Page 3040 - Week 09 - Thursday, 13 October 2022
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include the installation of traffic signals, safer road conditions and traffic-calming measures to protect all road users. This project will be supported by $3.65 million from the commonwealth through the National Partnership Agreement on Land Transport Infrastructure Projects.
These improvements build on funding provided through successive budgets for intersection improvements, and design and scoping studies to improve intersection safety across Canberra. This package of works includes the intersections of Heysen Street and Namatjira Drive with Streeton Drive in Weston, delivering on our election promises, and the intersections of Lawrence Wackett Crescent and Norman Lindsay Street with Tharwa Drive in Lanyon Valley, in Tuggeranong, the latter being an election commitment as well, following a feasibility study.
We are also continuing to improve road safety and promoting active travel by delivering a range of local projects in partnership with the commonwealth government. These works include the construction of stage 2 of the Belconnen bikeway project, which is currently underway and expected for completion later on this year; the delivery of raised pedestrian crossings at Gold Creek High School and St Mary MacKillop College to improve the safety of our kids; the installation of audio tactile line marking and safety barriers on Brindabella Road and Long Gully Road; the delivery of safety barriers on Canberra Avenue; and other small-scale road safety upgrades. These projects have been jointly funded with the commonwealth government and build on funding provided through the 2020-2021 budget initiative Moving Canberra—Road Safety Improvements.
We are certainly continuing to build on our pipeline of active travel infrastructure improvements. As Ms Clay mentioned, there is around $77 million in that pipeline over four years. We are continuing that pipeline as we progress with new initiatives, including those that are pedestrian and active travel facilities within strategic road transport corridors, so that as we build strategic road transport corridors we are not just building them for motor vehicles and freight; we are also building them for other forms of transport.
Public transport uses the road system, in particular, but we know that cyclists also use these corridors, so that is factored into costs and there is an additional investment in those strategic road corridors. It should not be discounted. These are important facilities that we provide through this. I do not think we should just put them aside and not count them in our investment; otherwise we simply would not be making those investments at all.
The ACT is leading the country in taking a responsible approach to managing climate change and our environment. This budget continues the transition to a zero emissions public transport fleet by delivering on our election commitment through funding the purchase of 90 battery electric buses and the associated infrastructure needed to successfully operate those buses. These buses will replace existing compressed natural gas and diesel buses and they will significantly reduce emissions within the Transport Canberra fleet. Savings are expected to be generated from reduced running costs and, of course, they will provide cleaner, quieter transport, which will encourage people to use our public transport system.
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