Cassy O’Connor MP | Greens Leader and Member for Clark
The Northern Suburbs transit corridor looks destined to fail under Infrastructure and Transport Minister, Michael Ferguson.
Minister Ferguson’s plan includes ripping up railway tracks, removing bridges and adding an extra rapid bus lane.
We know from comparative study work commissioned by government that light rail is possible on the existing corridor, would be more popular than buses, and stimulate more urban growth and jobs.
The Liberals’ bus solution is expected to cost $50M a kilometre – for buses that would hold only dozens of people. It’s uninspiring, the cheap option.
It also looks destined to be a dud. Perth in WA ripped up the bus line through its southern suburbs, and put in light rail, almost quadrupling patronage.
How does Mr Ferguson think buses that only run every 15 minutes and hold just over 100 people would fit with the Rockliff Government’s stadium plans? It’s delusional.
Then when the Greens asked whether Metro would run the service, it emerged that Minister Ferguson plans to put the contract out to tender. $200M of public money, millions more on rapid buses and then the contract will likely be handed to a private business.
The Department also confirmed the rail line to Glenorchy would be ripped up sometime in the next year to 18 months.
If only the Liberals had a genuine vision for the State’s transport future that wasn’t so focussed on roads, and delivered genuine transport emissions reduction.