$4.1 BILLION, 20-year vision for Perth's public transport system, which is to include light rail and rapid transit buses, has been criticised for not doing enough immediately to solve the city's traffic woes.
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Transport Minister Troy Buswell released the Public Transport Network Plan for Perth today, saying it was a ``challenge'' to provide public transport for a growing city where demand will double.
Mr Buswell said the capital cost alone for infrastructure and rolling stock was about $4.1 billion.
``I can't commit future governments to $4.1 billion, but what I can say is that I think this public transport plan represents a compelling case to support that investment,'' he said.
``If we want to be a 21st century city, then we need to have a 21st century public transport platform. Good cities have good public transport systems.''
Mr Buswell said public transport use in Perth had increased by 67 per cent in the past 10 years.
By 2031, residents would more than double their use of public transport, which would account for nearly 70 per cent of all trips to the Perth CBD, he said.
Projects to be undertaken by the government include the extension of heavy rail north to Yanchep, planning for a light rail network starting with the central north corridor to Mirrabooka, and a bus rapid transit system along the northeastern corridor to Ellenbrook.
The government is to use $11 million allocated in the 2011-12 state budget for the three priority projects.
Mr Buswell said government planners were also working on a route for a rail line from the city to Perth airport.
Other initiatives include 180 route kilometres of bus priority infrastructure, new train stations and bus interchanges, and an expansion of the bus and train fleet.
Reaction
Opposition transport spokesman Ken Travers criticised the plan for lacking vision and accused the Government of breaking election promises regarding rail infrastructure.
“We needed a vision for the future that built a heavy rail network, with a light rail route along major activity corridors and buses feeding into this system,” he said.
“The WA public will be dismayed that this plan has no real action.”
Mr Travers said he was disappointed the plan did not include provisions for promised stations at South Perth and Canning Vale, as well as the absence of a heavy rail line to Ellenbrook.
“The plan lacks any money or a detailed timeframe for construction of any light rail to commence,” he said.
“The plan also fails to provide a long term vision for a heavy rail system.
“The lack of action on a rail line to Ellenbrook or Perth Airport highlights the Liberal Party’s hostility to rail.”
Curtin-Monash Accident Research Centre director Brett Hughes praised the “solid, strategic public transport plan” but said he was surprised and disappointed at the lack of attention given to safety.
“The public transport plan should identify the safety issues which will be improved and the measures by which they will be achieved,” he said.
“The plan does not describe any specific safety or security initiatives.
“Road safety will benefit from improved public transport, which is hardly recognised in the plan.
“Bus and rail transport is safer than travel by car, so greater use of public transport will reduce the number of crashes resulting in fewer Western Australians being killed or seriously injured.
“While the plan recognises these as a dollar value, the numbers of people affected are not described, which is surely more important.”
Greens transport spokesman Scott Ludlam said while his party supported the government's plans, ity wanted the project brought forward and begun immediately.
``People see the abundant benefits of light rail and want it to be a significant component of Perth's future transport, and they wonder why these projects are going ahead in the eastern states but not here,'' he said.
Senator Ludlam said while 40 kilometres of light rail was good news, most of the investment would not come until another two or three elections from now.
``People need choice and public transport alternatives now, not in 2031,'' he said.
Senator Ludlam said the people of Fremantle, Cockburn, Melville and Stirling would also be disappointed that they had been denied light rail.
Conservation Council of WA director Piers Verstegen agreed that although the plan was a step in the right direction towards a more balanced and sustainable transport system for Perth's future, it should begin immediately.
``Western Australians are looking for low-carbon, sustainable public transport solutions that reduce their reliance on the motor vehicle and reduce their petrol bills now,'' he said.
Curtin University sustainability professor Peter Newman said it was a ``dramatic step forward'' to commit Perth to a light rail system.
``There is a global light rail revolution occurring and we are likely to be well behind other Australian cities,'' Prof Newman said.
However, Prof Newman said the plan made some predictions for public transport growth that were far below current trends.
``Eight per cent growth is happening and 3.85 per cent growth is predicted,'' he said.
Opposition Leader Eric Ripper has put forward an alternative transport plan for Perth, featuring a circle rail line diverting around the city centre to connect with growing employment zones.
``The new rail line would allow people to travel east and west across Perth without having to travel into the city centre and out again,'' Mr Ripper said on Wednesday.
However, Mr Buswell said the government could never afford the capital cost.
``It is a hastily thought-out, ill-conceived plan,'' he said.
``I'm surprised that a modern, contemporary political party would put that forward as a transport solution.''
