The City of Armadale welcomes the State Government’s decision to add the proposed ‘viaduct’ option to the tender process for the METRONET extension to Byford.
In November, the City wrote to the Transport and Planning Minister, Rita Saffioti, with details of a business case for the viaduct proposal. The business case set out the significant increase to the number of jobs, residential population, student numbers and private sector investment that would be catalysed in the City of Armadale by the viaduct (railroad) solution.
The proposal involves raising the railway line from Armadale Road to meet the already planned elevated rail at Church Avenue, providing an affordable and highly preferable solution with significant social and economic benefits.
At Forrest Road, the main and central east-west vehicle and pedestrian access to the City Centre would be retained for current and future populations. The viaduct solution would prevent the loss of a portion of the existing Armadale Shopping Centre as well as widespread access and amenity impacts on business and residences.
City of Armadale Mayor Ruth Butterfield said the viaduct proposal was central to ensuring jobs growth, private sector investment and an increase in the residential and student populations in the City Centre.
“The viaduct solution resolves level crossing issues for pedestrians and vehicles at Armadale Road and retains the parkland and event space, which are pivotal to the Armadale City Centre character and amenities. Armadale Road is one of the major freight routes for trucks travelling through the City and the elevation of the rail will resolve safety concerns and cut travel times,” said Mayor Butterfield.
“The viaduct proposal has the potential to be a catalyst to double the number of residents, employment opportunities and students in the City Centre, and would enable an expansion of the retail, commercial and residential development.
“It also presents immediate and longer term connectivity benefits for vehicles and pedestrians in our community, and avoids the potential for a traffic snarl that could have been created at Forrest Road when the Byford Rail went through Armadale.
“If successful the viaduct proposal would strengthen Armadale’s function as a Strategic Metropolitan City Centre, with strong transport links to other centres in wider Perth.”
The Byford Rail Extension project including the level crossing removals in the town centre, will depend on final consultation, cost and funding available.
The METRONET project is jointly funded between the Federal and State Governments, with the main contract to be awarded in 2021.
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