The Department for Transport in Western Australia drafted a plan, “The Directions 2031 and Beyond” framework for Perth. The plan envisages Perth’s public transport system carrying more than twice as many people by 2031. The vision for the Plan is to see public transport become the preferred choice of travel to Perth’s strategic centres and through the growth corridors.
Over the next 21 years, much of the investment in public transport infrastructure and system improvements is needed within Perth central area.
The project proposals are grouped into two categories – Stage One or shorter term/before 2020 and Stage Two or medium term/before 2031.
The capacity and efficiency of the existing network will need to be increased by purchasing new trains, upgrading major bus interchanges and providing faster bus services to transfer passengers to rail services, building new train stations and providing effective access to the system including adequate park and ride facilities.
By 2031, it is estimated that the total annual cost to operate and maintain the public transport system will have risen to USD 1.2 billion. Over the next 21 years the total cost for fleet expansion is estimated to be USD 1.2 billion. The major components of the cost are additional railcars – USD 624 million (156 additional railcars at USD 4 million each) and new light rail vehicles – USD 131 million (29 light rail vehicles at USD 4.5 million each).
Over the next 21 years the estimated cost to construct the infrastructure recommended in the public transport plan is USD 2.9 billion.
The major components of the proposed infrastructure expenditure are: rail system expansion – USD 1.2 billion, light rail line – USD 1 billion, transit interchanges, including park and ride – USD 135 million.
Directions 2031 and Beyond identifies the need for two key strategies for public transport. These are improving the relationship between public transport and land use planning and ensuring ongoing access to public transport.
Australia’s Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced that it will help with AUD 4 billion (USD 3 billion) the Government of Western Australia’s urbal rail transport projects, in Perth. Among these projects are the railway line out to the airport and the abandoned MAX Light Rail.
According to estimates, the MAX Light Rail project construction will begin in 2019, with first services running by late 2022.
The demand for railcars is projected to increase to 390 equivalent one-car units by 2031. It is estimated that 29 light rail vehicles would be required to support the 2031 network.
A new strategy of investments
Western Australia’s Government launched, in mid-2016, the most important transport strategy of the past two decades for the capital city Perth which includes the development of all transport modes to meet future mobility demand. The identified projects rely on the estimated population growth to 3.5 million inhabitants by 2050. The development strategy will bring major amendments for the economy and the society by developing a performing and efficient transport system, integrated in the metropolitan area.
The “Transport @ 3.5 Million” Strategy is included in the Government’s plans of developing new projects for Perth whose population is expected to grow by 70%. The plan approaches population growth estimates, land use models and workforce distribution targets emphasized in the different official projects of the commissions involved in the strategy.
Over the next 4 decades, more than 800,000 new homes will be built including new residential districts which will increase the number of daily journeys (over 12 million journeys). Freight and trade traffic will also increase due to industrial development, the business sector and the changes of the sales segment. All these elements determine the authorities to develop transport projects, a sector without which a city cannot form, maintain or develop its activities.
The “Transport @ 3.5 Million” Strategy considers all transport modes and their development to meet the increase in Perth transport demand in a coherent manner. Perth is a city with over 2 million inhabitants, a number that will increase to 3.5 million by 2050. The vision relies on shifting traffic to public transport and cycling, while the investment priority focuses in the city central sector (15-20 km from the city centre), to promote increased urban density and serve main centres.
Currently, Perth’s heavy rail network consists of a
five-branch radial, electrified network with 70 stations, covering 180 km and operating through the Perth CBD hub. The next expansion is the Forrestfi eld-Airport Link, due for completion in 2020.
Complementing Perth’s robust radial rail network, new orbital services will provide easier access between major activity centres without requiring transfers through Central Business District’s stations. Thus, the passenger rail network will expand from 180 km to nearly 300 km.
More that that, a new light rail line, named Perth light rail, will provide an inner orbital link via the central and eastern Central Business District, with a substantial section of this new being already planned.
Although Perth’s population will increase, it will benefit from new heavy rail and new light rail lines aimed at easing the congested traffic. But besides the need to buid these surface railway lines, Perth recongnises that there is also an urgent need for metro lines. However, the Department of Transport in Perth recognises that metro systems are very expensive to build and operate. Perth’s inner core will need to be much larger and denser before this kind of investment would be justifi ed. But, in order to ensure a subway system as a feasible option for the future, it is important to plan early and protect future metro rail networks.
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