News & Discussion: Trams

[timtam20292]

Looking forward to it too!

When will works officially start?

[Kasey771]

I'm as keen as mustard for this. hopefully not long until works start

[Norman]

I'd say works will start around June, July this year.

[Tonsley213]

Have contactors been appointed or is it out for tender still?

[Vee]

AdeLINK tram network - DPTI Community consultation for CityLink.

Design Lab for the CityLINK tram route in the city centre of Adelaide.....

....will assist in determining the preferred route for CityLINK, and is a key step in the $4 million study into the electrification of public transport in Adelaide, including AdeLINK.

Drop in ...
... 'contribute to the process by providing ideas and feedback on the route options.'

When: Wed. Feb 1, 2017 (4-8pm)
Where: Adelaide Town Hall
Register attendance interest via email (see website)

DPTI:
http://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/AdeLINK

[PeFe]

Article from The Messenger discussing the Westlink tram proposal......a tram to Adelaide Airport (but no further !!)

West Torrens councillors say Richmond Rd would be better option for WestLINK tram than busy Henley Beach Rd



A TRAM on Henley Beach Rd would create such bad traffic and parking issues the State Government should consider building a line along Richmond Rd instead, West Torrens councillors say.

Cr Kym McKay has told a council meeting a Henley Beach Rd tram would “destroy the businesses and will turn us into the community of no right turns, bus lanes and congestion”.

“The businesses are struggling enough as it is, let alone putting more impediments on them,” Cr McKay said.

Full article : http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/messenger ... 2992e0c81c

A tram down Richmond Road seems the greatest waste of transport funding ever....the Henley Beach Road route would double the patronage compared to Richmond Road.

[timtam20292]

I thought the tram to the Airport was a spur off?

[Llessur2002]

I’m still astounded by how many people genuinely see the tram as an impediment to business.

[PeFe]

I thought the tram to the Airport was a spur off?

Yes, most people expected a tram to Henley Beach AND the Airport.

Disappointing......

[crawf]

^^This is just another idea thrown into the mix. Nothing to be concerned about.

A tramline along Richmond Road instead of Henley Beach Road, would be an absolute waste of taxpayers money and a silly idea. A tram service connecting from the city / wider network, would make the precinct more accessible and increase investment further improving Henley Beach Road.

Maybe in the future once the whole network is complete, a tram along Richmond Road could be viable.

[Westside]

I’m still astounded by how many people genuinely see the tram as an impediment to business.

I know, right!? A tram to the airport has very little to do with actually transporting passengers between the city and the airport - that's just a bonus. Besides, there is a perfectly good bus route that provides a very good service already. A tram line via Richmond Rd would service passengers at the airport and city only and traverse a big wasteland of light industry in between.

The tram extension is more about urbanisation and development than transport. It promotes growth along the corridors and allows for higher density development along the way, thus reducing urban sprawl and delivering many more residents right to the doors of these businesses. It gets people out of their cars so they need to walk down to HB Rd to travel to the city, thus directly passing and hopefully entering the very businesses that oppose this development.

Think broader people! Some cars that would normally drive through HB Rd might use Grange or SDB instead if congestion becomes an issue. But many more pedestrians (who are far more likely to stop at these businesses than a car flying past) will be brought right to their doorstep. It's a no brainer to me.

[Nathan]

It's West Torrens Council though remember. This is the mob that opposed any kind of increases to height limits along Henley Beach Rd or Port Rd through Mile End and Thebarton. And Cr McKay who they spoke to his very very much against any kind of alternative to his car (he regularly weighs in on cycling articles decrying the "pedal mafia").

[shiftaling]

Those councillors have no idea. What destroys business along Henley Beach Road is having a smoggy, traffic clogged arterial road through the middle of their so-called "Thebarton Main Street".

They are worried about parking - if every customer needs to locate and squeeze into a parallel park on busy HB Rd then they will only ever get a minimal number. The renewal that a tram could bring has so much more potential.

There is a serious issue of whether other main roads parallel to HB Rd have the capacity to take up the slack. But a Richmond Rd tram is the idea of a cabal of utter dunces.

[Norman]

I thought the tram to the Airport was a spur off?

Yes, most people expected a tram to Henley Beach AND the Airport.

Disappointing......

The plans have been updated. The tram to Henley Beach will come from Grange instead. Check the MCA documents for details.

[rubberman]

These sorts of comments give me a "headdesk" moment.

The exact same things were said before the construction of the Gold Coast tramway. Exactly the same.

Once the tramway was constructed, businesses and construction boomed. It is now the case that businesses and developers have been campaigning to extend the Gold Coast line, and those not on the proposed route are the ones complaining.

The great thing about it is this: with all the negative vibes, one can buy up cheaply during the construction phase, then make a killing afterwards.