The following formal submission have been made public
Submitter: Ashley LamontRaising of London Circuit
I think this proposed plan offers an excellent solution to the issue of opening up the spaces currently devoted to car-based traffic, as well as enabling better access for more efficient modes of transportation such as light rail, that have been shown time and time again to reduce traffic congestion through higher density transit, both within and outside of Canberra.
The new intersection offers a simple and effective way to access the City Centre, without impacting traffic any more than existing intersections on Northbourne Ave would. Furthermore, the new land area which is now accessible due to the removal of cloverleaves and slip lanes, should also enable future construction and development, to enable city growth, job creation and more housing to help the already strained market.
These changes would also make the roads significantly more accessible and safe for travellers who are not using a car, such as cyclists or pedestrians, as in line with the ACT 2020 Transport Strategy.
It is worth noting, of course, that some commenters seem to perceive these plans as a heinous attack upon their sacred right to drive across the city unimpeded and en masse without having to, god forbid, wait an extra ten seconds to let a light-rail car carrying up to two hundred passengers on tracks that are predominantly separated from existing road traffic anyways. Likely these are the same people that would support urban planning the likes of many American cities, where parking spaces outnumber cars (and people) by factors of up to eight times, and force the city into a state that is inherently hostile to any commuters who aren't commuting in a private vehicle. A mode of transportation, mind you, that is both extremely inefficient in moving large numbers of people, as well as inaccessible to many, such as students, people who live with a form of disability, or who cannot afford to purchase cars, which are undeniably costly, even if they are common. Designs such as this that enable significantly better access to the city, for pedestrians, cyclists, and commuters using public transport, at relatively minor cost to commuters in private vehicles are not a deliberate attack upon people's ability to drive, or to use a private vehicle. If nothing else, the reduced congestion from increased access via other more efficient modes of transit should improve the driving experience within the city centre, and make it a more accessible experience for the people who do need to (or choose to) use a private vehicle.
Furthermore, as identified in the RLC Traffic and Transport Impact report, existing infrastructure is nearing saturation, particularly during AM and PM peak hours, and this problem is only set to be exacerbated going forwards into the future, with increased population growth and development projected. The changes will pave the road, in a manner of speaking, for future growth by enabling more efficient transportation options and more efficient city land usage.
To put it succinctly, I believe that the RLC plan offers a compelling vision for the future, and is strongly aligned with the development goals already in place for the inner areas of Canberra's City Centre. It prioritises and shifts focus towards modes of transportation such as walking, cycling and light rail, which carry higher capacities, require less land usage, don't need parking spaces and are more accessible, as well as opening currently dead spaces in the centre of the city, to be used for urban development and planning, rather than unnecessary cloverleaves and slip lanes. The plan and it's associated long term goals should improve quality of life and accessibility for those living in, and outside, the city centre, and should help to develop Canberra as a vibrant city, with thoughtful planning and care given to ensuring that it remains accessible with future growth and a vertiable spectrum of citizens living within it.
The new intersection offers a simple and effective way to access the City Centre, without impacting traffic any more than existing intersections on Northbourne Ave would. Furthermore, the new land area which is now accessible due to the removal of cloverleaves and slip lanes, should also enable future construction and development, to enable city growth, job creation and more housing to help the already strained market.
These changes would also make the roads significantly more accessible and safe for travellers who are not using a car, such as cyclists or pedestrians, as in line with the ACT 2020 Transport Strategy.
It is worth noting, of course, that some commenters seem to perceive these plans as a heinous attack upon their sacred right to drive across the city unimpeded and en masse without having to, god forbid, wait an extra ten seconds to let a light-rail car carrying up to two hundred passengers on tracks that are predominantly separated from existing road traffic anyways. Likely these are the same people that would support urban planning the likes of many American cities, where parking spaces outnumber cars (and people) by factors of up to eight times, and force the city into a state that is inherently hostile to any commuters who aren't commuting in a private vehicle. A mode of transportation, mind you, that is both extremely inefficient in moving large numbers of people, as well as inaccessible to many, such as students, people who live with a form of disability, or who cannot afford to purchase cars, which are undeniably costly, even if they are common. Designs such as this that enable significantly better access to the city, for pedestrians, cyclists, and commuters using public transport, at relatively minor cost to commuters in private vehicles are not a deliberate attack upon people's ability to drive, or to use a private vehicle. If nothing else, the reduced congestion from increased access via other more efficient modes of transit should improve the driving experience within the city centre, and make it a more accessible experience for the people who do need to (or choose to) use a private vehicle.
Furthermore, as identified in the RLC Traffic and Transport Impact report, existing infrastructure is nearing saturation, particularly during AM and PM peak hours, and this problem is only set to be exacerbated going forwards into the future, with increased population growth and development projected. The changes will pave the road, in a manner of speaking, for future growth by enabling more efficient transportation options and more efficient city land usage.
To put it succinctly, I believe that the RLC plan offers a compelling vision for the future, and is strongly aligned with the development goals already in place for the inner areas of Canberra's City Centre. It prioritises and shifts focus towards modes of transportation such as walking, cycling and light rail, which carry higher capacities, require less land usage, don't need parking spaces and are more accessible, as well as opening currently dead spaces in the centre of the city, to be used for urban development and planning, rather than unnecessary cloverleaves and slip lanes. The plan and it's associated long term goals should improve quality of life and accessibility for those living in, and outside, the city centre, and should help to develop Canberra as a vibrant city, with thoughtful planning and care given to ensuring that it remains accessible with future growth and a vertiable spectrum of citizens living within it.