23 August 2024
Labor’s practical and proven plan for public transport 

Labor has proven that a truly integrated public transport network is possible for Canberra.
 
Labor built light rail for Canberra, and we will extend it to support our growing city while we also expand electric bus services in the suburbs.
 
With around 15,000 Canberrans using the stage one light rail service every weekday, Labor will continue to extend light rail to Commonwealth Park, the National Triangle and then onto Woden, to establish our North-South mass-transit line.
 
Work is now well advanced on raising London Circuit – a key enabling project to support light rail from the city to Commonwealth Park. A construction contract has been signed and if Labor is elected, we’ll build light rail to Commonwealth Park with operations expected to commence in early 2028.
 
We will also continue to work in partnership with the Federal Labor Government on all the necessary planning approvals and design of light rail Stage 2B from Commonwealth Park through the National Triangle and on to Woden.
 
Labor’s public transport plan includes the purchase of more electric buses. We will purchase an additional 110 electric buses over the next four years.
 
With more buses, Labor can deliver more bus services. This includes new rapid services from Tuggeranong to the City, a new rapid service to support a growing West-Belconnen. And, once the new Molonglo River Bridge is complete, Labor will also deliver a new rapid bus service to Molonglo.
 
Through the additional buses, we will also be able to increase local services. By the end of the next term of Government, all local services will run every 20 minutes on weekdays across Canberra.
 
Following work on an updated feasibility study for the Belconnen Transitway, Labor will undertake design and construction of Stage 1 of the upgrades which will include immediate bus priority measures along the route between Belconnen and the City. 
 
More buses mean more drivers, and Labor’s Public Transport plan includes the recruitment of new bus drivers over the term.
 
Through this recruitment, we will also provide a new team of transport officers on buses and at transport interchanges to promote safety and accessibility for passengers using public transport.
 
To support our growing public transport network, the Government is in the final stages in delivering new public transport ticketing system, MyWay+. As the new ticketing system is implemented, Canberrans will be able to enjoy free public transport for a period of time. 
 
We will continue to deliver the integrated public transport system that can support our city for decades to come.
 
Quotes attributable to ACT Labor leader Andrew Barr
 
This election is not a contest between buses or light rail. We need to do both.
 
Canberrans shouldn’t be sold short on a vision for our city’s future.  A city the size of Canberra can have a modern, integrated public transport system that is designed for the decades to come.
 
Quotes attributable to ACT Labor Transport spokesperson Chris Steel
 
ACT Labor’s practical public transport plan will see more electric buses purchased than any other party, more rapid services, more frequent local services and we’ll build light rail to Woden for better public transport.
 
This will see Labor continue our transition to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2040 or earlier, and support Labor’s plan to grow Canberra’s bus network.
 
Once delivered, the number of electric buses will make up one third of our bus fleet – a nation leading transition to a zero emission public transport system.
 

Statement ends

Media contact:
Kaarin Dynon    0422 772 215    [email protected]