Page 2048 - Week 06 - Wednesday, 6 June 2018
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Canberra and experience our city and our neighbourhoods. One of the key ACT government transport initiatives is to provide an integrated public transport and mobility network which includes creating better flexible and on-demand transport options for people to get where they need to go. These transport options will include buses, light rail, roads, ridesharing, taxis, cycling and walking.
The bus network will focus on delivering what Canberrans have asked for: faster trips and more direct routes, more frequent and reliable services and increased services at peak and off-peak times. This has started with the introduction of two new rapid routes in 2017 and will expand to nine over the course of this term. This work will provide a better-connected, seven-day transport network for Canberrans.
The budget does provide additional funding to improve customer access and amenity for the city’s public transport network. Following community consultation, funding will also be used to deliver upgrades to key transport network connection points which will include upgrades to shelters, lighting, footpaths, signage and crossings.
As all Canberrans can see, construction is well underway for light rail stage 1—notably this week a considerable improvement in the Gungahlin town centre, with the fencing coming down, trees planted, landscaping being further progressed literally in the last 24 hours. The budget will also inject another $10 million to progress the next stage of planning, design and enabling works for the light rail from the city to Woden. The budget will also invest a further $2½ million in works to support light rail stage 2 for the preparation of detailed business cases for potential early works in the Woden town centre and the bus interchange, along Parkes Way and also at the Yarra Glen intersection, as well as looking at a city-wide park-and-ride strategy.
Together with these investments, as well as planning funding and a provision for the future delivery of a light rail stop at Mitchell and building on last year’s investments, the ACT government will also continue to deliver on transport initiatives in the active travel space, investing over the last two budgets $30 million in new active travel infrastructure. The government will improve and expand pedestrian and cycling infrastructure right across Canberra to ensure it is safe, sustainable, attractive and easy to use.
I am really pleased that work will get underway, and consultation has begun, on the detailed design of the Belconnen bikeway. I look forward to working with TCCS, the Belconnen community, the Belconnen Arts Centre and Minister Ramsay on the work underway to expand the Belconnen Arts Centre. This is going to be the next generation of separated cycling and walking infrastructure for our city and is an incredibly exciting project. And I encourage everyone who has an interest to participate in the community consultation that is underway.
We are also really thrilled to be providing further upgrades to the Tuggeranong town centre as well as the Woden town centre, to implement recommendations of town centre master plan processes and build on the work that is already underway in the Gungahlin town centre. Across Tuggeranong, Belconnen and Woden these works will include not only active travel upgrades but also streetscape improvements, additional landscaping and additional street furniture in these important town centres.
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