Opposition criticised for lack of transport policy

The Liberal Party had to face up to the fact that their complete lack of a public transport policy would cause delays for thousands of bus commuters from the northern suburbs if the Fitzgerald Street bus bridge was not built, Transport Minister Pam Beggs said today.

Mrs Beggs said a Liberal Party motion concerning the bus bridge in Parliament today was a feeble attempt to try to avoid any public backlash because of the delays.

"Their sincerity over this issue is matched only by the Liberal's concern for public transport - it does not exist," she said.

"They harp on about sinking the Fremantle railway and extending the Roe Street tunnel without any regard for the factors associated with such a project.

"First, if both lines were sunk under the proposal put by the Perth City Council and adopted by the Liberals, the actual amount of railway reserve opened up for public use - including public transport - would be less than 50 metres long.

"Second, the tunnels could not be extended too far eastward because of electrical and communications links under the railway line at the end of Milligan Street.

"Third, Roe Street would have to be raised to overcome associated problems such as grades and the high water table.

"This would create massive disruption in Roe Street and isolate local businesses while the work was underway.

"And fourth, sinking the railway through the central business district is a long-term project but not one that has priority within the overall context of planning and the metropolitan region's immediate public transport needs.

"The Liberals now realise that their support for the tunnels was a big mistake and they now are trying to backslide their way out of the situation.

"However, the public can see through their motives and the Liberals can be assured that the Government is not waiting until the next election to sheet home the blame.

"The Government is blaming the Liberals now."

Mrs Beggs said when the northern suburbs railway was operating, 36 trains and 114 buses an hour would use the intersection at the bottom end of Fitzgerald Street in the morning and afternoon peaks.

The proposed bridge would meet the needs of bus users and local businesses alike.

She had assured representatives of Northbridge businesses that their concerns had been taken into account in the bridge design.