Comments on “The Light Rail Integration Study…looking at integrating the light rail corridor from Gungahlin to the City Centre with the broader public transport network, as well as the requirements of intermodal stations and stops along the route.”

Pros
• Theoretically more people would be using light rail and there would be less cars on the road – less carbon monoxide emission and less congestion along Northbourne Avenue.
• Above point is especially relevant if the light rail is well linked to good efficient bus system with “park n ride” supporting facilities.

Cons
• In light of the population (esp. likely shrinkage of the Public Service work force based in Canberra) and the geographical and demographic spread of Canberra, cost effectiveness of such a major capital project is a significant worry and very likely economically unsustainable for years to come.
• If government/s (local & federal) were to fund the light rail without the injection of private funds, tax payers will likely end up funding an underutilized system for generations to come; money could be better spent on other priority projects and areas.
• As with the tunnels around Brisbane, people did not use them as much because the cost is prohibitive, despite projections on usage. Also, most of the Brisbane tunnels were not through traffic from end to end but a series of ad hoc stretches of tunnels surfacing onto major roads, causing bottle necks and congestions, esp. during peak hours. It is envisaged that if Canberra were to have a light rail system from Gungahlin to City Centre, people from and around Gungahlin may benefit from such a system, but the majority of Canberrans will be disadvantaged by the lack of it. Again, does the massive cost justify serving only a minority of Canberrans? I wonder if there would be a case of discrimination and unfair levy of rates and taxes esp. if rates and tax payers ended up funding for the light rail…
• If the light rail fares were to be high, commuters will go back to using their cars instead (as most Canberrans have cars which are already registered and insured for use on the roads) – this is the case with practical minded consumers. One may argue that people may not want to pay for parking in the City and/or major town centers; hence the case for using public transport. Fact is, people weigh up various factors, eg. convenience, cost, transporting more than one person, etc. before deciding using one system Vs another. Single commuters (esp. to and from work) may well see it OK to use public transport, but reality is, there is simply not much point leaving the car/s in the garage not used during other times.
• Economy of scale of such an expensive project designed to serve only a small proportion of a small city population is simply unjustifiable and politically irresponsible – Would any politician consider building a mega expensive project in his/her house if s/he were to use it perhaps a couple of times a month, and s/her were to borrow the money to fund the project?
• The green belt of trees along Northbourne Avenue helps in greening our environment and proudly heralds to all that one is entering the nation’s capital. There will not be any room for trees if the light rail were to be constructed along the Avenue.

Overall Comments
• The current proposal of a light rail system servicing Gungahlin and Canberrra City is economically unjustifiable and it will be irresponsible for politicians to subject people to fund and pay for such an expensive and limiting project for years to come.
• Politicians and policy makers would be better off to consider alternatives and think outside the box. Example: restricting the number of right and/or left turn offs from Northbourne Ave during peak hours hence improving flow through traffic; extended designated bus lanes only along Northbourne Avenue during peak hours; restricting heavy vehicles travelling along Northbourne Ave during peak hours…
• If a light rail system is still favoured, consider the possibility for future expansion and development of the light rail system into a fast train system linking the major cities along the Eastern States (which all sides of politics have been talking about for the past decades). This means designing and planning for a light rail system that is capable for upgrade in the future, serving all Canberrans and visitors to the Capital.