The ACT Government today welcomed Federal Labor’s commitment to invest $200 million in the second stage of light rail for Canberra if they win the next election.
This commitment will help build a light rail network for our growing city, alleviate traffic and parking congestion into the future, and ensure Canberra is better connected.
As construction on Stage 1 from Gungahlin to the City comes to an end, with services due to start next month, the ACT Government is now progressing design and planning for Stage 2.
We are in the process of re-examining the technical aspects of possible routes through the parliamentary zone. This includes further work on a route via State Circle, which was identified in the recent Joint Standing Committee Inquiry as having ‘in principle’ approval under the ³Ô¹ÏÍøÕ¾ Capital Plan.
We will use this technical advice to seek formal approval under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act before embarking on other Commonwealth approvals for the Stage 2 route.
The government will consider all options to ensure we can deliver light rail to Woden as soon as possible, but this commitment from Federal Labor and Bill Shorten today highlights that delivering light rail to Woden will progress more quickly under a Federal Labor Government.
Light rail will provide an attractive alternative to the car for the 195,000 people who will work and nearly 75,000 who will live or study within 800 metres of the City to Woden corridor by 2036.
Light rail is an attractive, reliable and convenient public transport choice that will link to our new rapid bus services and active travel options like cycling, park and ride and walking.
Light rail from the City to Woden is an item of the ACT Labor and ACT Greens Parliamentary Agreement.
