Australia: Canberra: Light Rail Extensions Being Investigated: August 11, 2015

Tom McIlroy

Legislative Assembly reporter at The Canberra Times

The proposed extension of light rail from the City to Russell would liberate public servants exiled in the Defence precinct. Photo: Supplied

The ACT government has given its strongest indication yet of a preference for the light rail line to extend to Russell, with Minister Simon Corbell describing it as "enormously attractive" on Tuesday.

Facing criticism about the project from the Liberal opposition during a budget debate in the Legislative Assembly, Mr Corbell said the proposed extension would help boost business in the city and liberate public servants exiled in the Defence precinct at Russell. 

The 3.2-kilometre extension would run from the planned terminus at Northbourne Avenue and Alinga Street, around London Circuit and down the upgraded Constitution Avenue. It would include three passenger stops and could create about 5600 extra passenger trips each day, providing a boost of 30 per cent to the overall project. 

Capital Metro Minister Simon Corbell described the extension as "enormously attractive". Photo: Rohan Thomson

Two consortiums bidding to build and operate the city-to-Gungahlin line have been asked to provide costings for the Russell arm after they hand their bids for the first 12 kilometres to the government at the end of September.

Further information relating to the Russell extension is due in October and contract negotiations will take place in the first half of 2016. 

"What an enormously attractive option this would be if it can be realised," Mr Corbell said. 

"Thousands and thousands of public servants – isolated in Russell right now, where they cannot connect to the city centre easily and effectively, even during their lunch hour. 

"So let's look at the opportunity that comes from connecting them now." 

The government believes trams could service about 8300 public servants and Defence Force personnel as well as city office workers, tourists and shoppers. The extension would also service new housing developments in Reid, the convention centre and Canberra Institute of Technology.

Mr Corbell said city business owners were "backing in" the extension proposal, but the government won't sign off until it considers final costs. 

"They understand the economic opportunity that comes from accessible, regular, frequent public transport connections between Russell and the city.

"The government is very keen to see this option closely examined and that's why we have asked for it to be part of the bids for stage one." 

The current Constitution Avenue upgrades allow for realignment for a light rail line. Disruption around City Walk and Vernon Circle would be avoided using the London Circuit route.  

Any extension will see the $783 million project cost and annual payments to private partners increase, likely to be a flash point for the opposition. 

Speaker Vicki Dunne again criticised the project, despite her previous public support for sustainable transport and reduced car dependency in Canberra. Mrs Dunne read critical comments from her Facebook page opposing the government's city-to-Gungahlin proposal. 

Mr Corbell quoted at length from a 2003 paper written by Mrs Dunne that said commuting patterns could shift with a light rail system, already in place in similar cities overseas.

Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson accused the government of "reckless determination" over its plans to sign contracts before the October 2016 election. 

"They know that if they take this to the election in its current form, they're going  lose. 

"That's why they think that 'if we get these contracts signed, then that will hopefully take it all off the table'. But it won't," Mr Hanson said.

Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/next-stop-russell-government-loves-light-rail-extension-options-20150811-giwfht.html#ixzz3j9eWq0Gp
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Australia: Gold Coast light rail stage two expressions of interest called for.

12 Aug 2015

AUSTRALIA: The Queensland government is inviting expressions of interest from August 10 until August 28 for construction of the second phase of the Gold Coast light rail line.

A revised route has been developed for the northern extension, which could be built for less than half the cost of the original proposal, according to the state government. The 7·3 km alignment would run from the current northern terminus at Gold Coast University Hospital to Helensvale, where interchange would be provided with Queensland Rail services to and from Brisbane. The end-to-end journey time on the extension would be 11 min.

According to Queensland Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, a contribution from all three levels of government is required if the project is to be built in time for the Commonwealth Games, which Gold Coast is hosting in 2018. The city has already said that it will provide funding, but the federal government is currently refusing to support urban rail projects.

The initial 13 km phase of the G:Link line opened in July 2014 from University Hospital to Southport, Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach. It was built by the GoldLinQ consortium of McConnell Dowell, Bombardier and Keolis under an 18-year PPP concession valued at A$1bn and is operated by the KDR Gold Coast joint venture of Keolis and Downer Rail.

Canberra light rail: Two international consortia shortlisted to deliver project: ABC.com.au

Posted Wed at 6:12am

PHOTO: The $600 million Capital Metro light rail project will connect Gunghalin to the city. (Supplied)

RELATED STORY: Major companies vie for chance to build light rail in ACT

Two international consortia have been shortlisted by the ACT Government to build the Capital Metro light rail project from Gungahlin to the city. 

ACTivate group and the Canberra Metro group have been named in the final shortlist to build the $600 million project.

The two consortia contain some of the world's most respected construction companies, including Mitsubishi, Downer EDI, the German train operator DB International and light rail operator Keolis.

Minister for Capital Metro Simon Corbell said he was confident one of the two consortia would be able to deliver the project. 

"These are globally recognised consortia who have decades of experience in delivering light rail," he said.

"The ACTivate and CanberraMetro consortia include globally recognised names experienced in civil construction, in railway operations, in service delivery for urban rail services.

"This bodes very well for the successful delivery of the Capital Metro project."

Originally four groups put in tenders to build the controversial project.

Mr Corbell said the successful bidder would be selected in early 2016.

"These two successful consortia will now proceed through to the request for proposal stage," he said. 

"We will be asking them detailed bids based on the request for proposal.

"We'll be looking very closely at issues like local jobs, making sure they support local jobs and local suppliers, making sure they deliver strong safety outcomes, as well as a very efficient and competitive price for Canberra's first light rail project."

Both consortia will deliver two bids for the project. 

One bid will detail the Gungahlin to the City proposal and the second will detail the city to the Russell extension. 

"These consortia will not just be constructing light rail in Canberra, they will also be providing the rolling stock and providing the operations for an approximate 20-year term," Mr Corbell said. 

"These are big companies, big banks and big organisations wanting to invest in our city, create jobs and deliver us a light rail service that we need for future growth and development."

Companies bidding for the light rail project as part of each consortia:

Canberra Metro	ACTivate
Pacific Partnerships (lead respondent)	Downer EDI Works (lead respondent)
Mitsubishi Corp	Plenary Origination
Aberdeen Infrastructure Investments	Bombardier Transportation Australia
John Holland	Keolis Downer
DB International	Keolis SA
Leighton Contractors	Parsons Brinckerhoff Australia
CAF	Aurecon Australasia
Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi	Cox Architecture
	Itochu Australia
	Partners Group AG

Melbourne's tram routes CHANGES: Adam Carey Transport Reporter for The Age

Tram model D2 5001 Photo: Chris Hopkins

Melbourne's tram network is in for a change of direction, with three routes set to be diverted to new destinations, one route scaled back and another scrapped completely.

The planned tram overhaul was originally scheduled for April, in sync with the opening of the Regional Rail Link, but has been delayed until at least June while the Andrews government considers its first revamp of public transport timetables.

The plans, leaked to Fairfax Media, reveal that some of the most overcrowded tram routes in Melbourne have been targeted for change and in the case of route 8 between Moreland and Toorak, permanent discontinuation.

Route 8 is statistically one of the city's most overburdened tram routes. In May it recorded load breaches, in which trams are more than 100 per cent full, right across the morning peak and for most of the evening peak.    

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The overcrowding was worst on trams heading into the city from the northern suburbs. The most recent passenger load survey conducted by Public Transport Victoria revealed patronage levels into the CBD on route 8 had jumped between 11 and 19 per cent in just 12 months. 

But route 8 passengers will not be left without a tram service - three other routes will be modified to take its place.

Tram route 55, which runs from West Coburg to the Domain Interchange on St Kilda Road, will be extended through to Toorak.

Tram route 6, which currently runs from Glen Iris to Melbourne University, will be extended to East Coburg.

And tram route 1, which runs from East Coburg to South Melbourne Beach, will instead terminate at Moreland Road in Brunswick.

But users of tram route 19 between North Coburg and Flinders Street Station may have cause to feel aggrieved by the looming changes, with the number of trams that ply the busy route due to be cut.

The service cut will take place in exchange for the route getting a full fleet of high-capacity low-floor trams.

Load breaches remain a problem on route 19, which services the boom suburb of Brunswick and which experienced a 17 per cent jump last year in the number of people using it to travel into the city in the morning peak.

Daniel Bowen, a spokesman for the Public Transport Users Association, said that if route 19 was going to get fewer but larger trams, PTV would need to make sure this did not worsen overcrowding.

He also warned that many people who are used to getting a seat on a tram might have to stand, because low-floor trams have fewer seats.

Public Transport Minister Jacinta Allan said the government was assessing proposed tram network service improvements, "however, no final proposal has yet been provided to government for consideration".

Meanwhile, Yarra Trams is also set to unveil plans for a series of new super stops along St Kilda Road.

Two new platform tram stops are planned between the Domain Interchange and Flinders Street. The number of stops on that stretch of St Kilda Road will be cut from four to two, and the road will change from three lanes to two each way.

Yarra Trams spokesman Simon Murphy said the construction of two new super stops will make the entire tram corridor between Melbourne University and Domain Interchange compliant with disability discrimination laws.

"Platform stops improve passenger and road user safety and network accessibility, which is particularly important on the world's busiest tram corridor," he said.

Yarra Trams has limited its publicity campaign about the mooted changes to posters and leaflets at the affected St Kilda Road stops.

Mr Murphy said: "Yarra Trams and PTV acknowledge that while community feedback is welcome, major changes to the design are not practical due to the space available on the road to meet the needs of tram passengers and other road users."

Australia: Gold Coast light rail Stage 2 Gets support from State Government

Date

Tony Moore brisbanetimes.com.au senior reporter

The Queensland Government will support Stage two of the Gold Coast light rail. Photo: Glenn Hunt

The new Queensland Government supports the next stage of the Gold Coast's light rail project, hoping it will be built in time for the Commonwealth Games in April 2018.

And it may come at no cost to the Queensland Government over the next four years.

Stage two of the Gold Coast light rail project connects stage one – which runs between Southport and Broadbeach – out to the main Brisbane to Gold Coast rail line.

"Labor supports the extension of the light-rail system to connect with heavy rail at the northern end of the Gold Coast." Photo: Glenn Hunt

The previous government did not provide a commitment to have the project finished in time for the Games in April 2018.

Queensland's deputy premier, transport and infrastructure minister Jackie Trad said on Tuesday the Palaszczuk Government backed the project, which she has identified as "critical."

"Labor supports the extension of the light-rail system to connect with heavy rail at the northern end of the Gold Coast," Ms Trad said.

"The light-rail project has been an incredible success, thanks to the joint contributions from former State and Federal Labor Governments, as well as Gold Coast Council," she said.

Ms Trad said the Queensland Government and Gold Coast City Council have exchanged letters in the past fortnight about an alternative funding model for the project.

"I recognise that this project is critical to the Gold Coast, and I am working hard to explore all options available," she said.

"I have been corresponding with Gold Coast Council on the light rail extension, and have requested they provide the Department of Transport and Main Roads with documentation about their alternative funding proposal to assist with finalising planning work."

Ms Trad said she had also asked the federal government for help with rail infrastructure funding for the project, an issue raised in Brisbane on Tuesday by infrastructure economistAdrian Hart from infrastructure consultants, BIS Shrapnel.

"I also personally asked the Federal Minister for Infrastructure to consider funding for public transport infrastructure, such as the light rail extension, when I met with him recently," she said.

The $1 billion stage one of the project received funding from all three levels of government.

The Bligh Queensland Government committed $464 million, while the former Australian Government provided $365 million.

Gold Coast City Council provided $120 million to complete the construction phase.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the Gold Coast City Council has promised to provide a similar 12 to 15 per cent to the $600 million Stage 2.

Gold Coast City Council proposes to build stage two – out from Griffith University's Southport campus - to Parkwood and Helensvale.

Earlier, Cr Tate said he and GoldLinq chairman, John Witheriff had explained their model to Commonwealth Games and tourism minister, Kate Jones, a fortnight ago.

GoldLinq is the private company that has the right to operate the Gold Coast light rail for 18 years.

"The design work is done, the engineering part is ticked off and we propose going from Griffith University up to Parkwood and then to Helensvale," Cr Tate said.

"And John said it was 'shovel ready' from his point of view."

Cr Tate said Mr Witheriff had explained that GoldLinq does not need state government funding for three years.

"He said with the financial funding, they do not need any funding for three years," Cr Tate said.

"They can get it from the future cash flow.

"So it is not going to hurt Treasury at all."

Cr Tate said the Gold Coast would prefer the connection ran to Helensvale, with a stop at Parkwood, effectively at the end of Smith Street at Southport.

Cr Tate, who is arguing with the state government over the future of a proposal to build cruise-ship terminal on a sand island in the mouth of Gold Coast Broadwater, welcomed the news from Ms Trad.

"The consistent message from the private sector is that they stand ready to deliver the next stage with no upfront cost to taxpayers – or ratepayers," Cr Tate said.

"In my view this is the best possible outcome because it is a win for the operator, a win for commuters and a win for the government."

* The state government stressed on Wednesday the extension would need council, state and federal funding. 

Trams Return To Downtown Shanghai

PHOTO COURTESY OF URBANRAIL.NET

Shanghai, China is a city renowned for a bevy of sights and wonders throughout. And it still retains a distinct old-world charm in spite of the rapid modernization that has taken place. A recent development on the transportation end looks to be a celebration of both worlds.

City government officials announced recently that trams will be returning to the downtown sector of Shanghai. This marks the first time this form of transportation, which was an integral part of the city dating back to 1908, will be in service to citizens again. At present, there is only one tram route in operation, located at the Zhangjiang High Tech Park in the Pudong New Area. This line runs for six miles and has 15 stops. Tram routes were approved last year for the Songjiang district in order to connect with the Metro Line 9. These two trams are set to be completed and open by 2017, and the electric trams will have four cars with a capacity of 368 people. The top speed of the trams is estimated at 49 miles per hour.

The newest lines will cover 8 miles between the Xupu and Nanpu bridges and run through the Xuhui district, in close proximity to the Huangpu riverbanks and Longwu Road. Construction on this line is slated to begin in 2017, with no estimated completion date as of yet. The Qingpu district will also see two tram lines built, with the northern branch to run for 3 miles and have 12 stops and the southern branch run for 5 miles and have up to 18 stops. Furthermore, there are plans to have 2,500 parking spaces built along the Huangpu river in addition to designated jogging lanes and transportation hubs that will connect these trams with other railway lines and rental stations.

The city government has put these plans in action with an eye of furthering green development within Shanghai as well as to attain a goal of making the city less congested for residents & tourists alike. These initiatives will most certainly keep Shanghai on its upward climb as a city on the move.

Australia: Gold Coast Light Rail Extension for Commonwealth Games May Not Happen in Time

Date

February 23, 2015

• Tony Moore

A new rail line, meant to be transporting visitors to the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, is behind schedule. Mayor Tom Tate said if money wasn't committed by the end of March the crucial rail link wouldn't be ready for the main event.

Gold Coast City Council hopes to link the city's existing light-rail line to the Brisbane-Gold Coast passenger line in order to transport for hundreds of thousands of sports fans travelling to and around the Glitter Strip during the major sporting event.

The Gold Coast City Council hopes to link its light rail line with SEQ's passenger line. Photo: Glenn Hunt

However Cr Tate said the project remained up in the air.

"If we don't get a commitment [from the state government] about starting work by March 2015, then it won't be ready for the Games in April 2018," Cr Tate said.

"The design work is done, the engineering part is ticked off and we propose going from Griffith University [on the Gold Coast] up to Parkwood and then to Helensvale," Cr Tate said.

He said John Witheriff, the chairman of GoldLinq which is joining the project in a public-private partnership, said the scheme was "shovel ready".

"GoldLinq are confident because Gold Coasters voted with their feet, with the first stage of light rail," he said.

"You can imagine if they connected it to heavy rail, how many more are going to embrace it from further west and the commuters from Brisbane."

Cr Tate met with new Commonwealth Games Minister Kate Jones to explain the project on Thursday. 

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last week said the LNP's promise to connect the Gold Coast's light rail to the heavy rail passenger rail was based on asset sales.

"I recall about three years ago – about three and half years ago - the former Labor government commissioned a study to see what is feasible in terms of that extension," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"I will be asking the Deputy Premier [Jackie Trad], who is also responsible for transport, to find that report so we can have a look at in detail."

Ms Trad is still receiving departmental briefs on a series of transport and infrastructure projects.

The Queensland government declined to provide a more detailed response on Sunday.

Alstom to deliver Citadis X05 trams for Sydney's CBD Light Rail

26 February 2015 http://www.railway-technology.com

Mocked Up image of trams in Sydney's 'main street' George St - just outside the Queen Victoria Building.

French rail manufacturer Alstom has been assigned to deliver and commission 30 coupled Citadis X05 trams for Sydney's $2.1bn CBD and South East Light Rail project.

In December last year, Australia's New South Wales (NSW) Transport contracted the ALTRAC consortium, which comprises Alstom, Transdev, Acciona and Capella, for the construction of this light rail project.

Alstom will be also responsible for the power supply equipment, including APS ground power supply, signalling systems, the energy recovery system HESOP, depot equipment and maintenance.

Alstom Transport Asia Pacific senior vice-president Dominique Pouliquen said: "Alstom is very committed to Sydney's transport network.

"This project will transform Sydney and provide a step change in the city's public transport capability and reliability while protecting the aesthetic appeal of the Central Business District."

With the support of permanent magnet motors and easier sub-system integration, Alstom Citadis X05 trains will be able to offer less energy consumption and reduced lifecycle costs.

Features of the vehicles include constant CCTV monitoring, emergency intercoms and the wayfinding aids for real-time passenger information.

The consortium will carry out works, including the design, construction, services relocations, operation and maintenance of the project, as well as the operation and maintenance of the Inner West Light Rail network.

The project is expected to be completed in 2018 with services scheduled to start in early 2019.

---

Image: Citadis X05 for Sydney will offer double-doors for better passenger flows, large balcony-style windows, multi-purpose areas and ambient LED lighting. Photo: courtesy of Alstom.

China: Shanghai: Trams to make comeback in city after more than 40 years

Shanghai is planning on installing around 13 kilometers of tram lines in downtown Shanghai, over 40 years after the city's tram network was closed down. 

According to Shanghai Daily:

Work on a line between Xupu and Nanpu bridges along the Huangpu River will start by 2017, according to a three-year riverside public space construction plan.

Under the plan, the line will mostly run in Xuhui district, along Longwu Road or by the riverbank.

It will help ease traffic congestion and provide a low-carbon transport option for residents and tourists, the city’s Huangpu Riverbanks development general office said.

Trams began operating in Shanghai in 1908, and more than 300 of them ran in the city before the network was closed back in the early 70s. Currently, only one tram route exists at the Zhangjiang High Tech Park in Pudong (above).

 
Trams seen on Jiujiang Road in the 1920s

Last year, we reported that the government was launching an environmental impact assessment into two electric tram lines that would go up in the Songjiang district and connect with Metro Line 9. The plan has since been approved and the lines are set to open in 2017. 

The electric trams will have four carriages that can hold at most 368 people. The trams are considered highly energy efficient and will have a maximum speed of 80 kilometers per hour.

Two more routes are planned for the city's Qingpu district, as well.

[Images via Wikipedia]

Contact the author of this article or email tips@shanghaiist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

Sydney Australia: Corporates Back Plan to bankroll light rail line from Parramatta to Sydney Olympic Park (Western Sydney)

DEBORAH FITZGERALD PARRAMATTA ADVERTISER FEBRUARY 18, 2015 12:00AM

An artist’s impression of the Parramatta light rail, which a group of businesses want extended to Sydney Olympic Park.

A CONSORTIUM of up to 20 high-profile businesses have formed the West Line Alliance, offering to tip in hundreds of millions of dollars to bring the Parramatta light rail link to Sydney Olympic Park.

The business group hopes to bankroll the project and make the Olympic Park line the State Government’s preferred route for stage one, with a final announcement expected before the State Election.

The West Line Alliance includes corporate heavy-hitters such as Goodman Fielder, General Property Trust, Australian Turf Club, Accor Hotels and ANZ Stadium and has brought a number of influential business leaders to the table.

Big business is pushing for a light rail link from Parramatta to Sydney Olympic Park.

Until now, the favoured route for the first stage of the Parramatta light rail link was to Macquarie Park via Carlingford.

The route, one of four options outlined last year, has been the frontrunner because the land corridor to Carlingford has ­already been reserved for heavy rail and could be built faster and cheaper.

Parramatta MP Geoff Lee and Parramatta City Council have championed the Carlingford line. However, the alliance wants the government to consider moving on the Sydney Olympic Park link sooner rather than later.

Sydney Business Chamber Western Sydney director David Borger.

The government is examining four potential corridors before it choses a light rail route

Convened by the Western Sydney chapter of the Sydney Business Chamber, the alliance wants to use a ‘value-capture’ funding model which sees beneficiaries of infrastructure stumping up money for the project.

Western Sydney Business Chamber director David Borger said the link could be partially funded through contributions from developers along the route.

“If they are going to spend $1 billion building a light rail link, well there could be a few hundred million dollars from the private sector to do two routes rather than one,” he said.

Rosehill Gardens racecourse is on the proposed route to Sydney Olympic Park.

ANZ Stadium is part of the West Line Alliance behind the push.

“If they are going to build a link to Macquarie Park, then build one to Sydney Olympic Park at the same time, or bring it forward rather than a stage two project.

“It pushes the public dollar further and makes sense for the beneficiaries of the light rail to make a contribution.

“The Gold Coast has levied all the businesses along the light rail route to fund the build and we need to consider all options in terms of public-private funding.”

Mr Borger has been a long term supporter of a route from Westmead to Sydney Olympic Park via Camellia.

“There is a real opportunity here to connect Westmead, Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park as one city,” he said.

Western Sydney Light Rail 

“I just think western Sydney hasn’t been able to capture a lot of knowledge jobs,” Mr Borger said.

But Mr Borger’s suggested route would require an extension northwest from Parramatta to Westmead, which was not one the four preferred routes released by Transport Minister Gladys Berejiklian late last year.

The business chamber said the Parramatta light rail project had the potential to transform the region and support Parramatta as Sydney’s second CBD.

The chamber said the project should be prioritised because of its potential to stimulate economic growth and housing supply in western Sydney.

“A stark jobs deficit remains as 200,000 people leave the region for work each day and this is forecast to grow to more than 400,000 by 2051 without drastic action,” a statement from the chamber said.

Australia: Traffic Light Programming May Mean Trams Never Stop: The Age.com

Melbourne trams may never have to stop at traffic lights, under VicRoads plan 

Green light: Trams may never have to stop at traffic lights again. Photo: Craig Abraham

Trams may never have to stop at traffic lights under congestion-busting plans being developed by VicRoads to accommodate Melbourne's growing population.

Traffic lights could one day be programmed to sense when a tram approaches and turn green, giving the tram right of way, VicRoads director of network policy and standards Andrew Wall said.

"It is possible that one day, trams will only have to stop to pick up and set down passengers," Mr Wall said.

He said traffic lights could also be linked with tram timetables so trams could be given priority based on whether they were running early or late.

"It will also be possible to determine when the tram doors are open and shut and only give priority when the tram is ready to go," he said.

"Many tram stops are now being located on the far side of intersections. This means that trams can be given priority through the intersection as soon as they arrive.

"Trams already get significant priority at traffic signals. The biggest challenge for Melbourne is tram routes that share the road with other vehicles. The delays are not due to traffic signals, but rather the queue of vehicles ahead of them."

For the past seven years, VicRoads has been working with researchers at the University of Melbourne and Monash University to determine how changing traffic conditions, including traffic light frequency, might ease congestion in the city.

The research team has used mathematical modelling to test alternative ways to run the network.

Mr Wall said the research focused on developing ways to maximise the number of people moving around the transport network, rather than the number of vehicles.

The study also examined the restriction of on-road parking with clearway zones.

It found that there was only a real benefit in restricting on-road parking within 100 metres of intersections.

With Melbourne's population expected to reach about 8 million by 2053, Mr Wall said the roads authority had to explore new congestion management methods.

Mr Wall said mathematics was being used in a similar way in European countries including Germany and Switzerland, because it was a cheap and effective alternative to traditional forms of modelling.

The research team has now turned its attention to Melbourne's inner-northern suburbs, around Brunswick and Coburg.

"There is extensive growth in higher density housing in this area and trams form a vital role in meeting the transport needs of this community," Mr Wall said.

"It will be critical to ensure that the existing road network in this area is managed as efficiently as possible to maximise the movement of people."