A review of northern suburbs rapid transit options: report of expert panel

The Expert Panel was set up by the Minister for Transport in response to requests for further information to provide a perspective on Perth's public transport system, to see how other cities are resolving their transport problems and to give another view on Travers Morgan's analysis of the Northern Suburbs Rapid Transit options. The following conclusions are made: 1) Perth has a window of opportunity to complete the basic public transport infrastructure of a modern city. 2) The best option for the Northern Suburbs would be a rail trunk line with bus feeders. 3) Initial cost analysis suggests the rail option would be: $124m capital costs (cf $145m by Travers Morgan), $5.8m less in operating costs annually than the bus option. Thus the difference between rail and bus ($45m) would be eliminated in 12 to 15 years with savings from thereon. 4) Further savings could be obtained if a more comprehensive bidding system were provided by tenderers involving land development and financing. It could be anticipated that capital costs for the rail option under such a comprehensive bidding system would be considerably reduced. 5) To maximise financial return through land development the Northern Line could be redirected into the Innaloo Regional Centre as well as the Joondalup Regional Centre after detailed consideration of the alignment.