The WA government will spend $129 million over four years on cycling infrastructure in Perth, with an undertaking to better integrate projects with its METRONET public transport strategy.
The funding, part of an election commitment to grow and strengthen Perth’s cycling paths, is the most significant investment to be made in the space by a Western Australian government, according to premier Mark McGowan.
“This investment will make sure cycling infrastructure is safer and more integrated with public transport, making life easier for busy Western Australians,” Mr McGowan said.
“Perth has a good level of existing cycling infrastructure but there are still a lot of gaps and dead ends.”
He said each new METRONET train station would be designed to be “cycle friendly”.
All up, the $129 million will add 95 kilometres of cycling path to be added to the network, and also fund community cycling initiatives.
Of the funding, $55 million will go to filling gaps in the current Principal Shared Path (PSP) network in Perth, with $29 in grants going to local governments to help develop bike plans and deliver new cycling infrastructure, such as shared paths and bike boulevards.
An additional $45 million will be invested in paths alongside new major road projects, including the NorthLink WA construction, the Roe Highway and Kalamunda Road Interchange upgrade, and the Reid Highway duplication.
Transport minister Rita Saffioti said more PSPs – paths shared by cyclists and pedestrians – were necessary to encourage participation in cycling.
“These projects will provide pedestrians and bike riders with extended lengths of safe, high-quality path which will separate them from road users, helping to ensure that everyone is able to travel safely while easing congestion,” she said.
Paths within a 15km radius of the CBD will be prioritised.
The PSP expansion will include:
- Mitchell Freeway PSP – Glendalough Station to Hutton Street missing link; and Erindale Road to Civic Place missing link
- Fremantle Line PSP – Grant Street to North Fremantle extension
- Midland Line PSP – Success Hill Station to Railway Parade cul-de-sac missing link
“The Glendalough to Hutton Street project will include a section with full separation of pedestrians and cyclists to cater for high pedestrian movements to the train station,” Ms Saffioti said.
No where near enough work on the horror track that presents itself as the freeway north bike track. It is a disgrace and I believe a reason why many more people don’t cycle from the north. I wanted to cycle from Connolly to the city on a regular basis but after rattling my teeth to pieces on the footpaths and having to dodge bollards in the dark and cross busy roads and the freeway a number of times I gave up.