CANBERRA taxpayers won’t die wondering as the Minister for Capital Metro calls for costs to extend the controversial light rail project from Civic to Russell.

“The ACT government will ask consortia to include the extension as an option in their proposals following strong support from the ACT community and the local business industry,” says Simon Corbell.

“A decision on the extension’s viability can then be made based on detailed commercial costings.

“Should the extension to Russell be included as part of stage one it will provide an extra 5600 trips per day, an increase in patronage of more than 30 per cent.”

The proposed extension will provide a direct link from Russell to Gungahlin. The extension from Alinga Street to Russell would be via London Circuit and Constitution Avenue,  where current upgrade work has already been designed to be light rail ready.

“The 3.2km extension would provide four additional stops – three along the corridor and a terminus at Russell – that would link the CBD with the 8000 employees in the Defence precinct,” Mr Corbell says.

“This would add not only extra passengers in the peak travel times, but would also provide a viable and attractive option for workers to make trips to and from Russell during the day, providing a boost for the retail industry in the CBD and along the light rail route.”

The ACT Government has committed to a city to Gungahlin light rail line with a projected cost of between $800 million and $1 billion to be completed by 2019. The Canberra Liberals say they will halt to project if they are elected to government in 2016.