East End traders want answers from State Government about tram not turning right
EAST End traders are being kept in the dark by the State Government about the decision to exclude a right-hand turn from King William St to North Tce in the new tram extension.
- First tram rail panel laid at North Tce, King William St intersection
- Tram works to close North Tce, King William St intersection
- Traders ‘not consulted’ over key plank of the tram extension works
EAST End traders say they are being kept in the dark by the State Government over its decision to exclude a right-hand turn from King William St to North Tce in the new tram extension.
The East End Co-ordination Group has “dire concerns” about the route, the frequency of services, and is frustrated that trams would not operate before the Fringe, which starts on February 16.
Department of Transport, Planning and Infrastructure (DPTI) general manager Jon Whelan last month spoke to residents and businesses at an East End Co-ordination Group meeting to update them on the O-Bahn and tram extension.
Notes taken at the December 5 meeting state that once operational, the frequency of services on the Glenelg route would increase, while trams to the East End were expected “to be 10 minutes”, which is the normal daytime frequency.
The possibility of an “event mode” that would increase the frequency of services during major events, was also discussed. Mr Whelan is understood to have said that lines will be in by February 14, but will require “two weeks of testing before it (the tram) can function”.
East End Co-ordination Group president Julie Moralee is demanding answers about the exclusion of the turn.
“The tram extension was seen as a ‘shining light’ by traders to draw visitors back to the East End,” she said.
“If commuters are forced to alight, wait and change to another tram heading east then this will be a complete hindrance and quite frankly, the general consensus is that people won’t do it,” she said.
Mr Whelan agreed to relay the concerns to Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan. But a month later, they have not received any correspondence from Mr Whelan or Mr Mullighan. In a letter sent to Mr Whelan this week, the group requested he keep his promise to “report our dire concerns to Minister Mullighan with regards to the change in planning of the original route” and to arrange a meeting to explain why.
Opposition transport spokesman David Pisoni, who was at the meeting, said “people realised quite quickly that the Government was there to justify the position rather than try to resolve any of the issues”.
A spokesman for DPTI would not confirm the frequency of services announced at the meeting, stating that “as a result of careful planning, both the existing line and the new line will continue to provide high frequency services”.
“A new tram timetable, including station and service names will be released in the near future,” he said.
“The new tram line will bring our hugely popular free and frequent city tram services to the East End — and with it thousands of people — to enjoy Adelaide’s premier cultural, shopping, restaurant and entertainment precinct.”