A light rail network connecting East Perth and Subiaco is the subject of a report released this month by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure.
A light rail network connecting East Perth and Subiaco is the subject of a report released this month by the Department of Planning and Infrastructure.
The Perth Light Rail Study, which was put together by a steering committee of key stakeholders, proposes a base route for the $252 million line linking the QEII Medical Centre and the University of Western Australia in Nedlands to East Perth.
The planned route, which passes through Subiaco and Perth CBD, also includes a sub-route option through Rokeby Road.
Depots have been proposed for East Perth, between Royal and Brown streets, and Jolimont, between the Matthews Netball Centre and Pat Goodridge Hockey Centre, off Selby Street.
The plan also connects the light rail with the main railway at Subiaco, Perth Central, William Street and Claisebrook stations.
On top of an initial outlay of $252 million – which includes land acquisition costs at two depot sites – the report estimates rolling stock costs of $140 million, plus annual operating costs of $10 million.
The report includes a traffic feasibility study, which shows increased congestion would occur at the intersection of Rokeby Road and Bagot Road, and the threeway intersection between Stirling Highway, Broadway and Hampden Road near UWA.
It estimates patronage at about 45,600 trips per week day, including residents, employees, QEII traffic and peak lunchtime Red CAT traffic.
Once the light rail was introduced, the Red CAT route would be abolished, according to the proposal.
The plan has received in-principle support from the City of Perth, although the council’s position is that the light rail should be part of a regional transport system, with one or more routes passing through central Perth.
The council said in a statement that it was not in a position to approve a specific route, as further information was required.
It also dismissed a proposed light rail depot designated for Royal Street, East Perth, calling for other sites to be investigated.
The City of Subiaco was represented on the steering committee, although council is yet to review the report.
DPI is also investigating a bus rapid transit system as an alternative to the light rail.
