COM: Glenelg Tramline Upgrade
trucked away where?AtD wrote:Online petitions have even less clout than real petitions. Either way, the ALP seems to be going ahead with the tram line regardless.
BTW, for those who haven't already read this elsewhere, there's now 7 Flexitys on track, and the first H-Class has been trucked away (or about to be?).
http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t11318341-0-asc-s0.htm
357, 358 - Sydney Tramway Museum
364 - Tramway Museum, St Kilda, SA
368 - W2 568 Group, North Fitzroy Depot, Melbourne
369 - Bendigo Tramways
371, 372 - Perth Electric Tramway Society
373 - Tramway Museum Society of Victoria
357, 358 - Sydney Tramway Museum
364 - Tramway Museum, St Kilda, SA
368 - W2 568 Group, North Fitzroy Depot, Melbourne
369 - Bendigo Tramways
371, 372 - Perth Electric Tramway Society
373 - Tramway Museum Society of Victoria
City tram goes westPAUL STARICK
July 28, 2006 11:30pm
Article from: Font size: + -
Send this article: Print Email
ADELAIDE'S tram system will be further extended into the city's West End, in a move designed to kickstart a redevelopment of the area. In the first stage of a city loop, the Glenelg tram line will be extended past the Morphett St bridge to the University of South Australia's City West campus at an extra cost of $10 million.
Transport Minister Patrick Conlon yesterday told The Advertiser the State Government wanted to drive "urban renewal" of the area by eventually extending the tramline in a loop from the university, through Grote St to Victoria Square.
He said this urban renewal would be accelerated by relocating the 800 workers at the Transport Department's headquarters from Walkerville to the West End, along with shifting some other transport bureaucrats from Walkley Heights.
The relocation of the South Australian Film Corporation's headquarters from Hendon to the West End also will be investigated as part of plans to boost the area's arts precinct.
"The reason we have supported the tram extension and the prospects of further extensions is we believe they have tremendous urban renewal qualities," Mr Conlon said.
"The proof will be when it's delivered and what people think of them (the new tram system) then.
"I'm absolutely certain with the urban renewal and extending to the university it will be extremely popular."
Overseas and interstate experience has shown new tram lines have triggered economic development and regeneration of urban areas.
The city loop tram extension is at the expense of a proposed line to Brougham Place for which $30 million had been set aside in last year's State Budget.
A feasibility study of the North Adelaide option had found it did not have the same potential for "urban renewal", Mr Conlon said.
"What we're seeking to do is make sure the West End of the city isn't a forgotten place any more," he said.
The Transport Department's Walkerville building will be sold, potentially for apartments, which Mr Conlon said was expected to fund the cost of a new building in the West End. Mr Conlon said the Glenelg tram extension would now be 1.8km at a cost of $31 million, rather than 1.2km to the Railway Station at a cost of $21 million.
This would be finished by July next year, with a contract for a construction program, expected to take seven weeks, to be let by the end of this year.
The tram will be free for journeys anywhere from South Tce to the university.
Lord Mayor Michael Harbison said the extension into the West End, combined with relocating the SA Film Corporation, was "tremendous" and would "bring life to the city".
"I think it's brilliant and visionary," he said.
Mr Harbison said the city's north-western quarter was "a sea of rusty roofs and small, largely unused buildings of not much merit".
A majority of Adelaide City Council supported the tram extension, he said, while a western city loop would spur regeneration of "a vast untapped tract of real estate".
Mr Harbison said the West End tram extension would be better patronised than a link to North Adelaide, where the demand would have been much less.
A full city loop line would cost more than $60 million, Mr Conlon said, but stressed costings and route options were still being assessed.
Mr Conlon said the extension past Morphett St opened the option of eventually switching the Outer Harbor railway line to light rail, or creating a tram line down the middle of Port Rd.
The Opposition in April warned the tram extension's cost could blow out by more than $10 million because of the need to relocate underground services, including electricity, gas and water.
Mr Conlon said the $10 million extra for the extension was coincidental but conceded construction had been delayed because of the longer-than-expected wait for an electricity substation needed to power the new tramline. This substation will be located near the Morphett St bridge.
In late May, Mr Conlon refused to guarantee the tram extension would not suffer cost overruns or be completed on time. At the time, he revealed cost blowouts of millions of dollars for major transport projects including the Bakewell Bridge and South Rd-Anzac Hwy underpass.
Opposition Transport spokesman Martin Hamilton-Smith said the extension's $10 million cost sounded like "it's covering up an under-estimation of the King William St stage of the development".
"We said it had blown out. Clearly it has. It staggers belief that it would cost $10 million to put in an extra 600m of track," he said.
Mr Hamilton-Smith said abandoning plans for a North Adelaide extension, however tentative, was a broken promise to the electorate and people of Adelaide.
He questioned the wisdom of spending an extra $10 million on a tram extension when business was demanding improvements in road, rail and port infrastructure.
July 28, 2006 11:30pm
Article from: Font size: + -
Send this article: Print Email
ADELAIDE'S tram system will be further extended into the city's West End, in a move designed to kickstart a redevelopment of the area. In the first stage of a city loop, the Glenelg tram line will be extended past the Morphett St bridge to the University of South Australia's City West campus at an extra cost of $10 million.
Transport Minister Patrick Conlon yesterday told The Advertiser the State Government wanted to drive "urban renewal" of the area by eventually extending the tramline in a loop from the university, through Grote St to Victoria Square.
He said this urban renewal would be accelerated by relocating the 800 workers at the Transport Department's headquarters from Walkerville to the West End, along with shifting some other transport bureaucrats from Walkley Heights.
The relocation of the South Australian Film Corporation's headquarters from Hendon to the West End also will be investigated as part of plans to boost the area's arts precinct.
"The reason we have supported the tram extension and the prospects of further extensions is we believe they have tremendous urban renewal qualities," Mr Conlon said.
"The proof will be when it's delivered and what people think of them (the new tram system) then.
"I'm absolutely certain with the urban renewal and extending to the university it will be extremely popular."
Overseas and interstate experience has shown new tram lines have triggered economic development and regeneration of urban areas.
The city loop tram extension is at the expense of a proposed line to Brougham Place for which $30 million had been set aside in last year's State Budget.
A feasibility study of the North Adelaide option had found it did not have the same potential for "urban renewal", Mr Conlon said.
"What we're seeking to do is make sure the West End of the city isn't a forgotten place any more," he said.
The Transport Department's Walkerville building will be sold, potentially for apartments, which Mr Conlon said was expected to fund the cost of a new building in the West End. Mr Conlon said the Glenelg tram extension would now be 1.8km at a cost of $31 million, rather than 1.2km to the Railway Station at a cost of $21 million.
This would be finished by July next year, with a contract for a construction program, expected to take seven weeks, to be let by the end of this year.
The tram will be free for journeys anywhere from South Tce to the university.
Lord Mayor Michael Harbison said the extension into the West End, combined with relocating the SA Film Corporation, was "tremendous" and would "bring life to the city".
"I think it's brilliant and visionary," he said.
Mr Harbison said the city's north-western quarter was "a sea of rusty roofs and small, largely unused buildings of not much merit".
A majority of Adelaide City Council supported the tram extension, he said, while a western city loop would spur regeneration of "a vast untapped tract of real estate".
Mr Harbison said the West End tram extension would be better patronised than a link to North Adelaide, where the demand would have been much less.
A full city loop line would cost more than $60 million, Mr Conlon said, but stressed costings and route options were still being assessed.
Mr Conlon said the extension past Morphett St opened the option of eventually switching the Outer Harbor railway line to light rail, or creating a tram line down the middle of Port Rd.
The Opposition in April warned the tram extension's cost could blow out by more than $10 million because of the need to relocate underground services, including electricity, gas and water.
Mr Conlon said the $10 million extra for the extension was coincidental but conceded construction had been delayed because of the longer-than-expected wait for an electricity substation needed to power the new tramline. This substation will be located near the Morphett St bridge.
In late May, Mr Conlon refused to guarantee the tram extension would not suffer cost overruns or be completed on time. At the time, he revealed cost blowouts of millions of dollars for major transport projects including the Bakewell Bridge and South Rd-Anzac Hwy underpass.
Opposition Transport spokesman Martin Hamilton-Smith said the extension's $10 million cost sounded like "it's covering up an under-estimation of the King William St stage of the development".
"We said it had blown out. Clearly it has. It staggers belief that it would cost $10 million to put in an extra 600m of track," he said.
Mr Hamilton-Smith said abandoning plans for a North Adelaide extension, however tentative, was a broken promise to the electorate and people of Adelaide.
He questioned the wisdom of spending an extra $10 million on a tram extension when business was demanding improvements in road, rail and port infrastructure.
This is wonderful news for Adelaide.
I applaud the state governemnt for not caving in to the anti-tram hysteria whipped up by the liberals. This proposal is inspirational and visionary. The tram extension as well as the re-location of the SA Film corporation as well as Transport SA will not only generate the construction of at least 2 new substantial buildings in the West End but it will also definately stimulate the construction of more development, eventually replacing the low rise cottages, open lot car parks and derelict industrial buildings.
I applaud the state governemnt for not caving in to the anti-tram hysteria whipped up by the liberals. This proposal is inspirational and visionary. The tram extension as well as the re-location of the SA Film corporation as well as Transport SA will not only generate the construction of at least 2 new substantial buildings in the West End but it will also definately stimulate the construction of more development, eventually replacing the low rise cottages, open lot car parks and derelict industrial buildings.
I am not very sure if this is going to benefit road users, though now after the newly proposed city tram trails had been posted up in the papers, it seems like they are taking up one lane on each side of the traffic, which means more congestion during peak hours and roads are becoming smaller.
Hmm, might reconsider my vote to support the extension.
From what I can see from the proposals in the papers, it seems like the tram is going the route of the Bee Line bus, they might as well replace the Bee Line then.
Hmm, might reconsider my vote to support the extension.
From what I can see from the proposals in the papers, it seems like the tram is going the route of the Bee Line bus, they might as well replace the Bee Line then.
Road users should take a bus!
The ACC have realised that having the city streets dominated by cars isn't a desirable situation. It's the padestrians, not motorists, who add life to the city streets, and bring revenue to city business. Motorists mearly fill the city with noise and smog as they speed past. That's why they're narrowing North Terrace down and lobbying to remove turning lanes, to discourage road usage and slow traffic down.
Besides, one tram has the capacity to remove 150 cars from the road.
The ACC have realised that having the city streets dominated by cars isn't a desirable situation. It's the padestrians, not motorists, who add life to the city streets, and bring revenue to city business. Motorists mearly fill the city with noise and smog as they speed past. That's why they're narrowing North Terrace down and lobbying to remove turning lanes, to discourage road usage and slow traffic down.
Besides, one tram has the capacity to remove 150 cars from the road.
I think that it should be the opposite. Automobiles should make way for public transport. Public transport is the future. We are not living in the 1960's.edgar_raphael wrote:I am not very sure if this is going to benefit road users, though now after the newly proposed city tram trails had been posted up in the papers, it seems like they are taking up one lane on each side of the traffic, which means more congestion during peak hours and roads are becoming smaller.
Hmm, might reconsider my vote to support the extension.
From what I can see from the proposals in the papers, it seems like the tram is going the route of the Bee Line bus, they might as well replace the Bee Line then.
Minister attacks tramline critics
Kim Wheatley
July 29, 2006 11:30pm
Article from: Sunday Mail(SA)
Send this article: Print Email
AS opposition to the $31 million city tram project grows, Transport Minister Patrick Conlon defended the project yesterday against "small-thinking" critics who believe the money would be better spent elsewhere.
Announcing another extension to the proposed 1.2km King William St line, which would take it a further 600m along North Tce to the University of South Australia's City West campus, he laughed off those who did not support the initiative.
Amid concerns about cost blow-outs - totalling tens of millions of dollars - in the transport budget, Mr Conlon refuted claims that improvements to the tramline extension would be at the expense of the state's ailing public bus and train network.
"It is really small thinking to think this forecloses improvements elsewhere. It doesn't," he said.
"For a very small investment we are going to get a massive regeneration in the west of the city, and that is all positive and good news.
"What people need to do is lift their eyes, have a look at other cities that have done these sorts of things and see the benefits."
Previous plans to extend the line to North Adelaide have been scrapped.
The North Tce tram extension will replace the free Bee-Line bus service that runs every five minutes, from 7.40am to 6pm, on weekdays.
At the announcement, at the Victoria Square tram terminus, Mr Conlon also took aim at the RAA, the Opposition and the Sunday Mail for raising concerns about the project, saying he was "sorry if good news is a little hard to deal with".
However, a snap poll of public transport commuters by the Sunday Mail found almost all wanted the tramline extension funding pumped into improving bus and train services.
This follows a flood of complaints from commuters in recent months that services are frequently late and overcrowded.
Regional areas also are crying out for better services, including at Port Lincoln where school students are sitting on the floor of buses because of cuts to services last week.
But Mr Conlon played down claims the transport system was almost at bursting point.
"I don't think it's a problem to increase (passenger) boardings by 5 per cent, I don't think that's a problem," he said.
"That shows people are using the services.
"We've got a fundamental rethink forced upon us by the cost of fuel. We're going to look at what we can do to improve it."
The revised tramline project also includes selling the Transport Department's Walkerville headquarters and moving the 800 workers to the West End.
And the South Australian Film Corporation headquarters at Hendon also could be relocated to the precinct as part of the Government's urban renewal plan.
Mr Conlon denied Opposition claims the announcement was dressing up a cost blow-out of the project.
He stopped short, however, of a guarantee the project would not blow-out, saying it was "very unlikely".
"I'm very, very confident that it will land in budget," he said. "There is no blow-out on the tram project, there never has been."
However, Opposition infrastructure spokesman Martin Hamilton-Smith said the latest move was a signal the Government was focusing on the wrong priorities.
"We need a whole new approach on infrastructure," he said.
"If the tram is the Government's highest priority, it's dumb - and to extend is dumber. We've got school buses being cancelled in Port Lincoln and Hawker, roads need fixing in the country, the mining industry calling for more infrastructure spending, tunnel projects that can't be afforded and here we are building more tramlines - it's the wrong priority at the wrong time."
Port Lincoln mother of two Teresa Szumski agreed, saying her children had lost their school bus because of cuts made by the Transport Department last week.
"They're not looking after regional areas at all," she said. "Is it (the tram) really the thing that the money should be spent on now?"
RAA public affairs general manager Sharon Hanlon would not be drawn on Mr Conlon's criticisms of the motoring body but said the Government needed to address fundamental road maintenance problems.
"The road maintenance backlog in SA needs urgent attention," she said.
"It started at $160 million in 2003 - and that was the State Government's own figures - and nothing significant has been done to address that since. It's fairly ambitious to announce another tramline extension, particularly when it's replacing a free bus service."
Adelaide Lord Mayor Michael Harbison played down concerns about traffic congestion in the CBD, saying the tramline extension was a win for the city.
"There are vast tracts of land in the north-west corner of the city that have seen no development really ever and this is an enormous opportunity to see the city grow," he said.
"It's pretty clear that the demand and opportunity for the extension of the track is to make it a spur to urban renewal in the West End and that's the right thing to do."
Labor MP for Mawson, Leon Bignell, who recently endured a backlash about a lack of transport infrastructure at a Sunday Mail community forum at Noarlunga Centre, defended the proposal.
"I think the people in the southern suburbs, in general, are pretty keen to see an extension of the train line to Seaford which I think is about $140 million," he said.
"But I don't think there needs to be an either/or.
"I think we can have a tramline extension and at least some point have an extension of the rail line as well if it's feasible."
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: Bing [Bot], Westside and 1 guest