The release of the ACT Light Rail Master Plan by the ACT Government on 26 October 2015 is welcomed by the peak body for rail, the Australasian Railway Association, (ARA). According to the ARA’s Chief Executive Officer, the 25-year master plan is an appropriate and timely proposal that supports a long term vision for the city of Canberra: “It is clear through the Light Rail Master Plan that the ACT Government has an ambitious vision for the future of Canberra, one that will unlock the potential of Canberra’s CBD and Parliamentary triangle, (through to the south, via the main town-centres) and surrounding suburbs through urban redevelopment,” said Danny Broad.

"It’s pleasing to see high-level, long term planning and community consultation underway for Canberra’s Light Rail project. As alerted to in our 2015 report Capital Metro – Canberra’s light rail project in a global context, light rail as a mode of transport – integrated with other transport systems – acts as a major provider of many benefits to cities.

"Canberra is set for further expansion over the coming decades, the transport needs for a city of 500,000 people is vastly different to that of 300,000, leaving the city’s car dependency unviable for a modern, sustainable city. Now is the time to start planning this major infrastructure project and look at how the rail network will integrate with the existing bus network. Continuing to plan ahead, and invest in Canberra’s transport infrastructure is crucial in order to effectively serve the needs of Canberra and its growing population.

"The Light Rail project supports the vision of Walter Burley Griffin and Marion Mahony Griffin, the architects who designed the city of Canberra. Unbeknown to some, the wide median strips down the ’main boulevards’ of Northbourne, Adelaide and Wentworth Avenues were designed as a major part of the Griffin’s vision for the city; they saw these avenues as a corridor to connect the city by rail. It’s pleasing to see Griffin’s vision in the first steps of realisation.

“The rail industry supports the ACT government’s move to prioritise public transport for the city of Canberra and welcomes the release of the Light Rail Masterplan; proper planning is essential in managing future growth and improving the city’s amenity, liveability and sustainability,” said Mr Broad.

(Source: ARA)