Perth to get its first urban light rail system – Metro Area Express – announced today in WA
September 2, 2012
Perth will get an urban light rail system, connecting the northern suburb of Mirrabooka – noted for its large bus hub – with the CBD, QEII and the Causeway.
The project won’t start construction until 2016, but Western Australia’s Premier Colin Barnett and Transport Minister Troy Buswell took the opportunity at the Balga campus of Polytechnic West college, the starting point of the new network, to announce the landmark project.
Metro Area Express – MAX – will link Mirrabooka with Perth’s CBD via Alexander Drive and Fitzgerald Street.
“MAX will power Perth commuters into the future, helping to reduce congestion into the city from our inner north and manage population growth as the city expands to as many as 2.7 million people by 2031,” Barnett says.
“The launch of this project is a major milestone for Perth and will be an important part of this city’s transformation during a period of strong economic and population growth.”
Transport Minister Buswell says the construction date was set for 2016 after the planning and design process was completed.
The first phase of the system, which also extends east-west through the CBD to the QEII Medical Centre and the Causeway, is scheduled to be operational by 2018.
The WA Government has committed $11.8million to the planning phase of the project, which will include extensive community consultation and feasibility, engineering and design studies.
“This funding will be channelled into public transport corridors that are unable to meet current and future demand,” Buswell says.
“Light rail has been assessed as the most suitable option in these areas. It can move many more people in one lane than any number of buses and cars.”
Buswell acknowledged the Federal Government’s $4million contribution to date, and adds that future funding options would be assessed, with the potential for further Federal and State Government funding and private investment.
MAX FAST FACTS:
· $15.8million committed to plan Perth’s light rail network – Metro Area Express
· $11.8million of WA Government funding; $4million from Commonwealth
· First stage to connect Mirrabooka with the CBD, QEII and the Causeway
· Construction to begin in 2016
· Operational by 2018
More information at www.max.wa.gov.au