Industry briefed on Capital Metro project by ACT Government

The compressed timetable of Capital Metro (construction is scheduled to begin in the first quarter of 2016) means that the employees and consultants working on the project are extremely busy. The final Business Case is due to go to Cabinet imminently, with a decision in September.

As part of the project, Capital Metro are briefing industry. As it will be private contractors that will build the light rail line and facilities, it is important to keep all interested parties up to date on project developments.

There is a strong focus on employing local companies in the design and construction phase. For companies that may have an interest in tendering, these briefing provide important detail and information they can use to guide preparation of business cases, and tenders.

The office of the Minister for Capital Metro Agency has released the following statement in relation to the briefings scheduled for 15 September:

Capital Metro to update industry on Canberra's light rail project

Released 19/08/2014
The Capital Metro Agency and the ACT Government will provide up-to-date information to all industries that might have an interest in the building and operation of stage one of Canberra's light rail network, at an Industry Briefing on 15 September.
Minister for Capital Metro, Simon Corbell, said he expected interest in the briefing from local, national and international companies.
"The briefing will demonstrate the progress to date of the Capital Metro light rail project," Mr Corbell said.
"It will provide an opportunity to relate the key information that has arisen from the feasibility, design and definition stages of the project.
"A major aim of the briefing is to ensure we remain connected with industry. The community consultation period was concluded earlier this month and it is now appropriate to update industry."
The briefing will include updated thinking around desired urban design outcomes, technical design, operations environment, desired customer outcomes, possible procurement steps and local industry participation.
"This is an excellent opportunity for local industry to get involved in, and be informed on, this exciting major infrastructure project," Mr. Corbell said.
"I am looking forward to the briefing in September and meeting with industry members."
- Statement ends -


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

ACTION Network 14 launched - let's hope it attracts more passengers

The TAMS Minister, Greens MLA Shane Rattenbury, has today launched ACTION Network 14. Let us hope that ACTION planners have created a workable timetable and network. Todays plan is mark 2 of Network 14, as planners tore up an earlier version of the plan and started again. It is very important that it succeeds. Bus patronage has been declining, and that decline needs to be reversed. A modal shift to light rail from Gungahlin to Civic is one action in response to declining bus patronage, but both modes of transport need to work together.

ACTION claim that (from ACTIONS website):

Network 14 is the first time that a network has been developed using patronage data from the MyWay system and over 2,300 pieces of feedback from bus passengers, drivers and through a successful community consultation. As a result a number of areas of Canberra will have enhanced services including Molonglo, Gungahlin, Weston Creek, the Parliamentary Triangle, Hume, Brindabella Park and Majura Park. There will also be improved alignment between weekday and weekend services. The new weekend network, which will include improved services in areas such as Gungahlin, Tuggeranong, Weston Creek, West Macgregor and Majura Park, as well as services to the National Arboretum.

How will services be improved?

• More Direct - Services have been streamlined with the objective of achieving fewer, more evenly spaced and direct routes
• More Frequent - Additional services have been added to many routes including; Erindale, Chisholm, Gungahlin, Weston Creek and West Belconnen
• More Services -  Late evening suburban services carrying few passengers have been scheduled to finish earlier to allow more day time services

ACTION Bus webpage with Network 14 routes here.

Map of Network 14 weekday routes here. Small map also shown below.

Changes to the ACTION bus routes in your area of Canberra are here.

Canberra Times report on Network 14 launch is here.

Riot Act user analysis of Network 14 is here

WIN TV News report on the Network 14 announcement.

Weekday routes for Network 14

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

The Assembly votes for Capital Metro funding

In our last post we covered the debate in the Assembly where the Canberra Liberals argued against better public transport infrastructure. Yesterday, they moved a motion in the Assembly opposing that funding. It was defeated.

Here is the video from WIN TV on the issue. The ABC TV carried no report on it.

Here is a media release issued by MLA Simon Corbell, Capital Metro Agency Minister.


Canberra Liberals' blinkered opposition to light rail lets Canberrans down

The Canberra Liberals have proved once again how out of touch they are with the needs of Canberrans with their blinkered opposition to a project that will deliver positive outcomes for the ACT, Minister for Capital Metro, Simon Corbell, said today.


"With his latest motion in the Legislative Assembly today Alistair Coe continues with his head-in-the-sand approach to tackling transport challenges for Canberra's future," Mr Corbell said.

"Not only is he objecting to a project that will deliver strong transport, economic and sustainability outcomes for Canberra but he is also objecting to a project supported by a majority of Canberrans."

A recent survey by Piazza Research, commissioned by Capital Metro, found 55% of Canberrans supported light rail as a public transport solution for the ACT.

Stage one of Canberra's light rail network will decrease congestion along Northbourne Avenue while providing for the iconic landscape of the wide, tree-lined median.

The Canberra Liberals' alternative to light rail is to either do nothing, allowing congestion to increase into the future to the point where commuters will be bogged down in gridlocked traffic, or to replace the landscaped entry to the national capital with extra road lanes.

"If Mr Coe is seriously suggesting that Bus Rapid Transit is the solution for preventing one-hour commutes from Gungahlin to City in the coming decades he should come clean and tell the people of Canberra whether he intends to either reduce Northbourne Avenue to two lanes of general traffic or if he prefers to put a two-lane road in the place of the median strip," Mr Corbell said.

Not only does the Capital Metro project have a positive Benefit Cost Analysis, meaning it provides more in economic benefits then it costs, but it will also provide social and environmental benefits that other forms of public transport do not.

"Light rail is good for all of Canberra. It is good for people who use public transport, who will have a fast, comfortable, reliable service. It is good for businesses, which will benefit from the increased economic activity. It is also good for drivers, who will benefit from reduced congestion on roads that are already being choked with traffic during peak periods and are only going to get worse if nothing is done.

"Light rail is a modern, sustainable form of public transport that delivers important benefits for Canberrans now, while allowing for Canberra to grow and prosper into the future.

"The government knows light rail is the right public transport choice for the ACT and the upcoming final business case will show it is economically good policy for the ACT.

"The Canberra Liberals need to decide whether they want more congestion and less efficient travel in Canberra or if they want a transformational transport option that provides for Canberra's future."

- Statement ends -


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