Last year, Federal Labor made an election commitment of $6 million to fund a business case for trackless trams to Rowville. Now, it has been 5 months and the new Government is yet to act on their promise.
Barton believes that with the release of the federal budget looming, the Government must be reminded of their commitment to this vital piece of transport infrastructure.
This $1.45 billion Trackless Rapid Transit (TRT) proposal would connect Caulfield station, Chadstone, Monash Clayton, and Rowville, improving access to jobs and services as well as slashing billions from the cost of a heavy rail transport link between Caulfield and Rowville.
These high-capacity electric TRT vehicles could be up and running on route within 3 years. Trackless trams are cheaper, more flexible, and faster to construct than heavy rail.
These trackless trams could carry up to 1800 passengers per hour in each direction, delivering travel times of 20 minutes between Caulfield and Monash Clayton and 11 minutes between Monash Clayton and Rowville.
With a rapidly growing population and worsening traffic congestion on the Monash Freeway and Princes Highway, this project is essential.
The project has the support of the Eastern Transport Coalition, Monash University, and Vicinity Centres. The Victorian Government and the Commonwealth Government have both expressed their support, but nothing has been done.
Barton urges both Governments to begin the business case immediately to finally deliver a public transport connection to Rowville.
Quotes attributable to Member for Eastern Metropolitan and the Leader of the Transport Matters Party Rod Barton MP:
“It is so critical that we improve mobility in the South-East economic corridor. Travel times may be bearable now, but we know that congestion will almost double by 2030. We must prepare for the future.”
“Everyone seems to be on board, but no action has been taken. The community is sick of waiting.”
