Does this mean that the horse drawn carts will be replaced by horse trams ?

Noel Reed

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From:TramsDownUnder@... [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Russell Redfern
Sent: Thursday, 28 April 2011 6:50 AM
To:TramsDownUnder@...
Subject: [TramsDownUnder] Cars out in latest Swanston Street revamp

<http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/cars-out-in-latest-swanston-street-revamp
-20110427-1dwz1.html>

CARS are set to disappear from Swanston Street - for good.

After decades of debate, confusing changes and shambolic decision-making,
Melbourne City Council has settled on the details of a car-free thoroughfare
for the city and will start construction next month.

Lord mayor Robert Doyle - who 2½ years ago promised to return private
vehicles to Swanston Street - will affirm his change of heart by overseeing
an overhaul that will give the entire street over to pedestrians, cyclists
and trams.

Safety authorities have given the plan final approval and work will begin on
the $7.8 million first stage in front of the State Library on May 20.

When completed next year, the $25.6 million redesign will include four new
expanded tram stops. The tracks will be lowered to improve access to
low-floor trams, and footpaths extended to meet the trams.

Cyclists will have a dedicated lane between the footpath and trams. Private
cars, taxis and delivery vans will be phased out.

The street's makeover had been delayed amid concerns cyclists could be at
risk of colliding with commuters stepping on and off trams. Transport Safety
Victoria says it is now happy for work to commence on the final design.

''The City of Melbourne and Yarra Trams have reviewed the design proposals
around the upgraded tram stop at the intersection of Swanston and La Trobe
Streets,'' the agency said in a statement.

The start of work on the new Swanston Street will coincide with Cr Doyle's
58th birthday. He would not say if fixing the street would be the
centrepiece of a re-election campaign next year. ''I haven't decided about
that. Ask me about it again in one year,'' he said.

He said he had no regrets over his about-turn. ''I ran [for election] on
opening Swanston Street up to traffic, but realistically, the people on the
council who know about what makes a great street convinced me to go the
other way,'' he said.

The makeover includes a powerful lighting system described by Cr Doyle as
''a world first'' that will improve safety. ''The colour of it and feel of
it is much more like sunlight than artificial light,'' he said.

He said the pedestrian-friendly design would ''make Swanston Street the
street we should be proud of as our civic street''.

Cr Doyle said the confusing state of the street had dogged Melbourne since
1992 when it was first closed for use as a new city mall - only to be
reopened to private traffic between 7pm and 7am in 1999. ''It's neither one
thing or the other, it is not open to traffic or closed to traffic, it is
not for pedestrians or cars,'' he said.

''When we closed it back in 1992, there were about 12,500 people who came up
and down Swanston Street every day, today its around 60,000 … I hope when
completed we will be over 100,000 using it, making it one of the great
boulevards of the world, a place that is vibrant,'' he said.

Cyclist numbers have more than doubled along the street since the 1990s and
tram use has also increased.

Private motor vehicles will be banned progressively, starting with the
stretch between La Trobe Street and Little Lonsdale Street when works
commence there next month.

Cyclists will continue to have access during the works.

(Now to take the sleaze out of Swanston Street and give it back to trams and
tram enthusiasts. There is too much riff raff and low life around Swanston
Street in 2011. Hopefully Robert Doyle will have Swanston Street returned to
the good, decent people of Melbourne).

MMTB817

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