Newcastle City Council has released a renewal vision document that incorporates a proposed light-rail network that would potentially extend to Newcastle Airport, John Hunter Hospital, Lake Macquarie, Newcastle University and Bathers Way.
The document, titled Connecting Newcastle: Our Urban Renewal Vision, features the following points on the light rail plan:
• Eastbound tracks will follow the northern side of Hunter and Scott Street, which will retain a travel lane in each direction, to Telford Street.
• The route will loop back via Hunter Street Mall.
• A tram will run every 10 minutes in Newcastle, moving 300 people an hour.
• Cycle ways and footpaths will be shielded physically and acoustically by parked vehicles
• Mixed running as part of a transit way shared with cycle-ways and wider footpaths will span the entire two-way route from Worth Place to Newcastle Beach.
A spokesperson for the Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said community consultation will be part of the design and planning process:
“Work to progress the design of Newcastle Light Rail continues, and Transport for NSW is growing the team to prepare for delivery of the project.
“Planning documents on the light rail project are expected to be released in coming months for consultation and the community will be invited to have their say on the project and provide feedback on what is being proposed.”
Click here to see the complete planning document.
More in tonight’s news.
Your numbers of 300 per hour seem a bit off considering trams average capcity is 300 and there are 6 an hour so it’s more like 1800 an hour.