Page 2946 - Week 08 - Wednesday, 14 August 2019
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The light rail network is part of an integrated transport plan for Canberra that ensures that our city does not become gridlocked and overcrowded. Ensuring that light rail keeps up with demand is therefore vital. This is not an issue that was expected to come up so soon after light rail began operating but ultimately it is a sign of light rail’s success and popularity. This is a good problem to have. It is proof that Canberrans approve of this government’s vision for our transport system.
The popularity of light rail is a great thing for Canberra. More and more Canberrans are ditching their cars in favour of public transport. Passenger numbers are exceeding expectations. However, this means that during peak times light rail can be a bit crowded. We must be proactive and adaptive to the needs of passengers, and increasing the frequency of services would alleviate some of these issues. We must continue to make light rail even better so that passengers continue to have a relaxed and easy commute.
MR STEEL (Murrumbidgee—Minister for Community Services and Facilities, Minister for Multicultural Affairs and Minister for Transport and City Services) (5.25): I am very pleased to provide an update to the Assembly today on the success of the first stage of light rail, and I thank Mr Pettersson for bringing this motion forward. Light rail stage 1 is now well into its operations, and the success of the service speaks for itself. Record numbers of Canberrans are choosing to use light rail, and our public transport network more broadly, significant numbers, allowing them to get to the office and back home and to get to places they love to visit more quickly and easily.
In what has been the biggest change to public transport services ever in Canberra, the introduction of the first stage of light rail is transforming our public transport network. It is supporting our growing population, mitigating road congestion and addressing climate change. We know that a modern integrated transport system is key to positioning Canberra within the region, in the nation and internationally as a great place to live, study, visit, invest and work. Since the commencement of the new public transport network, including light rail services, on 29 April, we have seen the community embracing light rail. It has been acknowledged as a major infrastructure success for the community and public transport in Canberra.
I am advised that as at 13 August 2019 Transport Canberra had recorded 1,387,813 passengers using light rail services. As Mr Pettersson mentioned, that is perhaps a bit further than we thought we would get in terms of passenger numbers. Since the commencement of services, 15,125 passengers have boarded light rail, on average, per day. The estimated daily light rail patronage in the light rail stage 1 business case was 15,120 per day in 2021, a couple of years down the track. Members may know that transport data is highly seasonal, and this period of build-up of passenger numbers, the 15,125, has taken place during quite a period of cold weather during the winter. We know that we have higher numbers generally across our public transport network in warmer periods of the year, so I am really looking forward to the data that is yet to come in relation to patronage later this year as operations continue.
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