A light rail vehicle (file photo). The Budget allocates $10 million on the technical and design aspects of light rail Stage 2 required by the National Capital Authority.
The ACT Government has allocated $12.5 million in Tuesday’s Budget to planning, design and enabling works for light rail Stage 2 from the City to Woden, plus funding for the start of work on a stop at Mitchell on Stage 1.
Minister for Transport Canberra and City Services, Meegan Fitzharris, said the Budget would invest $10 million on the technical and design aspects of light rail to Woden to satisfy the needs of the National Capital Authority, which has placed certain conditions on the project as it passes through Commonwealth land, including wire-free portions of the preferred route.
“This will include work to inform the recently announced Inquiry by the Joint Standing Committee into the Commonwealth and Parliamentary approvals for the project,” she said.
“The ACT Government has welcomed the Inquiry, and we are committed to working with all relevant stakeholders to ensure planning for this project responds to their needs so that we can deliver this important transport link for our city.”
There will also be $2.5 million for the preparation of detailed business cases for potential early works on Stage 2, including:
- The redesign and build of a new Transport Canberra bus interchange in the Woden Town Centre;
- An upgrade of Parkes Way to improve traffic flow;
- The development of an updated ‘Park and Ride’ strategy incorporating bus and light rail; and
- The redevelopment of the Yarra Glenn intersection with Melrose and Yamba Drives to accommodate
light rail.
Lobbying by the Mitchell Traders Association has borne fruit with the Budget also funding the technical design of a proposed stop at Sandford Street, to be constructed in 2019-20.
Ms Fitzharris said the Government was tackling Stage 2 from both ends because it wanted to be ready to get work under way as soon as the project received the green light.
“This project is significant for Woden and urban renewal of the town centre. We are already seeing investment in Woden as a result of the ACT Government’s plan to build light rail, and this will continue as we have seen along the City to Gungahlin corridor,” Minister Fitzharris said.
She said testing of the light rail vehicles on Stage 1 would begin soon, and Canberra Metro was on track to complete construction in December this year.
2018-19 ACT Budget
- ACT economy ‘back in the black’ but challenges loom
- ACT Budget: Rates up 7 per cent, stamp duty to go for first-home buyers
- ACT Budget: Help for the homeless with more to come
- ACT Budget: Design work to start on a new Canberra Theatre Complex
- ACT Budget: $12.5m for light rail Stage 2 planning, plus start on Mitchell stop
- ACT Budget: Government to spend $9 million in bid to boost teacher skills
- ACT Budget: $1.8 million to help people through NDIS transition
- ACT Budget: $112 million for Canberra Hospital to boost ED and cut surgery waiting lists
Loading ...
