MAX Metro Area Express

[ozbob]

http://www.max.wa.gov.au/

The face of Perth's public transport system is about to change, and you're invited to be part of the journey.

Welcome to the Metro Area Express, or MAX, the proposed new light rail network set to power Perth’s public transport into the future.

This visionary project introduces a new era of public transport in Perth, supporting the city’s transformation by providing a frequent, high-capacity service in the inner-north and central west and eastern suburbs of Perth.

With a $15.8 million commitment over the next two years, which includes $4 million of Federal Government funding, MAX is part of the State Government’s investment toward building a better Perth for future generations to come.

Find out more about light rail’s benefits, the proposed route, how you can get involved and how your journey will feel.   

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[ozbob]

Brisbane is fast becoming the odd one out ...   

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[ozbob]

Discussion thread -->Light rail for Brisbane?

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[ozbob]

15 July 2013 Dear MAXimise subscriber, Welcome to the first edition of MAXimise – a series of project updates dedicated to keeping you informed about the MAX project. MAXimise high-capacity public transport along some of our busiest roads MAXimise efficiency to move large numbers of people in comfort MAXimise your involvement in transforming Perth’s public transport into the future MAX is the proposed high quality, high capacity, 22 km light rail system set to power Perth’s public transport into the future. Since the State Government’s announcement in September 2012, the planning for the MAX Light Rail project is well underway. There is a dedicated project team of almost 40 people working together on the planning and feasibility phase, including consultation with key stakeholders. The project team has been busy investigating alignment location and design, station locations, construction issues, operational requirements and preparation of a business case for a government decision, anticipated for mid-2014. As an interested community member, we are committed to keeping you informed throughout the project and encourage your involvement. Be part of the journey! MAX is not just a transport project. Land use and transport planning integration is a key component of all Department of Transport plans. Construction of the MAX light rail alignment will not only provide another important piece of public transport infrastructure, but it will also provide many opportunities to refresh and modernise the areas around each station. For that reason, we have developed an online community survey to understand the needs of the communities that live, work and play near the proposed MAX alignment and provide an opportunity for input into the project planning and design. Those with an interest in the project are also encouraged to participate in the survey. Detailed information on the survey and an accompanying information sheet is available on the MAX website. The survey will be available for your feedback until Sunday 18 August 2013. MAX light rail CBD alignment - tell us what you think While most of the MAX light rail alignment has been determined, the central CBD alignment has proven challenging from a technical perspective as well as meeting the needs of all key stakeholders. Following detailed assessment in consultation with key stakeholders, three options have been short-listed for further technical analysis and broader consultation. These options include: Hay Street Mall – a dual track system in Hay Street Mall, continuing along Hay Street east; The couplet – one track in both Hay Street and Murray Street malls that join Hay Street east; and The Terraces - St Georges/Adelaide Terrace - from William Street to the Causeway. While the MAX project team completes its technical analysis of the three CBD alignment options, it is gauging feedback from key stakeholders, including businesses and the general public, which will feed into the decision-making process. Detailed information on each of the three CBD alignment options, including an online survey to provide your feedback, is available on the MAX website. The survey will be available for your feedback until Monday 12 August 2013. Want to know more? Come visit us For those interested in finding out more about the project, a number of community information drop-in sessions will be held at key centres in the central northern corridor. The project team will be available at these sessions to provide further information, answer your questions and obtain your feedback. You are welcome to drop-in at any time between 10:00am - 2:00pm. The MAX community drop-in sessions will be held at: Dianella Saturday 27 July 2013, 10:00am – 2:00pm Centro Dianella Shopping Centre, opposite Woolworths Corner Alexander Drive & Grand Promenade, Dianella Edith Cowan University (ECU), Mt Lawley Wednesday 31 July 2013, 10:00am – 2:00pm ECU Mt Lawley Campus, Building 3 (entrance and visitor car park off Bradford Street) 2 Bradford Street, Mount Lawley North Perth Saturday 3 August 2013, 10:00am – 2:00pm North Perth Plaza Shopping Centre, opposite Coles Corner View Street & Fitzgerald Street, North Perth Mirrabooka Saturday 10 August 2013, 10:00am – 2:00pm Mirrabooka Square Shopping Centre, near Strandbags 43 Yirrigan Drive, Mirrabooka A similar session to be held in the CBD is anticipated in the coming weeks with details to follow. Stay tuned This is the first of a series of project updates. In the coming weeks, we will be releasing further MAXimise updates to highlight how the project has been progressing. Thank you for subscribing to MAXimise. Yours sincerely, The MAX project team Department of Transport We want to hear from you!   More... Privacy statement For more information or general enquiries: Call us within Australia: free call 1800 820 844 (call charges may apply from mobile phones) Call us outside Australia: (+61 8) 6551 6793 Email us: max@transport.wa.gov.au Visit our website: www.max.wa.gov.au

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[ozbob]

New, independent survey on CBD alignment options

--> http://www.max.wa.gov.au/70.html#newIndi

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[ozbob]

WA Today --> Another rail-focused WA election on cards

West Australians can expect another state election centred on urban rail promises after the Liberal-led government deferred its MAX project for three years.

The $1.8 billion light rail project was one of the main planks of the party's election pledges earlier this year, and was designed to ease congestion on Perth's roads, especially the jam-packed freeway in the northern suburbs.

It was a response to the opposition's Metronet urban rail plan and was paired with a $1.895 billion proposal to construct a line connecting the rapidly growing eastern suburbs to the city via the airport.

The airport plan is going ahead, Treasurer Troy Buswell revealed in the state's mid-year economic and fiscal outlook on Wednesday but whether MAX goes ahead will be determined at the next election.

The WA government had realised - after losing its prized AAA credit rating amid mounting debt - that doing both developments at the same time was too ambitious, Mr Buswell said ...

Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/another-railfocused-wa-election-on-cards-20131218-2zl7t.html

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[ozbob]

http://max.wa.gov.au/

The State Government has announced the deferral of the MAX Light Rail project for three years, which will see overall completion of the project by late 2022.

The MAX Light Rail project is a transformational project, and the State Government is committed to delivering the project in full. The revised timeframe will see procurement commence from mid 2017, construction commencing in 2019, with first services running by late 2022.

For more information about the State Government’s mid-year financial review, please refer to the media statement released by the Minister for Transport.

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[ozbob]

The West Australian -->Light rail back on Federal agenda

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull’s Government will likely help fund the Perth MAX light rail project under a “non-discriminatory” approach to infrastructure funding that overturns Tony Abbott’s aversion to public transport.

In an interview withThe West Australian , Minister for Cities Jamie Briggs said mass transit projects were critical to improving the livability of cities.

Conceding the Government under Mr Abbott, the former PM, had given the cold shoulder to public transport, Mr Briggs said projects such as MAX light rail would undoubtedly feature in Infrastructure Australia’s 15-year plan, to be released next year.

“There was too much public emphasis on the roads funding — which is very substantial, the most in history — and not enough emphasis put on the other options,” Mr Briggs said ...

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[#Metro]

There isn't enough funds to fund all of these things. The same thing has been said in almost all other states and territories, there is a pattern:

Malcolm Turnbull says that project xyz might be funded in [insert state/territory here].

There is an election coming up on the horizon. Some people are going to be disappointed. These projects are all extraordinarily expensive.

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[verbatim9]

PM wants Perth light rail plan




https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/29956153/pm-wants-perth-light-rail-system/

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[ozbob]

Rail Express --> Asset sales to support Perth light rail

Western Australian treasurer Mike Nahan says asset privatisation can raise $16 billion to help pay down debt and fund Perth’s new rail line to the airport, and long-talked-about MAX light rail line.

Nahan, who unveiled the 2016/17 state budget on Thursday, says the privatisation of a number of assets could result in proceeds of around $16 billion.

The treasurer said the Government would seek to sell off major electricity distributor Western Power, and the poles and wires owned by Pilbara electric business Horizon Power.

Those sales would add to the proposed sale of Fremantle Port, the Utah Point bulk terminal at Port Hedland, and the state-owned TAB betting agency.

$11 billion of the $16 billion Nahan expects to raise would go towards paying off the state’s debts, which are estimated to pile up to $40.1 billion by 2019/20.

The remaining $5 billion would be poured into an Infrastructure Fund, to prop-up a massive $23 million asset investment program over the next four years.

$1.8 billion is set aside to be spent on transport infrastructure (roads and rail) in the 2016/17 financial year.

This includes $104 million for the Forrestfield Airport Link, which has a targeted completion date of 2020.

It also includes $427 million for the on-again, off-again MAX light rail project, with the treasurer saying planning work will go ahead in the 2016/17 financial year.

$156.6 million is also set aside for the public transport component of the new Perth Stadium, with work including the construction of Perth Stadium station to replace Belmont station, as well as the construction of the Swan River pedestrian bridge and two special event bus stations.

As is so often the case in budget matters, however, the treasurer’s word is far from final.

Commentators believe he faces a steep uphill battle to win approval for asset privatisation, especially on the scale revealed in Thursday’s budget.

“This is a real game changer,” Nahan argued in his budget speech.

“The repayment of $11 billion in debt will represent around a 30% reduction in net debt by the end of the forward estimates, and will reduce the State’s annual interest bill by hundreds of millions of dollars.

“And the $5 billion Infrastructure Fund will provide a ready source of non-debt funding for essential infrastructure, which may include new public transport infrastructure, new roads, new schools and other economic and social infrastructure to facilitate the continued growth of Western Australia.”

The assets proposed for sale make up only a small portion of WA’s asset base, Nahan added, estimating the asset base to be worth over $190 billion.

Privatisation plans are opposed by the state’s Labor Opposition. The position of the Nationals – allies of the Liberals in Government – is also unclear.

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[verbatim9]

Perth may get trackless trams as an alternative

https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/trackless-trams-could-be-the-answer-to-perths-traffic-woes-ng-b88698244z

Note that this new concept was also posted in the Bi Articulated Bus Metro plan for Brisbane

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[ozbob]

The West Australian --> Trackless trams could be the answer to Perth’s traffic woes


A trackless tram is tested in China. The tram follows white magnetic strips painted on to the road.Picture: Supplied

Experts say the new technology could be a game changer for Perth.

Planning has begun on a new concept of public transport that experts believe will be a game changer for Perth — trackless trams.

Several local governments are teaming up with Curtin University’s Sustainability Policy Institute to develop the concept, which has been successfully tested in parts of the world.

They believe the trackless tram is the perfect transport solution to Perth’s inner-city population growth because it is affordable, attractive for development and can be built with minimal disruption.

Ultimately, they hope to convince State and Federal governments to support it and provide a framework for its implementation across the metropolitan area.

It is understood there is some interest from within government circles.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said yesterday she was keen to work with local governments on their public transport plans and would seek a full briefing on trackless trams in the new year.

“The trackless tram has a number of unique features that makes it particularly attractive, especially the price,” Curtin’s Professor Peter Newman said.

“It is estimated to cost between $10-$17 million per kilometre — about four times less the cost of a standard light rail like the MAX system proposed by the previous Barnett government. It could also be made locally.”

The trackless tram would be electric and powered by lithium-ion batteries that are recharged at each station in 30 seconds.

They can carry between 300 and 500 passengers, depending on the number of carriages, and travel at up to 70km/h.

It is “trackless” because it is autonomous and guided by on-board optical systems that follow magnetic strips painted on the road.

As a result, it does not require the digging up of streets and disruption to businesses, houses or traffic while it is being built.

“We have been working on light rail for Perth for several decades — we now believe technology like the trackless tram will be a game-changer for Perth and cities like it,” Professor Newman said.

“It is cheap, involves little disruption, can be rapidly brought to market and has all the passenger comfort and ride-quality attributes of light rail — yet it is a new kind of bus on the road.”

Professor Newman said the team, which includes representatives from the cities of Stirling, Vincent, Perth, Victoria Park and Canning, were also investigating how the system could pay for itself.

Because the trams have a fixed routes with stations where they are recharged, there is an opportunity to attract urban development around the stations.

He said these places would attract investment because they would have thousands of people passing through.

“These developments would be built in partnership with the private sector to enable financing,” he said.

“Many cities are now finding a more entrepreneurial approach ... which brings better solutions than government which only considers transport from A to B.

“While this is a consideration, there are potential revenue streams from State and local government sources that need to be explored.

“For example, the Perth Parking Levy fund might be able to support part of the initiative.

“Our approach is to see what is the redevelopment potential along the corridor that can be unlocked by seeking private bids around stations.

“This needs a new kind of partnership to be established around a Perth trackless tram company.

“Such an approach is how we first built trams in Perth 100 years ago.”

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