Light rail test of Government's transport mettle

Perth should have a new light rail system up and running within five years, Greens MLC Alison Xamon said today, supporting views put by researcher Diana Ryan.

Ms Xamon said the Greens agreed with Ms Ryan’s opinion printed in The West Australian newspaper today, that a light rail system must be a high priority in the Government’s long awaited Transport Master Plan.

“Light rail is an efficient, low impact form of electrical transport that can help provide an answer to the city’s public transport gaps,” Ms Xamon said.

“While the Government says it already provides an acceptable level of public transport to 78 per cent of Perth, the reality is that people in outer suburbs want and need more regular peak services that they don’t have to travel far to access.

“There has been much debate on new methods of public transport in Western Australia for some time now and the time is right for the Government to invest in a new era in urban travel.”

Ms Xamon said the Greens’ Perth light rail policy acknowledged a future planning direction that is suited to population growth in low density cities such as Perth.

Several studies including the Greens’ comprehensive ‘The Perth Light Rail Network’ – cited in today’s column by Diana Ryan – were on the table and it was now time for the State Government to get on board.

The Greens acknowledge that there are economic benefits to building transport services as well, such as a 15–20 per cent increase in the value of land adjacent to train stations.

“The fact is more than two thirds of the Perth metropolitan commuter population still travels to work by car or truck and this is both unacceptable and unsustainable,” Ms Xamon said.

“Light rail is an excellent option for integrating existing transport nodes such as rail and bus services, which are badly needed in parts of Perth,” she said.

“I urge the Premier and his Ministers to surprise their critics and take ownership of this new public transport infrastructure project as soon as they can.”

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