Project Need

Canberra’s light rail network is being built to meet our city’s future transport needs. As more people call Canberra home, the expansion of the light rail network will help reduce traffic congestion on our roads and contribute to planned and thoughtful urban development. Light rail to Woden will connect with Stage 1 (Gungahlin to City) to create a public transport spine connecting Canberra’s north and south. This will underpin our modern and integrated public transport network that connects major residential areas, employment zones, social centres and cultural hubs across Canberra.

Travelling via light rail is easy and convenient, with services every five minutes during peak hour and regular services every 15 minutes throughout the day. Light rail vehicles have inclusive spaces for passengers with mobility needs and bicycles. Canberra's light rail network is a core component in creating one of Australia’s most sustainable cities and reducing congestion. Each light rail vehicle can transport as many passengers as three buses and operates on dedicated track which eliminates congestion-related delays.

Light rail provides an opportunity to link our buses, park and ride facilities, cycling networks and pedestrian paths to the activity centres that feed the light rail network. Keen cyclists can combine light rail travel with their daily commute and pedestrians will have greater access to community areas via new footpaths. Each light rail vehicle has the capacity for up to four bikes to travel safely inside and stops are located on pedestrian lines to provide access to major attractions.

Light Rail to Woden will improve access to public transport for existing and new residential and commercial activity in the city centre, Canberra's lakefront and along the corridor to Woden. An increase in the number of businesses and residential properties along the alignment will support economic growth and help create more vibrant city spaces. The project is catering for the needs of our growing city in line with the ACT Planning Strategy's vision to see 70 per cent of new housing delivered in appropriate places around our town centres and along major transport corridors within Canberra's existing city footprint.

Light Rail is an essential pillar to deliver on the community objectives outlined in key ACT Government strategies. This includes:

• ACT Planning Strategy 2018: The ACT Planning Strategy 2018 provides a plan to achieve a compact and efficient city, with 70 per cent of new urban development delivered as infill. Canberra's light rail will act as a key piece of infrastructure to guide urban intensification and create a high-quality public environment.
• ACT Climate Change Strategy 2019-2025: The ACT Climate Change Strategy 2019-2025 outlines Canberra's light rail, which runs on 100 per cent renewable energy, will make a significant impact toward reaching this goal by increasing public transport use across the city and taking more cars off the road.
• ACT Transport Strategy 2020: The ACT Transport Strategy 2020 identifies three priority areas to guide development of transport in the Territory – manage congestion, reduce emissions and support a compact and efficient city.  Light rail will integrate with other transport modes along the alignment to encourage public transport over driving.
• Zero-Emission Transition Plan for Transport Canberra: The Zero-Emissions Transition Plan for Transport Canberra outlines the pathway to achieve the ACT Government’s ambition of a zero-emission public transport system by 2040.
• Transport for Canberra Policy: To align with the Transport for Canberra Policy we're continually forecasting and planning to meet the needs of a growing city. A better transport network is integral to realising economic growth and diversification, urban renewal, and enhanced liveability and social inclusion in the ACT.