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The Canberra Times
The Canberra Times
National
Georgie Burgess

Govt considers more park-and-ride tram stops

Transport Minister Chris Steel unveiled a new 170-spot park and ride location on Monday. Picture: Georgia Burgess

The ACT government is already investigating where it will put park-and-ride locations along stage four of the light-rail route to ensure Canberrans jump on board when it is complete.

Transport Minister Chris Steel launched the latest of 24 park-and-ride spots on Monday, with 170 spots to be available at the Well Station Drive light-rail stop by September.

The locations are put in place to move commuters away from kerb-side parking and to encourage them to utilise designated parking zones to reduce the impact on businesses and households surrounding the light rail.

The next stage of light rail will be to Commonwealth Park, with the government still working on plans to extend it to Woden.

Mr Steel said the government was working towards adding an additional park and ride at Mawson to shift the strain away from the Southlands shopping centre.

Mr Steel hopes more accessible park-and-ride options will attract more users to the light-rail network, particularly after a drop in numbers because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"This is part of what the ACT government is doing to remove barriers to access public transport and improve patronage, during a time when light rail [and bus numbers] have fallen due to the pandemic," Mr Steel said.

This new location situated next to the Well Station Drive light-rail stop will also be across from the new high school to be built in Kenny, which is due to be completed in 2023.

Mr Steel hoped this particular park-and-ride location would attract more families to consider utilising public transport.

Parents will be able to drive their children to school and then jump on the light rail into the city. Increasing a combined commute of private vehicles and public transport to reduce the congestion on the roads.

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