Wellington Street ruled out for rail
Wellington Street has been ruled out as the across-city route for the proposed Max Light Rail project, despite local transport experts saying it is the best option.
The Department of Transport has narrowed the options down to a dual line down Hay Street Mall, single tracks down the Hay and Murray street malls and St Georges/Adelaide Terrace.
The City of Perth favours St Georges Terrace, while Transport Minister Troy Buswell prefers Hay Street mall.
But academics Jemma Green and Peter Newman, from Curtin University's Sustainability Policy Institute, say Wellington Street is ideal because it is wider than the malls, closer to the Perth train station and will provide light rail access to people in Northbridge and East Perth.
"We only have two pedestrian malls in the city - why destroy them by running light rail down them," Ms Green said.
"Wellington Street is wide enough to accommodate light rail and other traffic. By running past the new CityLink precinct, it will help create a vibrant and exciting part of the city." Acting Transport Minister Mike Nahan said Wellington Street was ruled out because it was already a key east-west traffic link and bus route.
He said it would also create "operational issues" for the light rail's turning movements next to the Horseshoe Bridge.
But Ms Green said these "issues" were nothing compared with the engineering challenges of building the line down malls.
The Hay and Barrack street malls are about 16m wide - not wide enough to accommodate a station. According to the City of Perth, this means the line will be of little benefit to retailers, shoppers and pedestrians in the mall.
There could be no street plantings, street art, street performances, stall opportunities or cross-street Christmas decorations.
Wellington Street and St Georges Terrace are about 28m wide.
Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said St Georges Terrace was the only option that could comfortably fit light rail and have the least impact on city amenity.
The public have until the end of next week to submit their views at www.max.wa.gov.au
