Options for rapid transit route in NE corridor announced

6/10/94

Options for a rapid transit route in the north-east corridor to link Reid Highway with the Midland passenger rail line were announced today.

Planning Minister Richard Lewis said a feasibility study of the options had identified four potential routes, including one along the median of Tonkin Highway with the capacity to service 78,000 people in Beechboro, Malaga, Noranda, Morley and Embleton.

Mr Lewis said the study was initiated by the State Government following public opposition to the Lord Street option proposed in the North-East Corridor Structure Plan.

The study, prepared by the Department of Planning and Urban Development, the Department of Transport, Main Roads Western Australia and Westrail was aimed at finding an appropriate route which was acceptable to the community.

"All four options are considered feasible in engineering terms and are capable of being developed to Metro (heavy) rail standards, although the type of system used in the corridor can be determined at a later stage," Mr Lewis said.

"Protecting a rapid transit route in the north-east corridor by reserving the land will ensure that a public transport system can be readily integrated in the future.

"Such a system will assist in significantly reducing road congestion and car dominated travel in the corridor and particularly through existing communities in Guildford, Bassendean and Bayswater."

A proposal to reserve the northern extension of the transit route from Reid Highway to Ellenbrook was advertised for public comment in a major amendment to the corridor in April. The amendment will be tabled in Parliament later this year.

A second amendment will be required to reserve the southern section when a preferred route has been identified.

Options for the location of the rapid transit reserve are:

1. Route from Railway Parade, Bayswater via Tonkin and Reid Highways.

2. Route from the Bassendean Railway Station via Lord Street.

3. Route from Midland through Caversham via the proposed Benara Road Extension.

4. Route from Midland following the Midland-Muchea railway to Toodyay and then along Roe and Reid Highways.

All options link various points of the Perth-Midland rail line with the Reid Highway/Lord Street interchange.

Mr Lewis said the options had been comprehensively assessed against a range of criteria, including integration with existing land uses, land redevelopment potential, route length and travel time, cost, environmental and social impact and population catchment.

"The report favours the Tonkin/Roe Highway option, given it has the highest population catchment of around 78,600 people and is the closest to the Morley regional centre which is not presently served by rail," Mr Lewis said.

"However, all of the options are considered feasible with various advantages and disadvantages which need to be carefully considered."

Mr Lewis said all options could also be developed to include the electrification of the existing freight line from Midland to Stratton. This would provide a rail service to an additional 42,000 people in Bellevue, Greenmount, Swan View, Midvale and Stratton at a cost of $4.8 million.

"This is a project with exciting potential for the eastern suburbs and will be carefully considered by the State Government," Mr Lewis said.

"Public comment on the options will be taken into account in determining an appropriate route which is acceptable to the community."

The report is available for public inspection at the Shire of Swan, Town of Bassendean, City of Bayswater and the Department of Planning and Urban Development.

Media contact:  Tony Robertson 222 9595