State Budget 2012-13: Building the State - Transport projects key to WA’s future

• $105million for traffic congestion initiatives
• $97million for road safety projects
• $276.5m State contribution over forward estimates for $1b Gateway WA project
• $5.15million for light rail planning over the next 2 years
• Additional $20million for cycling infrastructure
• $2.5million for electronic school zone signs in 2012-13

The Liberal-National Government will invest $3.9billion on new and ongoing transport projects and programs in 2012-13, including $105million on new projects to address traffic congestion in Perth and a $97million injection into road safety projects across the State. 

Treasurer Christian Porter said Western Australia’s transport system was vital to the State’s economic development and ongoing prosperity. 

“The creation of a sustainable and integrated transport network is an integral component of the transformation of our State, and the Liberal-National Government views transport projects as a critical investment in WA’s future,” Mr Porter said.  

“Perth is undergoing a major transformation due to projects such as the Perth Waterfront Development and Perth City Link, and we are providing the solutions to manage the impact of these projects and cater for our growing population.” 

Transport Minister Troy Buswell said the Government was investing in a range of transport projects across the State to deliver a balanced transport solution which would benefit metropolitan and country road users, public transport patrons, cyclists, pedestrians and industry. 

He said $105million would be invested in initiatives to ensure the CBD had a sustainable transport network to accommodate major city projects and a growing population. 

“We are investing $57million to increase capacity on the Graham Farmer Freeway tunnel and Mitchell Freeway, which will ensure traffic into and around the CBD will continue to flow with the roll-out of the city’s transformational projects,” the Minister said.  

“A further $47.6million from the Perth Parking Management Fund will provide new CAT buses, a new Green CAT service from Leederville to the CBD via West Perth and CBD cycle and bus lanes. 

“We will also invest $31.5million for a traffic management trial to manage congestion on Perth’s freeways.” 

Mr Buswell said road safety funding was a key component of the transport budget, with $97million for road safety projects across the State. 

“Road safety funding has increased with $35million provided for the ongoing Safer Roads and Bridges program, $20million for the ongoing State Black Spot Program, and an additional $41.7million for safety improvements to crash sites across the State,” he said.  

In addition to the 2011-12 allocation of $2.65million, $5.15million is allocated over the next two years for detailed project planning to assist in informing the investment decision on the light rail project.  

Cyclists will also benefit from the injection of $20million over two years to improve Perth’s principal shared path network. 

Mr Buswell said the State would also invest $276.5million in the Gateway WA project over the forward estimates. The $1billion project comprised Federal Government funds of $686.4million and State Government funds of $317.5million. 

“The $1billion Gateway WA project will deliver a safe, efficient and welcoming road and bridge network to the new Perth Airport precinct, the surrounding businesses, residential areas and the State of WA,” he said. 

The Government will also continue its significant investment in public transport with $26.9million allocated to power capacity upgrades and to provide additional stowage lines at the Claisebrook Train Depot. 

“We will also be spending $10million to purchase 20 additional Transperth buses as part of the Public Transport Authority’s (PTAs) seven-year $88million bus acquisition program, as well as $26million to replace another 60 buses,” Mr Buswell said. 

He said an additional $2.5million would be spent in 2012-13 on the installation of solar-powered electronic school zones signs to achieve coverage of more than 130 school zones. 

For the 2012-13 Regional Airports Development Scheme funding round, $6.94million has already been allocated, including $5million from Royalties for Regions.  

Throughout 2012-13 work will also continue on the:

• $609million public transport component of the Perth City Link project
• $241million Joondalup railway line extension to Butler
• $267.3million upgrade of Great Eastern Highway from Kooyong Road to Tonkin Highway. (Federal and State government funds.)

       Fact File

Other major road works in the metropolitan area that are either commencing or continuing and have significant funding allocated to them in 2012-13 include:

• $21.4m for works to complete construction of the joint Federal and State governments funded Great Eastern Highway/Roe Highway interchange
• $8m for works to complete Kwinana Freeway widening between Leach Highway & Roe Highway to provide three lanes in each direction. The works, scheduled for completion in 2012-13 at an estimated cost of $58m, are being jointly funded by the Federal and State governments
• $10m for improvements at the South Street/Murdoch Drive intersection due for completion in 2013 14
• $29.2m for construction of an additional northbound lane on Mitchell Freeway from Hepburn Avenue to Hodges Drive
• $3m for project development activities for the Great Northern Highway enhancement project in the Swan Valley. Planning, investigation & design activities for a new road from Reid Highway in West Swan to Brand Highway near Muchea. A total of $8m has been allocated for these activities

In country WA, major road projects in 2012-13 include:

• $10.6m for upgrade works on Coalfields Highway from the Wellington Dam turnoff to Collie. The total cost of these upgrade works is $25m
• $94m for the Esperance Port Access Corridor project. This project is being jointly funded by the State & Federal governments
• $30.6m for the ongoing upgrading of Dampier Highway, Stages 2 to 6 westwards from Karratha to the Burrup Peninsula Road in Dampier to a dual carriageway. The works are being jointly funded by the State & Federal governments
• $24.3m to upgrade various State roads comprising the Grain Freight network as a result of some rail freight lines being decommissioned
• $141.1m for construction of the Great Northern Highway realignment at Port Hedland. The works, which are scheduled to be completed in 2014, are being jointly funded by the State and Federal governments
• $44m for construction of the Bunbury Outer Ring Road (BORR) Stage 1 from Boyanup Picton Road to South Western Highway. $22.7million for the Bunbury Port Access Road, Stage 2 between South Western Highway and the BORR Stage 1. The combined project is scheduled to be completed in 2014 & is jointly funded by the State & Federal governments
• $2.5m for Gibb River Road improvements, including gravel re-sheeting & drainage improvements

Ongoing investment by the PTA includes:

• $164m to purchase 15 three-car train sets with a total capacity to carry an additional 8,400 passengers each trip - an order has been placed & the first of these train sets will be delivered in the second half of 2013
• $134m to roll out additional bus service kilometres of 3.3 million in 2011-12 incrementally increasing to 15.2 million p.a. from 2015-16 onwards. In 2011-12 this enabled the PTA to introduce 9 new bus routes & improve the service & frequency of a further 91 existing bus routes. In 2012-13, the PTA intends to introduce a further 2.9 million service kilometres, involving 4 new bus routes & service improvements to 37 existing bus routes
• $519.3m has been committed to an approved 10-year program for bus acquisition, maintenance & infrastructure which will see the replacement of about 640 old buses; introduction of 158 new buses; improvement to bus stations; and maintenance of existing fleet for the benefit of the community
• Extension of the Joondalup railway line to Butler continues to progress well with an estimated $92.7m to be spent in 2012-13. Major works to be undertaken during 2012-13 include the completion of earthworks, construction of railway infrastructure, completion of road bridges & the start of construction of the Butler Station