Page 2704 - Week 09 - Tuesday, 16 September 2014
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citing capital metro as an important opportunity to integrate cycling into the overall design and construction of the transport corridor.
In relation to the urban environment, over 70 per cent of survey responses supported the proposal to make the area of Hibberson Street between Gungahlin Place and Hinder Street in Gungahlin a pedestrian and light rail only zone. There was also strong support for replanting native trees along Northbourne Avenue and emphasising the “bush capital” appearance of the city. The Dickson interchange is also seen as an important priority area. The light rail design needs to complement plans for the area and encourage strong and safe integration with buses, pedestrians and cyclists. In particular, local schools and safe crossings were frequently raised as important considerations for this precinct. The extension of stage 1 to Russell also received strong support and is seen as a sensible option to be considered considering the increase in patronage it will generate and the plans to upgrade Constitution Avenue. Feedback from stakeholder discussions also indicated that plans for light rail should accommodate future growth and the proposed activity set out in the city plan and city to the lake initiative.
In the territory we have a choice: we can start addressing transport issues now at a relatively low cost, or we can wait until congestion, pollution and poor accessibility cripple our city and we pay a much higher price. As calculated by the Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics in 2007, congestion cost the territory $110 million a year in 2005 and is projected to increase by 82 per cent to $200 million in 2020. During peak travel times, road congestion already adds approximately 15 minutes to the travel along the city to Gungahlin corridor. Introducing light rail is projected to halve corridor congestion immediately, providing travel benefits to road users and a frequent and reliable service for public transport users. We want to stay true to our planned city heritage, not fall into the pitfalls of other cities, by making sure that congestion does not cripple our city and does not impose unreasonable burdens on residents.
I am pleased to say that the Capital Metro Agency has delivered against all of its key strategic priorities to date. The business case has been finalised; cabinet has been able to make a well-informed decision on stage 1. The agency has identified the most suitable financial and funding model for the delivery and operation of this service. Ongoing, the agency’s priorities now are further engaging with the community to further refine the design; engage with industry to refine and prosecute an agreed procurement strategy; and work across government to develop the appropriate integration of light rail with the territory’s existing transport systems, including our walking network, cycling network, existing public transport through ACTION bus services and private motor vehicle networks.
To support that work, Capital Metro Agency will continue its successful and appropriate program of strategic engagement of key advisers, particularly for those aspects of the project that are new to the territory—for example, the investigation of innovative and prudent operating parameters and design considerations for the light rail service, and the specialist commercial and legal experience required to prosecute the delivery strategy.
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