News & Discussion: Trams

[Wayno]

give we are 12 months from an election, does anyone see any value in trying to lobby the parties to recommit to a tram expansion program?

good on you for proposing to dabble in the body politic . Never hurts to seek promises...

[Waewick]

give we are 12 months from an election, does anyone see any value in trying to lobby the parties to recommit to a tram expansion program?

good on you for proposing to dabble in the body politic . Never hurts to seek promises...

well yes, it is all good to propose...but that how and when thing becomes an issue.

[claybro]

give we are 12 months from an election, does anyone see any value in trying to lobby the parties to recommit to a tram expansion program?

good on you for proposing to dabble in the body politic . Never hurts to seek promises...

well yes, it is all good to propose...but that how and when thing becomes an issue.

No point lobbying one of the parties re the trams. They hate anything on rails. however we may get a one way road or two.

[Vee]

ok questions for those interested in improving PT...

give we are 12 months from an election, does anyone see any value in trying to lobby the parties to recommit to a tram expansion program?

the first issue is getting us all to agree which direction the tram should extend...then ask the Government

Good point, Waewick.
I would love to see bipartisan support for the extension of trams within the city (loop is vital) and ultimately beyond eg to Norwood as just one example. Not fussed over priority areas after the city loop as long as it happens, once funding becomes available.

The trams have made a huge impact on the city. Great for residents, international and local students living in the city and visitors and an impetus for regeneration/revitalization.
It would be criminal if a change of government shifts focus away from public transport and tram expansion plans are mothballed.

[[Shuz]]

From what I hear, the City Loop is actually under reconsideration as, at present, it is seen to attract low patronage (presumably along the southern portion of the route along Sturt and Halifax Streets) and be of low benefit in terms of capital expenditure versus economical return, unlike the City West extension which provide almost instantaneous economical returns on the back of signifanct private investment along the tram corridor.

Would be better off if the City Loop was reconfigured to run down Gouger & Angas Streets, rather than Sturt and Halifax.

[Waewick]

From what I hear, the City Loop is actually under reconsideration as, at present, it is seen to attract low patronage (presumably along the southern portion of the route along Sturt and Halifax Streets) and be of low benefit in terms of capital expenditure versus economical return, unlike the City West extension which provide almost instantaneous economical returns on the back of signifanct private investment along the tram corridor.

Would be better off if the City Loop was reconfigured to run down Gouger & Angas Streets, rather than Sturt and Halifax.

What significant investments have there been?

haven't all investments been State Government funded?

[Waewick]

personally I think an extension down Hutt is going to be the best bang for our buck.

great street and provides the start to send the tram up Glen Osmond/Duthy and create a park and ride.

[[Shuz]]

From what I hear, the City Loop is actually under reconsideration as, at present, it is seen to attract low patronage (presumably along the southern portion of the route along Sturt and Halifax Streets) and be of low benefit in terms of capital expenditure versus economical return, unlike the City West extension which provide almost instantaneous economical returns on the back of signifanct private investment along the tram corridor.

Would be better off if the City Loop was reconfigured to run down Gouger & Angas Streets, rather than Sturt and Halifax.

What significant investments have there been?

haven't all investments been State Government funded?

400 King William Street. Edge & Wave. (failed) Hills site proposal. 379 King William Street. 399 King William Street. UrbanNest student accomodation. All private investment as a result of the extension of the tram line.

[Nathan]

From what I hear, the City Loop is actually under reconsideration as, at present, it is seen to attract low patronage (presumably along the southern portion of the route along Sturt and Halifax Streets) and be of low benefit in terms of capital expenditure versus economical return, unlike the City West extension which provide almost instantaneous economical returns on the back of signifanct private investment along the tram corridor.

Would be better off if the City Loop was reconfigured to run down Gouger & Angas Streets, rather than Sturt and Halifax.

Are you talking about the 99C City Loop bus? That doesn't go down Sturt/Halifax - it goes down Grote/Wakefield.
The City Connector/Tindo runs down Sturt/Halifax - but that's a council run local bus service, that only runs once an hour. There'd be little point in trying to gain anything from it's patronage numbers when considering a tram loop.

[Waewick]

From what I hear, the City Loop is actually under reconsideration as, at present, it is seen to attract low patronage (presumably along the southern portion of the route along Sturt and Halifax Streets) and be of low benefit in terms of capital expenditure versus economical return, unlike the City West extension which provide almost instantaneous economical returns on the back of signifanct private investment along the tram corridor.

Would be better off if the City Loop was reconfigured to run down Gouger & Angas Streets, rather than Sturt and Halifax.

What significant investments have there been?

haven't all investments been State Government funded?

400 King William Street. Edge & Wave. (failed) Hills site proposal. 379 King William Street. 399 King William Street. UrbanNest student accomodation. All private investment as a result of the extension of the tram line.

wait a second, the tram always ran past those buildings? perhaps the extension to the Unisa site assisted - but the one to Port Road was pure economic folly.

[Waewick]

From what I hear, the City Loop is actually under reconsideration as, at present, it is seen to attract low patronage (presumably along the southern portion of the route along Sturt and Halifax Streets) and be of low benefit in terms of capital expenditure versus economical return, unlike the City West extension which provide almost instantaneous economical returns on the back of signifanct private investment along the tram corridor.

Would be better off if the City Loop was reconfigured to run down Gouger & Angas Streets, rather than Sturt and Halifax.

Are you talking about the 99C City Loop bus? That doesn't go down Sturt/Halifax - it goes down Grote/Wakefield.
The City Connector/Tindo runs down Sturt/Halifax - but that's a council run local bus service, that only runs once an hour. There'd be little point in trying to gain anything from it's patronage numbers when considering a tram loop.

I think that is what he is talking about? wasn't the proposed tram city loop to go down those streets?

[[Shuz]]

For God's sake, no, I'm not talking about the 99C City Loop bus. If I was talking about that I'd be discussing that in the Buses thread, but this is a thread about trams, so I'm talking about the proposed City Loop tram extension.

Waewick, yes you're right, the tram did always go past those buildings, but at the time, the southern end of the city didn't connect with the northern end of the city very well. At best, it was serviced by the 200 route bus. Basically if you wanted to go from Rundle Mall to the southern end of the city, you had to walk. As you know, the northern end of the CBD is where the bulk of the offices, shopping and apartments are and by extending the tramline that way, it opened up accessibility to the city's southern end, hence the spur of private investment in the area.

Going back to the City Loop Tram proposal, as I was trying to say, from what I hear, they're reconsidering even going ahead with the project as it's believed that a city loop tram wouldn't spur on much private investment at all. Which is a fair assumption as the areas which the tram line is proposed to go through, particularly in the city's southwest and southeast are outside the scope of the Capital City DPA, and are covered under the Adelaide City Council's own Main Street DPA. From a developer's perspective, they are less attractive and provide less scope for development potential.

Nevertheless, personally I still believe there should be a City Loop tram. But that it should go down Morphett, Gouger, Angas and Pulteney Streets and North Terrace. In straight lines, nice and simple, clean cut through the squares and not around them - Victoria Square should have been done this way, but too late now. The current proposal as it stands is a bit of an absurd route, down West Terrace, Currie, Sturt, Halifax, Regent Streets and Frome Road. For the tourist, and even for the locals it's too many streets, too confusing, and the tram itself would have to navigate all those slow turns and corners particularly in the southeast section of the CBD.

[Waewick]

I agree it needs to be simple, with the benefit of linking into other transport corridors.

I assume, the Government is still wanting to go to the parade next with Trams- perhaps that could be our first point in lobbying for a promise?

that would then start the city loop by default.

[jk1237]

please make it go to the corner of Hutt and Halifax just for me on rainy days please, much appreciated

[claybro]

It would be criminal if a change of government shifts focus away from public transport and tram expansion plans are mothballed.

I would doubt there is anyone on here who seriously thinks the libs would extend the tram system if in power. The closest thing they have ever come to rails in the last 40 years was the O Bahn. This is not a judgement on who to vote for, just if you like trains/trams as I do, then check carefully what the Libs have planned for public transport in the next term. I think you will be dissapointed.