Chief Minister confirms Russell extension light rail planning

screen shot of FB Q&A

ACT Chief Minister Katy Gallagher held a question and answer session on Facebook on October 7 2014. ACT Light Rail Chair, Damien Haas, asked several questions including one specifically related to rumours ACT Light Rail keep hearing about an extension of Stage One of Capital Metro to Russell from Civic. 

His question:

D.c. Haas: How serious are plans to extend the first stage of Capital Metro light rail along Constitution Avenue to Russell?

The Chief Ministers response:

Katy Gallagher MLA: Hello again D.c. Haas. The government is considering the option of extending stage one of Canberra’s light rail network through to Constitution Avenue and Russell. Preliminary analysis on the possible extension is underway.

It is good that this has been confirmed. We believe two possible routes through Civic have been modelled. One through City Walk to Constitution Avenue, the other around Vernon Circle. We are told Jarrett Walker favours the Vernon Circle model. The light rail would terminate near the statue. 

Extending Stage One to Russell is a very sound idea. Paid parking has now been introduced, leading to greater demand on public transport. It is important to build light rail from where people live to where they work. 

It would also be a simple task to extend from Russell to the Airport in the future (perhaps the Airport owners may even pay for that stage), or even across the lake along Kings Avenue. 

ACT Light Rail support this extension proposal. 

For more frequent updates on Capital Metro and light rail related news, please visit our Facebook page 'Light Rail for Canberra'.  

ACT Business leaders express confidence and support in Capital Metro light rail

Many of the news reports following the announcement of the Governments decision to proceed with Capital Metro, have focussed on the reactions of business to the news.

With 3500 predicted jobs created as a result, is it any wonder business is supporting the project.

ABC Canberra report on positive business reaction, with endorsement from peak business body

WIN Canberra on positive business reaction with comment from Emma Thomas of Capital Metro on job creation

For more frequent updates on Capital Metro and light rail related news, please visit our Facebook page 'Light Rail for Canberra'.  

Capital Metro light rail wins tick from Infrastructure Partnerships Australia

Tucked away at the bottom of an ABC Online news article is this important news:

(Note this is 'Infrastructure Partnerships Australia' (a peak body) not Infrastructure Australia (the government body). )

Light rail wins tick from Infrastructure Australia

The country's peak infrastructure body has also offered its support for the project, pointing to the successes of similar proposals in other states.

Infrastructure Australia chief executive Brendan Lyon said it was a good time to be buying infrastructure, as strong competition could drive down the cost.

"This is really setting up for a very good result in terms of price and a very good result in terms of the type of technological advances that Canberra might see," he said.

Mr Lyon said the project would however test Canberra's bureaucracy.

"The ACT Government does not have a tradition of delivering major civil infrastructure projects using private financing. That is going to test the bureaucracy in Canberra," he said.

The project is currently listed on Infrastructure Australia's Potential PPP Projects webpage. 

For more frequent updates on Capital Metro and light rail related news, please visit our Facebook page 'Light Rail for Canberra'.