PRO: 30-year Transport Plan PRO | $36b

[waz94]

Must be an election coming up!

[Waewick]

Must be an election coming up!

i agree, an unfunded unplanned announcement, yawn.

Given the financial situation of the state, I doubt they can actually put timetables in given there is no money.

[Nathan]

Must be an election coming up!

i agree, an unfunded unplanned announcement, yawn.

Given the financial situation of the state, I doubt they can actually put timetables in given there is no money.

People have been complaining about infrastructure being done in bits and pieces without looking at the big picture. And now we have the big picture and people complain that it's unfunded. Of course it's unfunded, it's a long term plan to guide developments - projects that get funded as they're done.

[Vee]

There's a lot to like about this plan.
Public transport is vital infrastructure for the future and I love the tram extensions. I think the tram extension to the Port is probably too far. At last, the eastern suburbs will see some restoration of the tram network and this will help to promote higher densities and increase viability for services eg around the Parade. Ditto for other inner/established suburbs.

Good move to shift the interstate rail terminus from Keswick to the CBD, underground the O'bahn from Hackney to the city, develop the city loop, airport connection and expansion of the city bike network and plans to upgrade regional airports.

Alas, the current federal government appears fixated on roads rather than supporting funding and development of integrated public transport in our cities.

Funding is critical. Governments come and go but global developments include carbon reduction/pricing etc, clean energy, technological changes including fast broadband, ubiquitous access and changing habits with fewer younger generation folk owning cars/wanting to drive. A lot can happen in the next decade, let alone the next 3.

So what plan will our state Opposition come up with? It must be revealed well before the election, not at 5 minutes to midnight!

[Waewick]

Must be an election coming up!

i agree, an unfunded unplanned announcement, yawn.

Given the financial situation of the state, I doubt they can actually put timetables in given there is no money.

People have been complaining about infrastructure being done in bits and pieces without looking at the big picture. And now we have the big picture and people complain that it's unfunded. Of course it's unfunded, it's a long term plan to guide developments - projects that get funded as they're done.

yep, I'll cop that.

completely irrational post there by me

what we need is bipartisan support, which given it is now an election issue, we won't get.

[waz94]

The point is, I have pretty much lived in Adelaide for my whole life and have seen many of these 30 year plans come and go, and they always seem to be coincide with an up coming election (whether that be labor or liberal).
I can't remember any that have actually come true, especially considering 30 years is a very long time, especially with change of governments, global crisis, etc.
To me they are pointless exercise in political point scoring, to appease the masses and give us all a feel good moment.
But they do sell papers and give rise to some good discussion.

[Torrens_5022]

Having trams instead of trains to Outer Harbor shouldn't be a problem if they purchase they correct trams, if they run all the trams via port road (Bowden) this will cause a lot of issues with congestion, maybe have alternating routes into the city from Bowden? The journey on a train to Outer Harbor is about 40mins currently, a tram could easily achieve this - people south of Woodville would be getting a very frequent service, express services would be pointless and create more issues then is needed since it would only express 4 stops.

[Hooligan]

And definite yes for international train terminal at Adelaide Railway station.

That would be an Australian first!

Can't wait to catch a train from Adelaide to Tokyo!

[claybro]

Looks good to me, I think more frequent trams on the outer harbour line are preferable to higher capacity but lower frequency trains. Trams every 5 minutes through the western suburbs would be great. Trams to the airport...great. It also utilises the already built Port road extension, and resolves the issue of joining the tram to the rail corridor at bowden, by moving the junction to Park terrace. I also believe that $36 billion over 30 years is very achievable given the amount of redevelopment it will generate and consolidation. I also agree with some of the posts here however, that given a likely win by the Libs at the next election, this will gather dust on a shelf. our state libs just dont do grand comprehensive plans.

[AG]

So will it be an underground train station or Bowden or a tram line? Seems to change every few months.

[claybro]

Going by the plan, the rail link for outer harbour is removed altogether to be replaced by trams, joining the existing port road line via the Park terrace intersection. Removes the need for the rail tunnel and underground station, but will require some clever light sequencing at the Park terrace/Port road intersection so as not to hold up traffic. Another thing as well mentioned in a previous post here, the trams will need to speed up big time along Port road. They currently trundle along at 40km/h on this stretch, which is ridiculous given its dedicated track.

[metro]

I am very skeptical of this plan, our government is supposedly so badly in debt (and another credit rating downgrade), that it can't even afford to electrify the Gawler line. In the plan I do not like the underground buses idea, buses do not belong underground or on tracks! Secondly, as others have said, I also do not like the idea of downgrading the Outer Harbor/Grange lines to light-rail. But I do like the idea of the City Underground rail link and other light-rail lines to Norwood/airport etc.. They at least represent the next step after fixing up what already exists.

I doubt we'll see anything happen over the next decade, it just looks like something to talk about in the run up to the next state election. But the fact is they can't even afford to improve what already exists, when they can do that (and don't expect it for another decade or more), then I will be interested in hearing their plans for expansion. For now, I would be content with confirmation of Gawler Line electrification, and the Torrens Junction/Bowden station + Outer Harbor/Grange electrification all being brought forward to 2014 (WITH NO CLOSURES LASTING FOR MANY MONTHS)!

[claybro]

From previous history, the Liberals have no plan for rail other than the Northern and Southern lines. I heard a previous Liberal transport minister (several years ago now) admit almost as much at a function. I strongly believe that faced with the choise of electrification or closure of the outer harbor/grange lines, the Libs would opt to close the line, and develop dedicated bus lanes along Port Road. At current patronage, the Outer Harbour line does not warrant heavy fixed rail, as even in peak, trains run half hourly and even then often only 2 cars. Given this, would should be thankful that the current state gov is planning for light rail along this corridor as it will provide more flexibility and frequency than that exists now ,and secure the future of rail for the Northwest....should it ever go ahead.

[drsmith]

Finally, a reference to the long forgotten bypass of Port Wakefield.

Who here though will still be kicking in 2043 ?

[medo]

I would like that some of you who are here regularly and always against anything that does not suit their car/armchair vision and experience get up and visit cities with well-developed tram/rail networks. It will be a long trip as the main portion of these cities are located in Europe. If you can’t travel, at least start reading some good urban studies about the benefits of these types of public transport and its correlation with density of the urban population. You can start, let say with urban studies about Zurich. If your life is centred around your backyard and garage, you are in a wrong topic as this one is about public transport and not about widening roads for another lane.
Developing the network will cost money as this city is thankfully too short-sighted, armchair urban developers closed the old network following similar short-sighted minds mainly from USA and GB. Resistance to change, ever present here, put Adelaide on the fifth place among urban centres in Australia… and if I am not mistaken… Adelaide was third largest city in Australia. That was in the past.

Medo