O-Bahn extension: Majority of commuters prefer upgraded interchanges, parking

MORE than half of O-Bahn commuters don’t believe spending $160 million to extend the busway into the city is good value and would prefer money be spent more parking at interchanges. WHAT DO YOU THINK?

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MORE than half of O-Bahn commuters do not believe spending $160 million to extend the busway into the city is good value and would prefer money be spent increasing parking at interchanges.

A survey by The Advertiser of 307 commuters at the Paradise and Klemzig interchanges found 51.14 per cent do not think extending the O-Bahn under the parklands — saving an average of seven minutes off a daily commute — is cost effective.

Fifty-four per cent of commuters would prefer the money be spent on building more parking at the Paradise and Klemzig interchanges.

Of those surveyed 41.37 per cent supported tunnelling under the Parklands and 7.49 per cent were unsure.

Last week the State Government revealed a fourth version of the O-Bahn extension featuring a longer tunnel from Hackney Rd to Grenfell St under the Parklands, reducing the impact on Rymill Park.

The project is expected to be a key transport project in this Thursday’s State Budget despite calls from Business SA s to scrap the upgrade and invest the money in more pressing infrastructure projects such as the Northern Connector.

Transport Minister Stephen Mullighan stands by the project which he said would also save motorists about 4½ minutes on their peak hour commute.

“The O-Bahn City Access Project is intended to improve travel times and reliability for O-Bahn patrons, and reduce congestion and improve travel times for vehicles on Hackney Road and in the east of the city,” he said.

“It is an important infrastructure project that will support 450 jobs during construction.”

He said parking at the interchanges could not be increased without charging a transport levy, or car park tax, on city motorists.

“The government has already delivered upgrades to parking at O-Bahn interchanges and planned to do more through the Transport Development Levy but the Liberals voted against this,” he said.

The levy, which was expected to raise $25.7m per year, was defeated in Parliament last September.

Opposition transport spokesman Corey Wingard said the needs of suburban commuters could not be ignored.

“While improving O-Bahn access to the city is important, the need to upgrade parking infrastructure in our suburbs cannot be understated,” he said.

“Upgrading Park n Ride facilities would encourage South Australians to use public transport ... and will continue to advocate for these important projects on behalf of local residents.”

Paradise resident Peter Merkel, 70 and his wife Helen, 68 live within walking distance to the Paradise interchange.

Mr Merkel has been using the O-Bahn five days per week to travel to the Royal Adelaide Hospital for medical treatment. But he doesn’t believe the tunnel is the best use of $160m

“There are other ways of improving the service,” he said.

He said a lack of parking and two-hour parking restrictions on streets near the interchange had pushed drivers into streets further way.

“(Commuters) often drive to park at the O-Bahn, and if they’re unlucky it’s an inconvenience to local residents,” he said.

But Ruth Brunt, 53, of Highbury supported the O-Bahn investment.

“(The tunnel) is not going to impact on anybody, it’s not going across the top of the parklands,” she said. “It makes good sense to decrease the travel time because lot of people have moved into the city from the North East corridor ... and lots of cities have lots of underground activity, like London.”

The survey

The Advertiser survey of 307 commuters at Klemzig and Paradise interchanges.

Do you think spending $160 million on an O-Bahn extension, that includes a tunnel under the Parklands, to save an average seven minutes of daily commute, is good value?

Yes41.4 per cent

No51.1 per cent

Unsure7.5 per cent

Would you prefer money be spent on more parking at Klemzig and Paradise interchanges?

Yes54.4 per cent

No41.4 per cent

Unsure3.9 per cent

(0.3 per cent declined to answer)