Knox Council reveals public transport wish list including tram line

KNOX Council has revealed a three-pronged public transport proposal, based on a new tram line, to free tens of thousands of eastern suburbs commuters held “captive’’ by their cars.

Knox councillor Jackson Taylor and Labor candidate for Ferntree Gully Julie Buxton in Vermont South. Picture: Andy Brownbill

KNOX Council has revealed its three-pronged public transport plan to free tens of thousands of eastern suburbs commuters held “captive’’ by their cars.

The wishlist is heavily focused on trams, and has the backing of the Eastern Transport Coalition, which aims to “connect more people with jobs, educational opportunities, business and health precincts”.

The headline project would push a train line from Caulfield railway station past Chadstone shopping along Wellington Rd to Rowville.

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The last piece would be a tram line along Stud Rd connecting the Bayswater Business Precinct with Dandenong.

Labor has already committed $3 million in the 2018-19 budget for planning and design of the route.

The route 75 tram line which terminates at Vermont South would finally be extended down Burwood Highway, past Westfield Knox, finishing in Upper Ferntree Gully.

The tram route made steady progress from Warrigal Rd further east but stalled in Vermont South in 2005.

Knox Mayor John Mortimore said the eastern suburbs were neglected when it came to public transport.

“Commuters across the east are captive to their cars at present and what we want to see is the delivery of an interconnected public transport system that will enable people to leave the car at home and still get to their place of work, study or business in a timely way,” he said.

Cr Jackson Taylor said the east needed bipartisan support to unclog the congestion.

“We are seeing some positive signs at both a state and federal level, however we need to build on this momentum by continuing to advocate strongly to all sides of politics,” Cr Jackson said.

Labor candidate for Ferntree Gully Julie Buxton said she fully supports a business case for the route 75 tram.

“The extension of the 75 line to create a Knox Light Rail has been talked about for decades, so it’s time we developed a business case to evaluate the viability of the project, now and into the future,” Ms Buxton said.

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