Re: Tram line extensions WAS Re: W8 the car that NEARLY made it.

IS Edit
Friday, February 22, 2002 12:03 PM

The main pattern about a lot of public transport "gonnas" is that they were promised as an environmental sop or motherhood statement as part of major road projects.

The last one I know about is the exclusive bus lanes that were supposed to be part of Jeff Kennett's privatisation of the Tullamarine Freeway and construction of the Southern Bypass.

As for the rail line down the Eastern Freeway, that was a real environmental motherhood statement. If you remember, there were huge protests by local councils and activist groups including Citizens Against Freeways (headed by Andrew Herrington). At that time the Age had some terrific town planning, transport and environment writers and they also played a significant role.

In the end, just before the freeway opened (amidst huge protests), the Country Roads Board spent $500,000 filling in the major excavations that had been made where the Doncaster Rail Line was going to join up with the line through Clifton Hill.

The only vestige of that public transport dream is the light poles in the centre of the freeway. You will note, if you look, that the poles are frangible (that means breakaway) but they are mounted on massive concrete bases several feet high which have killed errant motorists on the freeway.

About 5 years ago I got stuck into VicRoads about leaving those hazards and they have finally erected barriers to avoid further fatalities.

It's not all VicRoads fault.

I am a transport writer and spoke to their engineers who told me that they included a lot of those projects in the initial specifications and drafts of major road projects. They actually thought there was a good case for them and wanted them built to retain a balance of transport mode. Part of the problem was that the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board never took up the offers and showed no ability or inclination to participate in the planning process, at all.

They were even offered a tram right of way down the upgraded Nepean Highway and turned it down.

I think their engineers and senior executives had such a defensive mindset that they were incapable of grasping any opportunities. Perhaps they would not have received any funding but at least they could have put their case. They failed to do so.

Bob Murphy

----- Original Message -----

From: Michael Walker

To: [email protected]

Sent: Friday, February 22, 2002 12:15 PM

Subject: [TramsDownUnder] Tram line extensions WAS Re: W8 the car that NEARLY made it.

>I thought the last extension was Middleborough Rd to Blackburn Rd for Rte 75 which was part of the bicentenary funds or something (early 90's by the time it was done). I deliberately didn't include two block extensions (or one block in this case!) Otherwise, the further extension of the route 86 from Bundoora to Bundoora RMIT could have been counted. I figure they are too small to be significant!!!! >I read somewhere once that the extension to Vermont Sth shopping centre was the "first stage" of an extension to Knox City. True, but we all know what will happen to that. After all, the 86 was to go to Mill Park then South Morang to meet up with the extended train line from Epping, the 75 was to go to Knox City and then Ferntree Gully, there was going to be a railway line then a light rail down the Eastern Freeway to Doncaster East then Shoppingtown. There was even going to be a 48 extension to connect up with it so commuters could go via the freeway express light rail or the 48 tram. I have yet to see much evidence of the park and ride for the freeway bus services, so I'm not holding my breath for any trams to Doncaster! Plenty of other schemes proposed throughout the 80s and 90s that either died a quiet death or are still being talked about as the latest and greatest thing or were only half built from very limited Federal funding. Amazingly, freeway extensions and road funding seems to materialise out of thin air and be built in no time....

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