Each year, the ACT Government invites community groups and the wider public to make recommendations on how funding should be allocated as part of the following year’s budget. This presents … Read more
In its first week light rail from Gungahlin carried over 100,000 passengers and proved to be the success that its supporters knew it would be. On Monday, the ACT receives its second major public transport shakeup with Network 19. Integrating light rail, a record nine rapid bus routes, and more frequent local buses, the aim is to increase local connections to rapid routes, and increase the frequency. Although the radical Network 19 changes will prove beneficial, there will be many short term issues as passengers start using it, and locating the new bus stops they may have to walk further to use. Not everyone benefits, and indeed some people lose out.
On 18 April 2019 light rail began carrying members of the Canberra public along light rail stage one from Gungahlin to Civic. This ‘soft launch’ was also to be a test ahead of the official opening to the public on 20 April. The excited passengers waited at each of the three major stops, boarded and set out for the first trip! Some stayed to observe the political events, but most went excitedly about the rest of their day, after being lucky enough to be on the very first trip on Canberra’s brand new light rail. Several PTCBR members attended and were fortunate to be invited to the launch and the lunch. This post has lots of photos of the days events, and a few links to local media coverage.
The PTCBR looks forward to Canberras first integrated public transport timetable.
Transport Canberra today released the first integrated light rail and bus timetable for Canberra, which will commence in late April when light rail is also operational. The PTCBR are looking forward to its introduction, and its potential to increase access to public transport by more Canberrans than the current network.
The Federal Labor party today committed 200 million dollars to the Woden to Civic light rail project, if it is elected in the May federal election. Federal Opposition Leader Bill Shorten MP made the funding committment at a media function at the Alinga St light rail terminal on March 12 with the Chief Minister Andrew Barr, Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris and ALP Candidate Alicia Payne in attendance. The PTCBR are pleased at this announcement, and welcome the support by the federal Labor party for a territory public transport project, especially as the light rail will serve the building that the federal Parliament sits in, and the 12 thousand workers in the Parliamentary zone.