Major boost to northern suburbs park ’n’ ride

2/5/07

The State Government will spend $18million over the next four years to add almost 1,500 extra bays to car parks on the Northern Suburbs Railway line.

Visiting Whitfords train station today, Premier Alan Carpenter said the 25 per cent increase in bays would help ease parking problems on the busiest passenger rail line in Western Australia.

“Each day, there are more than 25,000 people commuting to and from work on the trains along the 33km rail line between Perth and Clarkson,” Mr Carpenter said.

“Many people use buses, bikes or walk to the train station. Of those who drive, 31 per cent leave their cars at the station, reducing the burden on our freeways and the environment, and alleviating traffic congestion in the city.

“However, through the efforts of local members Kingsley MLA Judy Hughes and Joondalup MLA Tony O’Gorman, we have recognised that more needs to be done to relieve increasing parking pressures along that train route.

“I would like to thank both Judy and Tony, who have been tireless in their campaign for more parking on behalf of northern suburbs rail users.”

The Premier said the new spaces would be at:

• Greenwood Station: currently 637 bays, with 691 additional bays to be built at a cost of $8.35million;
• Whitfords Station: currently 682 bays, with an extra 415 bays and a new pedestrian overpass, costing $5.45million;
• Stirling Station: currently 612 bays, with 206 additional bays costing $2.5million; and
• Edgewater Station: currently 764 bays, with an additional 162 bays to be added at a cost of $1.7million.

Planning and Infrastructure Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the new parking spaces would be created by redesigning and extending existing station car parks.

“Planning and approvals processes for the new parking bays will begin immediately, with construction starting in 2008-09 and new bays coming on-stream over the following three years,” Ms MacTiernan said.

“The parking will be a mix of Pay ‘n’ Display secured and free bays, depending on demand and on the practicality of providing security.”

The Minister said other recent initiatives aimed at improving passenger rail services on the northern line had included:

• ordering 45 new railcars at a cost of $160million, which were due for delivery starting in late 2008 and would ultimately increase passenger capacity by 8,400;
• converting 115 passenger set-down parking bays to short-term parking between 9am and 3.30pm; and
• converting Currambine Station’s Pay ‘n’ Display area to a combination of free unsecured parking and free Lock ‘n’ Ride to help better meet overall parking demand.

Ms MacTiernan said the fee for secured Pay ’n’ Display parking would increase from $1 to $2 per day from July 1.

“This is still a very low price for secured parking and, combined with a world-class rail service, it still makes using the train excellent value compared with driving to and parking in the city,” she said.

“Also, over the next year we will introduce an option for train users to pay for their parking using Smartrider cards, adding further convenience to our system.

“Less than 40 per cent of parking on the line is Pay ’n’ Display and there are no plans to change this proportion.”