Light Rail Stage 2 route options refined following community consultation


Released 19/12/2017

Following community feedback, stakeholder engagement and expert technical analysis throughout 2017, the ACT Government has refined the two route options for stage two of the city-wide light rail network linking Gungahlin through Canberra city to the Woden Town Centre.

The City – Parkes – Woden route (Option 1) is largely the same as the route published for consultation earlier in the year.

The City – Barton – Woden route (Option 2) has been amended slightly following technical analysis to enable more Canberrans get to work in the Parliamentary Triangle and improve access for visitors. It would also be Canberra’s first light rail route with a section that doesn’t follow a current road.

For both routes indicative light rail stops have also been slightly amended.

Minister for Transport and City Services Meegan Fitzharris said she was delighted with the level of community feedback for stage two.

“It’s great that we have been able to combine feedback from the community and stakeholders with our expert technical analysis to determine the most beneficial options for stage two of the city-wide light rail network,” Minister Fitzharris said.

“By 2041, more than 210,000 people are expected to live, work or study within one kilometre of the Woden corridor. What we heard clearly is the need to incorporate as many of the key employment hubs and national institutions as possible in the Parliamentary Triangle, with around 75 per cent of respondents supporting a route that travels through Barton.

“Having considered this feedback, and following consultation with key stakeholders, we have refined the route options for the ACT Government to now consider further.”

The route through Barton is an innovative design as it would be the first part of the network that wouldn’t run along a current road.

“This design option would allow the route to get through Barton more quickly while also servicing more employment hubs and our important national institutions and tourist attractions,” said Minister Fitzharris.

A Government decision on the preferred route will be made in 2018. Further consultation will take place on the exact stop locations once the preferred route has been determined.

Light rail stage two was an ACT Labor election commitment and a commitment under the ACT Labor-Greens Parliamentary Agreement.

- Statement ends -

Meegan Fitzharris, MLA | Media Releases


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