Northbourne Avenue rapid transit one step closer

The ACT Government has made the Northbourne Avenue transit corridor a key priority in a new submission to Infrastructure Australia. 

The Northbourne Avenue transit corridor is being put forward for consideration in the 2012 Update of the National Infrastructure Priorities. 

One of the Government’s priorities is to provide an effective and efficient transport system that meets the needs of the community while reducing its environmental and social impacts.

As Canberra continues to grow so too does the need to provide more sustainable ways for Canberrans to get around – and with more than 50,000 people travelling Northbourne Avenue daily, increasing with the growth of Gungahlin, Northbourne is a significant transport corridor. 

The transformation of the corridor along its length, particularly through Dickson, will see Northbourne turned into a vibrant, active urban passage with many people, businesses and retail areas reaping the benefits. 

The ACT Government has commenced the Northbourne Avenue transit corridor feasibility study which will provide the technical and economic assessments and a business case for the development of the corridor.  

This study will develop concept designs for the corridor with transport oriented land use options, and assess the feasibility of light rail transit and bus rapid transit options. The Government will be releasing initial concept designs for the corridor in December for community input. 

As the gateway to the national capital, and a significant transport corridor between Civic and Gungahlin, the Northbourne Avenue corridor will reflect its national significance through high quality urban design. 

As part of the study, detailed business cases will be developed for both ACT Government and Infrastructure Australia’s consideration, with a final study report anticipated by June 2012. 

It is intended that ongoing dialogue will occur with the Commonwealth and Infrastructure Australia in relation to funding assistance for future stages of the project. 

Projects such as the Northbourne Avenue transit corridor will contribute to the ACT’s greenhouse gas emissions targets by increasing the efficiency of our public and private vehicles, and encouraging more people to choose sustainable transport like walking, cycling and public transport. 

Construction of rapid transit infrastructure on the corridor will support the transformation of the corridor and nodes along its length, particularly Dickson, into vibrant, active urban areas with many people, businesses and retail areas reaping the benefits of co-location.

The project aligns with Infrastructure Australia’s theme: Transforming our cities, and is part of the Transport for Canberra package of works to improve the public transport network across the ACT.

The ACT is providing complementary and supporting key plans and strategies with the submission, which can be found at www.environment.act.gov.au.

These include the Draft 2011‑2031 Transport for Canberra Plan, the Draft 2011 ACT Planning Strategy and the ACT Infrastructure Plan 2011‑2021.

The ACT Submission is available at http://www.treasury.act.gov.au/about/publications.html.