LABOR COMMITS TO ELIMINATE SIX LEVEL CROSSINGS ON ARMADALE LINE

09 May 2019

ANTHONY ALBANESE MP

SHADOW MINISTER FOR INFRASTRUCTURE, TRANSPORT, CITIES

AND REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT


MATT KEOGH
MEMBER FOR BURT

HANNAH BEAZLEY
CANDIDATE FOR SWAN

JAMES MARTIN
CANDIDATE FOR HASLUCK

A Shorten Labor Government would partner with the McGowan Labor Government to eliminate six level crossings on the Armadale Rail Line to improve road safety and boost productivity in the Perths eastern suburbs.

This work is part of the upgrade and modernisation of the Armadale Line, which will link with the new Thornlie-Cockburn Line as part of the METRONET public transport project.


Removing level crossings on Oats Street, Welshpool Road, Mint Street, Wharf Street, Hamilton Road and William Road will reduce delays and make the roads safer for motorists.

The total Federal contribution to these projects would be $415 million.

At present the boom gates at these six level crossings close between 200 and 300 times a day, each time for up to two minutes. Eliminating those delays will ease the frustration of motorists and facilitate the faster movement of people and goods around the City.


Today announcement builds upon Federal Labors commitment to invest $1.9 billion in METRONET and follows yesterdays announcement of a further $1.2 billion to upgrade vital suburban roads, including the Tonkin and Roe highways.

Traffic congestion is eroding our quality of life. In Perth alone it is costing the economy about $1.8 billion a year, a figure that will rise to $16 billion by 2031 without investment in transformative infrastructure projects like the removal of level crossings.

With Perths population set to climb from 2.2 million to 4.3 million by 2046, governments must prioritise projects that tackle congestion and support future economic and jobs growth.


But during six years of cuts and chaos, the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government has short-changed WA on infrastructure investment.

This compares to the former Federal Labor Government which dramatically increased infrastructure investment in WA. For example, we identified and funded projects such as Perth City Link, Swan Valley Bypass/Northlink, Gateway WA as well
as major upgrades to the Leach and Tonkin highways.


All up, we increased Federal grant funding from $154 to $261 per West Australian.


We stand ready to build on that record.