Election 2018: Liberal Party reveals broad transport plan for Adelaide

TRAMS looping around the CBD and a spur line heading north past the Adelaide Oval would be investigated by a new authority in charge of public transport under a Liberal plan.

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TRAMS looping around the CBD and a spur line heading north past the Adelaide Oval would be investigated by a new authority in charge of public transport under a Liberal plan.

Opposition Leader Steven Marshall promised $37 million to fix the North Tce “tram joke” and allow carriages to turn right from King William St to the East End.

The Advertiser also can reveal the Liberals’ broader transport plan includes a new SA Public Transport Authority to investigate “major reform” to ticket pricing and routes.

The policy does not commit the Liberals to building new tram lines, but says options, including a North Adelaide spur and city loops would be considered by an independent expert body to see if they stack up.

Mr Marshall said he would also consider trials of “high capacity electric buses” to prove they were better and cheaper than building fixed tram tracks that disrupted on-street parking, traffic and businesses.

The Liberals also would review fares, with an aim to increase public transport use and simplify the system.

The tram system map featuring a CBD loop.

Options include day passes so trips over a set number become free on weekdays, Saturday discounts and capped fares on Sundays and public holidays.

The Liberals also would consider discounted semester passes for university and TAFE students, and card or mobile payments.

Mr Marshall said the Liberals would also clarify the frequency of services with new Go Zones that have 15 minute or half-hour departures.

Labor has pledged half a billion dollars in tram extensions with lines to Prospect and Norwood, in the heart of Mr Marshall’s own electorate.

The Liberals have categorically ruled out the Norwood tram as well as mooted lines to Unley and the Adelaide Airport via Henley Beach Rd.

Their policy leaves the door open to further O-Bahn upgrades despite controversy over Labor’s $160 million parklands tunnel extension. The Liberals would consider taking the existing service beyond Tea Tree Plaza to the Golden Grove Shopping Centre.

The new SA Public Transport Authority would be required to make annual reports to the government about public satisfaction with services and ideas for change.

Mr Marshall said the existing public transport network was “not meeting customer expectations or needs”. “Less use of public transport means more congestion on our roads and higher costs for households using cars rather than the bus, tram or train,” he said.

“We have a bus network that is ... too infrequent to attract new customers.”

Premier Jay Weatherill dismissed the Liberal right-turn pledge, which Labor says will worsen traffic for cars and pedestrians as well are require the North Tce and Rundle St intersection to be dug up again for another month of work.

“It doesn’t take you any further than our vision,” Mr Weaherill said. “Steven Marshall doesn’t know where he’s headed in relation to trams.

“He is utterly confused.”

Mr Weatherill last month promised to save some commuters more than $300 a year with cut 28-day pass fares that apply from April 3. That will be matched by the Liberals.