The following formal submission have been made public
Submitter: Mark DandoRaising of London Circuit
While I’m generally in favour of the proposal to replace the current freeway style overpass and cloverleaves at the intersection of Commonwealth Avenue and London Circuit with an at-grade intersection, the proposed redesign will have little or no benefit for most public transport users in the short to medium term, and minimal benefit in the long term for bus users.
Major Projects Canberra (the proponent) claims that ‘The Raising of London Circuit will facilitate convenient and safe movement around the city for pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles and public transport’ (Planning Report, p. 45). In fact it will have a minor negative impact on travel times for public transport, according to the Traffic and Transport Impact Assessment (p. 114).
There is no positive impact for bus public transport because it appears that buses won’t stop at the intersection (although this is not directly addressed anywhere in the large amount of documentation submitted as part of the planning application).
Currently, the city south west sector is not properly served by public transport. The nearest northbound bus stops are on London Circuit at City Square and on Commonwealth Ave on the Acton Foreshore, approximately 800 and 600 metres respectively from the NewActon precinct. The southbound bus stops are even less accessible (particularly that on Commonwealth Ave as it involves a longer walk to cross at the pedestrian signals).
In the medium term, light rail stage 2a will provide access from both the north and south via the proposed stop on London Circuit at Edinburgh Ave, but in order to use this mode the vast majority of users will have to change from buses at either Alinga St or Commonwealth Ave and wait for up to 15 minutes to travel one or two stops.
In the long term, when the light rail extends to Woden, this pattern will remain for everyone coming to the area on buses.
A simple solution would be to include bus stops at the new at-grade intersection:
• The northbound stop could be on Commonwealth Ave immediately before the new intersection, with a bus priority right turn from the kerb (similar to the arrangement on at Kingsley St and Barry Drive in the city). This would avoid the safety issues associated with buses merging from the left to the right lanes on Commonwealth Ave (which will be necessary irrespective of whether buses stop at the new intersection or not). Alternatively, it could be located on London Circuit East.
• The southbound stop could be on London Circuit East or on Commonwealth Ave adjacent to the intersection.
Major Projects Canberra (the proponent) claims that ‘The Raising of London Circuit will facilitate convenient and safe movement around the city for pedestrians, cyclists, vehicles and public transport’ (Planning Report, p. 45). In fact it will have a minor negative impact on travel times for public transport, according to the Traffic and Transport Impact Assessment (p. 114).
There is no positive impact for bus public transport because it appears that buses won’t stop at the intersection (although this is not directly addressed anywhere in the large amount of documentation submitted as part of the planning application).
Currently, the city south west sector is not properly served by public transport. The nearest northbound bus stops are on London Circuit at City Square and on Commonwealth Ave on the Acton Foreshore, approximately 800 and 600 metres respectively from the NewActon precinct. The southbound bus stops are even less accessible (particularly that on Commonwealth Ave as it involves a longer walk to cross at the pedestrian signals).
In the medium term, light rail stage 2a will provide access from both the north and south via the proposed stop on London Circuit at Edinburgh Ave, but in order to use this mode the vast majority of users will have to change from buses at either Alinga St or Commonwealth Ave and wait for up to 15 minutes to travel one or two stops.
In the long term, when the light rail extends to Woden, this pattern will remain for everyone coming to the area on buses.
A simple solution would be to include bus stops at the new at-grade intersection:
• The northbound stop could be on Commonwealth Ave immediately before the new intersection, with a bus priority right turn from the kerb (similar to the arrangement on at Kingsley St and Barry Drive in the city). This would avoid the safety issues associated with buses merging from the left to the right lanes on Commonwealth Ave (which will be necessary irrespective of whether buses stop at the new intersection or not). Alternatively, it could be located on London Circuit East.
• The southbound stop could be on London Circuit East or on Commonwealth Ave adjacent to the intersection.