Design work is underway for a new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Western Australia
August 9, 2012
The design
of a
new Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system in Western Australia has begun.
Transport Minister Troy Buswell says AECOM has been awarded the $630,000 tender to develop 15 percent concept designs for the BRT system between Ellenbrook and Bassendean train station.
A 15 percent concept design confirms the technical feasibility of the proposal and provides a preliminary cost estimate.
“The BRT system will provide improved journey times, enhanced bus stops and stations, and strategically-located park and ride facilities,” Buswell says.
“By 2031, it will serve an estimated 6,500 daily users.”
The BRT system is also planned to include security systems
such as
CCTV.
Buswell says the BRT design will include planning for stations, integration with existing and planned land use and transport networks, park and ride facilities and bus priority treatment.
“This work will help to identify any key construction issues and any impacts the BRT may have on the broader transport network,” Buswell says.
The tender was awarded to AECOM on June 15, 2012.
Work began on the project in early July and has so far included
the early stages
of a document review, road traffic assessment, transport modelling and field survey investigation.
A spokeswoman for the minister says some of the challenges with the project include ensuring bus right of way and priority, and providing workable links between bus stations and their urban catchment.
But she says the system is needed to provide efficient public transport services to the railway station at Bassendean.
“This will serve Ellenbrook, communities to the south of Gnangara Road and the northern section of the Town of Bassendean giving them the option of travelling on the railway from Bassendean east to Midland or west to the city and points beyond,”
the spokeswoman
says.
Development of the concept designs is planned to include consultation with key stakeholders, including the Public Transport Authority, Main Roads, Department of Planning and local government.
The concept design work is expected to be completed by March 2013.
The Ellenbrook BRT service was identified as priority in the State Government’s draft ‘Public Transport for Perth in 2031’, released in 2011.
BRTs operate with dedicated priority within existing streets, utilising capacity of public transport to move many more people in one road lane than cars
AECOM declined to comment on the project.