Creating A Light Rail Network Within The City Of Canberra

Concept of Light Rail System

Light rail is considered as one of the transport system that helps in offering number of opportunities for solidifying the structure of the city. The main aim of the light rail network is to minimize pressure on rush hour traffic like buses, office cars and more. In this assignment a hypothetical case study is taken where light rail project is mainly proposed within the city of Canberra (Birdsall 2015). The project is mainly designed in order to create a light rail network route within the city of Canberra, which generally helps in covering all the significant places including commercial districts. It is identified that Canberra is one of the busiest city within Australia and therefore development of light rail network within the city is found to be advantageous (Burke, Currie and Delbosc 2014). The topography of Canberra has helped in creating roadways along the ridges and therefore very much less space is available for the course of light rail. Amid the project execution of light rail, one of the most important concern before the management is to minimize the tumult as well as blockage of the ordinary roadways for providing proper as well as smooth light rail system (Birdsall 2015). Proper as well as comfortable experience must be provided to the travelers with the help of light rail network. It is identified that the project of light will be mainly executed after the planning phase of the project in order to cover most of the commercial districts. The project is mainly executed in order to cover the length of around 12 km around the city of Canberra (Capital Metro Agency 2014).  This route will be helpful in connecting the various key commercial districts of Canberra so that the entire population of the city will be benefitted due to the development of light rail network.

 In this assignment, the various details of the project including the conceptual design is provided that is very much helpful in developing the light rail network.

 Light rail network can be defined as one of the electric rail-borne transport that is mainly developed in various stages for enhancing both the capacity as well as speed. It is considered as of the most efficient evolution of a tram system. It is mainly suited for various trunk lines that are related with public transport for providing higher capacity of the passengers in comparison to the buses (Catthoor et al. 2013). It mainly utilizes low floor articulated trams that generally get electricity from the overhead line. This also helps in providing the opportunity to build the rail lines within the spaces of the street (Downs, Cassels and Ericksen 2014). It is identified that light rail network mainly utilizes vehicles which can be driven in both direction for eliminating the need to turn the loops. The focus of the light rail system design is to provide comfortable travel experience to the travelers.

Light Rail as an Alternative Solution

It is identified that the light rail system is mainly implemented in such a way that it does not create any type of noise disturbance to the people of the surrounding environment. The motor that is utilized in the network helps in creating very much little noise and thus it assist in replacing the buses for reducing the traffic noises (Currie and Burke 2013). It is identified that the network of light rail mainly runs at the speed of 70-80 Kph. Light rail mainly helps in providing short run solution for various types of traffic congestion as well as pollution (Chandler 2015). In order to alleviate various types of unwanted traffic congestion as well as pollution, it is very much important for the various policy makers to address the cause of root as well as inefficient pricing of roadway utilization. Traffic congestion and pollution mainly exist as the cost that is related with driving automobile are very much low.

The carrying capacity of the light rail helps in enabling to fill the gap that generally exists between bus services that make it very much valuable for mixing the public transport (Downs, Cassels and Ericksen 2014). It helps in providing an alternative to bus facility that is provided on busy road for enhancing public choice off public transport for journeys that mainly exists between suburban areas. It is regarded as one of the complementary in comparison to other modes of transportation rather opposing them (Hensher, Mulley and Rose 2016). It is identified that the system of light rail will be very much advantageous if it is developed as well as implemented, as it not only helps in attracting the customers but also helps in resolving environment related problems.

The Project is mainly designed for creating a light rail network within Canberra, covering all the well-known places including the districts of Canberra. It is identified that Canberra is one of the busiest city within Australia and this because huge number of business associations as well as enterprises developing which further increases the number of working individuals (Hensher 2016). It is identified that in the city, around 40,000 individuals generally utilizes transport in the ordinary hours. It is found that the outcome is very much responsible for developing proper transport substantives within the city of Canberra (Ho, Hensher and Mulley 2015). This detail helps in confirming the presence of large number of workers. Due to presence of excessive substantives in rush hour it is identified that the rush hour is very much regular in the rush hour.

The Proposed Light Rail Project

 It is properly indicated by the framework that the light rail network is mainly created along the sides of the ridges and hence less accessible space is mainly utilized for the implementation of light rail network (Hensher, Mulley and Rose 2016). In addition to this, the current city helps in arranging constrained extension for various streets and therefore the light rail network undertaking is found to be dependably a testing one for appropriate execution. It helps in providing an alternative to bus facility that is provided on busy road for enhancing public choice off public transport for journeys that mainly exists between suburban areas. It is regarded as one of the complementary in comparison to other modes of transportation rather opposing them

 Thus, the idea related with the framework helps in outlining that light rail is actualized alongside the normal roadways. It is also identified that the real street ranges must not be diminished as it helps in brining improper movement blockage (Martin 2014). The proposed project will be helpful in providing proper service to the large number of travelers within the entire city of Canberra including all the districts. The conceptual design of the light rail system is mainly divided in five steps that include identification of requirements, prioritizing among the requirements, developing preliminary solution, evaluating solutions and establishing final design. 

Route alignment

It is identified that the city of Canberra experiences very much high as well as growing level of car dependency as well as utilization that is associated with various types of problems like traffic congestion. It is found that in order to resolve the problem the project assists in delivering proper economic as well as social benefits in the city of Canberra (Miller 2014). The various physical features that are related with the project must be evolved through within the community of the project by approving various stages of procurement. Other features of the project must be approved by the cabinet or the feature is mainly confirmed during the phase of the tender.

Delivery model

It is recommended that the entire projects must be procured with the help of PPP that is known as availability public-private partnership delivery model. Within this model, it is found that the design, construction as well as operation of the light rail network are generally bundled with the finance of private sector that mainly operates equivalent to an anticipated period of 3 years for construction plus 20 additional years (Mulley, Tsai and Ma 2015). The delivery model is mainly recommended due to the following:

• Heightened degree of cost certainty as well as risk transfer is offered over the delivery models.
• Increase innovation scope is offered in comparison to other delivery models (Ney and Gray 2014).
• Proper comparison between the comparator of public sector as well as PPP proxy

Route Alignment

Financial as well as economic consideration

 It is anticipated that the entire cost delivery that is related with the project is around $783M including various types of contingencies as well as rolling stocks.

Area of cost	$m nominal
Precincts and Stops	11
Rail alignment	96
Utility infrastructure as well as roads	118
Power, rail system as well as signaling	137
Stabling and Depot	59
Contractor profit and overhead	59
Depot and Stabling	59
Total Construction Cost	479
Rolling stock	65
Total cost of the alignment	545
Escalation	65
Sub Total	610
Contingency	173
Total project cost of outturn	783

It is identified that the cost estimate is dependent upon the concept of design that is mainly produced with the help of technical advisors. It is found that the contingency is mainly estimated with the help of proper risk quantification procedure. The estimated cost is only estimation and it is independent of project design. The capital delivery of the project cost is not paid by the government.

Benefit Cost ratio

 The project is mainly anticipated for delivering cost benefit analysis that mainly comprises of land and transportation value (Mysydney.nsw.gov.au 2012). It is identified that BCR is greater than one and therefore the economic analysis helps in anticipating the delivery of the project. This does not help in taking account of social benefits that are quantified.

Cost related scenario	Value $m PV
Project Benefits
Benefits from transportation	406
Benefits from land utilization	381
Wider economic impacts	198
Total benefits achieved from project
Capex	619
Opex	204
Total project related cost	823
Economic related indicators
BCR	1.0
NPV	161
BCR	1.2

Element of cost capital	Cost
Entire project Outturn cost ($nominal, P75)	783
Less: Difference that exists between P77 and well as P50 contingency	(24)
Total project Outturn Cost ($nominal, P50)	759
Less: Alignment of escalation	(65)
Less: Escalation related with Contingency	(9)
Project Outturn Cost ($real)	685
Plus agency Costs ($real)	45
Costs for economic Analysis purposes (P50, $real)	730

Conclusion

 It can be concluded from the entire assignment that the development of light rail network will helpful in playing an integral part of Australian transportation. It is identified that along with serving the different busiest districts of Canberra it also helps in attracting various tourists with the help of proper as well as reliable service. The project of light rail installation is outlined in such a manner that it generally becomes an incorporating variable for arranging transportation within the territory appropriately. The routes of light rail mainly go as a connector among various roads of the Canberra city. The course is mainly planned in such a way that the passengers can properly access various methods of transportation after leaving the entire car of rail system. The construction of light rail system is found to be very much advantageous as it helps in resolving the problem that the person of Canberra mainly faces due to busy traffic. The implementation of the light rail network is done by utilizing such a procedure that it does not create any noise disturbance to the people who mainly exist in the surrounding environment. The motor that is utilized in the network helps in creating very much little noise and thus it assist in replacing the buses for reducing the traffic noises. It is identified that the network of light rail mainly runs at the speed of 70-80 Kph. Thus, it is analyzed that implementation as well as development of road rail network is very much advantageous. However, some design as well as cost related issues are associated with the design of road rail system, which must be resolved properly.

References

Birdsall, M., 2015. From Metro and Light Rail to Trains and Trams: Exploring Sydney, Australia’s Expansive Public Transit Initiatives. Institute of Transportation Engineers. ITE Journal, 85(11), p.31.

Burke, M., Currie, G. and Delbosc, A., 2014. Performance of Australian Light Rail and Comparison with US Trends. Transportation Research Record: Journal of the Transportation Research Board, (2419), pp.11-22.

Capital Metro Agency. (2014). 1st ed. [pdf] Canberra: Capital Metro Full Business Case, pp.12-35. Available at: https://www.tccs.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/887680/Light-rail-Capital-Metro-Business-Case-In-Full.pdf [Accessed 21 Aug. 2016].

Catthoor, F., Wuytack, S., de Greef, G.E., Banica, F., Nachtergaele, L. and Vandecappelle, A., 2013. Custom memory management methodology: Exploration of memory organisation for embedded multimedia system design. Springer Science & Business Media.

Chandler, B., 2015. Australia award for urban design presentations in Melbourne. Planning News, 41(9), p.6.

Currie, G. and Burke, M., 2013, October. Light rail in Australia–performance and prospects. In Australasian Transport Research Forum, Brisbane, Australia.

Downs, C., Cassels, B. and Ericksen, J., 2014. Case study of rail design on Gold Coast Light Rail. CORE 2014: Rail Transport For A Vital Economy, p.76.

Hensher, D., Mulley, C. and Rose, J., 2016. Preferences for BRT and light rail. Restructuring Public Transport Through Bus Rapid Transit: An International and Interdisciplinary Perspective, p.209.

Hensher, D.A., 2016. Why is Light Rail Starting to Dominate Bus Rapid Transit Yet Again?. Transport Reviews, 36(3), pp.289-292.

Ho, C., Hensher, D.A. and Mulley, C., 2015. Identifying resident preferences for bus-based and rail-based investments as a complementary buy in perspective to inform project planning prioritisation. Journal of Transport Geography, 46, pp.1-9.

Martin, S., 2014. Moving beyond cost: Evaluating LRT and BRT options for Australian and New Zealand cities. CORE 2014: Rail Transport For A Vital Economy, p.178.

Miller, N., 2014. The impact of a new light rail network upon walkability in a central business district.

Mulley, C., Tsai, C.H.P. and Ma, L., 2015, September. Does residential property price benefit from light rail in Sydney?. In Australasian Transport Research Forum (ATRF), 37th, 2015, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Mysydney.nsw.gov.au. (2012). Sydney’s Light Rail Future: Expanding public transport, revitalising our city. [online] Available at: https://mysydney.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/user-files/uploads/light-rail-future-web.pdf [Accessed 20 Aug. 2016].

Ney, S.M. and Gray, D., 2014. Western Sydney Light Rail-connecting the people of Western Sydney to the future. CORE 2014: Rail Transport For A Vital Economy, p.111.