue to work to achieve a long term vision for Canberra as a sustainable city, with the Capital Metro light rail network as a vital element of that vision.”.
I am pleased to speak today on the government’s commitment to delivering a light rail system for Canberra. The government has committed to progressing a light rail network for Canberra, with construction to commence in 2016 and preliminary construction, including utility relocation, to occur from 2015.
The government’s commitment to the delivery of rapid transit links between the Gungahlin town centre and the city was first announced in the 2012-13 budget. This commitment was reaffirmed during the most recent ACT election and its priority entrenched in the parliamentary agreement for the Eighth Assembly between the ACT Labor Party and the ACT Greens.
Capital metro stage 1 will be a light rail service, with vehicles capable of carrying up to 200 people at regular frequencies along a 12-kilometre route from Hibberson Street in Gungahlin to the city centre. The proposal involves potentially major stations at Gungahlin town centre and Dickson group centre, with high-quality stops 750 metres to 1.5 kilometres apart at various points along Flemington Road and Northbourne Avenue, terminating in the city.
Investment in rapid transit along the Gungahlin to city corridor, through the additional transport capacity and urban amenity benefits it would provide, has the potential to unlock a number of economic development opportunities. The light rail project will increase the transport capacity of existing corridors.
There are few viable options available to increase capacity outside of existing road corridors. During peak periods, existing bus services operating along Northbourne Avenue carry more passengers than all car passengers combined in a traffic lane. An investment in light rail will allow the carrying capacity of the corridor to be significantly increased, providing vital capacity to cater for future growth and, by using an existing corridor, optimising the use of existing infrastructure.
The light rail will promote economic productivity and stimulate economic activity through urban redevelopment. Therefore a number of opportunities are being investigated to increase residential and commercial densities along the corridor on
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