Canberra: Capital Metro Light Rail

I'm still rather surprised this isn't going to Belc first of all, isn't that where most of the transit and bus fleet commitment is? Plus the presence of the hospital and stadium on or near the route which was previously identified for a busway and would presumably be where they look next to get trams there.

I think its to do with cost as much as anything. The stretch to Gunghalin is the cheapest and there are huge areas of undeveloped land along the way which can be sold off for apartments.

I'd expect the extension across the lake and branches to Kingston and Woden to be stage 2. Belconnen probably wouldn't be built until stage 3.

I'll go out and try to get some pictures of the developments occuring along Flemington Road sometime this week to give you some idea of what's happening.

Basically the whole corridor from Gunghalin to the city is likely to be developed into 3-10 level residential.

Just three stops?

Three 'stations', which I understand are larger, purpose built infrastructure.

There will be stops every 750m-1500m along the route apparently.

SurfRail said:

I'm still rather surprised this isn't going to Belc first of all, isn't that where most of the transit and bus fleet commitment is? Plus the presence of the hospital and stadium on or near the route which was previously identified for a busway and would presumably be where they look next to get trams there.

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I don't take the map seriously, three stations only?

Slow day at the 'Crimes' it seems and their art dept was on light duties to scheme up only three stations.

Look at Andy's post directly above yours....

Very timely articles in the Canberra Times today outlining the Government's plans:

Fast-track development: Room along the avenue for extra 45,000 residents
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act...0-residents-20140408-36blz.html#ixzz2yLcgMxyu

Tenants told to make way

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/tenants-told-to-make-way-20140408-36bm2.html

Some years ago a transport wrote a piece in the Canberra Times re: developing a heavy rail metro for Canberra, serving all points of the compass, including Queanbeyan. And much of it underground. of course he envisioned that it was still decades away.

AndyGM said:

I think its to do with cost as much as anything. The stretch to Gunghalin is the cheapest and there are huge areas of undeveloped land along the way which can be sold off for apartments.

I'd expect the extension across the lake and branches to Kingston and Woden to be stage 2. Belconnen probably wouldn't be built until stage 3.

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Its a start. I would expect it would bring lots of new and redevelopment along that corridor.

SurfRail said:

I'm still rather surprised this isn't going to Belc first of all, isn't that where most of the transit and bus fleet commitment is? Plus the presence of the hospital and stadium on or near the route which was previously identified for a busway and would presumably be where they look next to get trams there.

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Don't think so. The whole idea of the light rail route is to service people living ALONG the corridor from Civic to Gungahlin. In fact this is something I don't think people get, the bulk of the people in Gungahlin will continue to get their buses from the suburbs to town, the benefit and the purpose is for those living along the corridor.

This corridor, specifically Flemmington Road has been built/planned with high density housing along most of the route. Likewise Northborne Ave is also high density. In fact there was an article in todays paper suggesting another 45,000 will live along Northborne Ave alone (where and when it doesn't say)

No other route in Canberra, especially Belconnen to Civic has anything even close to this density, most of that route is just bush. So any thoughts of light rail to any other town centre is purely fanciful. Light rail is not a replacement for the 300 series buses. Any extensions will be just to take passengers further into work area's, specifically the parl triangle.

ajw373 said:

No other route in Canberra, especially Belconnen to Civic has anything even close to this density, most of that route is just bush. So any thoughts of light rail to any other town centre is purely fanciful. Light rail is not a replacement for the 300 series buses. Any extensions will be just to take passengers further into work area's, specifically the parl triangle.

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I don't think this is correct.

The light rail system will eventually be rolled out to the other town centres and will run as the trunk network in place of the 300 series busses. While there are fewer opportunities for development along some of the routes, there is a longer term need to link the larger centres with a higher capacity system.

SurfRail said:

I'm still rather surprised this isn't going to Belc first of all, isn't that where most of the transit and bus fleet commitment is? Plus the presence of the hospital and stadium on or near the route which was previously identified for a busway and would presumably be where they look next to get trams there.

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Belconnen has fantastic, almost brand new, bus infrastructure.

Plus the road to Belconnen is way less congested than Northbourne, so it would be very unlikely to see improved travel times on this corridor.

The road infrastructure from Belconnen is near capacity though and that will only get much worse as West Belconnen, Lawson, Bruce and Belconnen itself fill out, and will be much worse in 10-15 years when the northern parts of Molonglo get built.

The effective bus routes and the like are the reason I think Belconnen will be the last of the town centres (along with Tuggeranong) to be linked to an expanded system. But both locations will eventually be linked.

Interesting if very cheesy video.

Specifically mentions that the light rail system will be extended to all the town centres.

http://media.canberratimes.com.au/news/act-news/capital-metro-light-rail-and-the-city-to-the-lake-5338031.html

Hopefully if it ever happens, they will go under LBG, rather than over it.

AndyGM said:

The road infrastructure from Belconnen is near capacity though and that will only get much worse as West Belconnen, Lawson, Bruce and Belconnen itself fill out, and will be much worse in 10-15 years when the northern parts of Molonglo get built.

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No road infrastucture in Canberra is anywhere near capacity. Belconnen Way has shiney new bus lanes, they should suffice. What is needed is higher frequency bus services.

AtD said:

No road infrastucture in Canberra is anywhere near capacity. Belconnen Way has shiney new bus lanes, they should suffice. What is needed is higher frequency bus services.

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Which admittedly will be easier to deliver with no trunk buses operating between Gungahlin and Civic.

My last good wander around Canberra's suburbs was 2009 so I don't claim to be up to date, but I wonder about why this shouldn't be operating in reverse. LRT to Belconnen to act as the trunk route for the whole area fed by buses at the Westfield, cascade buses to the Gungahlin Red Rapid to improve frequency for the lower capacity actually needed, build LRT once actually justified. If anything I would have imagined that you just replace Route 300, densify the existing town centres and then worry about greenfield development elsewhere later on.

This isn't worth knocking though. The transit network planning foundations for Canberra are very solid, potentially much more so than other cities (including my particular stomping ground).

The plan seems pretty sound. If you haven't been here since 2009 you would be amazed at the level of development along the Flemington/Northbourne route.

ATD, busses are only ever going to be a temporary solution if the Government wants to drive high density development along transport routes.