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Light rail stations for the second stage of the transport project to Woden will be in use years before a light rail vehicle even services the route. Tender documents released earlier this month for the construction of the new Woden transport interchange revealed a light rail station set to be built at the site will first be used as a bus stop. The interchange is expected to be completed in the first half of 2022, meaning the light rail station attached to it will be accepting buses for at least two years. Stage 2A of light rail from Civic to Commonwealth Park is expected to be completed by 2024, but contracts for stage 2B over Lake Burley Griffin to the Woden town centre have yet to be signed. No other stations for the light rail will be used as bus stops in the interim between construction and the opening of the route to the public. ACT Transport Minister Chris Steel said it was not known how many routes the light rail stop would service for Canberra’s bus network. “Our commitment to build the new CIT camps at Woden and construction of a new Woden public transport interchange provides a unique opportunity to future-proof the area for light rail to Woden,” Mr Steel said. “The light rail terminus will be used for bus operations until light rail to Woden becomes operational. “The timing of that will depend on a number of factors, including the timing of Commonwealth planning approvals for light rail stage 2.” The light rail stop at the Woden interchange will be the first to be built as part of stage 2B of the project. Mr Steel said using light rail stations as bus stops was not feasible during stage one from Gungahlin to Civic, but the construction of the new transport interchange meant such an arrangement was possible. “It makes sense to construct the stop while the new transport interchange is being built,” he said. “This decision will support constriction efficiencies as well as minimise disruption to the local community and bus operations in the future.” Tender documents for the transport interchange were released to the market on November 10. A short-list of contractors for the project is expected to be announced in the first quarter of 2021 with the contract to be awarded by the end of June. Documents have said construction on the interchange, to be built on Callam Street, will begin some time in the latter half of 2021. The number of bus stops at the interchange are expected to increase from 11 to 18. “When light rail to Woden becomes operational, public transport capacity will further increase in Woden,” Mr Steel said.
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Light rail stations for the second stage of the transport project to Woden will be in use years before a light rail vehicle even services the route.
Tender documents released earlier this month for the construction of the new Woden transport interchange revealed a light rail station set to be built at the site will first be used as a bus stop.
The interchange is expected to be completed in the first half of 2022, meaning the light rail station attached to it will be accepting buses for at least two years.
Stage 2A of light rail from Civic to Commonwealth Park is expected to be completed by 2024, but contracts for stage 2B over Lake Burley Griffin to the Woden town centre have yet to be signed.
No other stations for the light rail will be used as bus stops in the interim between construction and the opening of the route to the public.
ACT Transport Minister Chris Steel said it was not known how many routes the light rail stop would service for Canberra’s bus network.
“Our commitment to build the new CIT camps at Woden and construction of a new Woden public transport interchange provides a unique opportunity to future-proof the area for light rail to Woden,” Mr Steel said.
“The light rail terminus will be used for bus operations until light rail to Woden becomes operational.
“The timing of that will depend on a number of factors, including the timing of Commonwealth planning approvals for light rail stage 2.”
The light rail stop at the Woden interchange will be the first to be built as part of stage 2B of the project.
Mr Steel said using light rail stations as bus stops was not feasible during stage one from Gungahlin to Civic, but the construction of the new transport interchange meant such an arrangement was possible.
“It makes sense to construct the stop while the new transport interchange is being built,” he said.
“This decision will support constriction efficiencies as well as minimise disruption to the local community and bus operations in the future.”
Tender documents for the transport interchange were released to the market on November 10.
A short-list of contractors for the project is expected to be announced in the first quarter of 2021 with the contract to be awarded by the end of June.
Documents have said construction on the interchange, to be built on Callam Street, will begin some time in the latter half of 2021.
The number of bus stops at the interchange are expected to increase from 11 to 18.
“When light rail to Woden becomes operational, public transport capacity will further increase in Woden,” Mr Steel said.
