Business case a ringing endorsement of City of Stirling’s bold vision for trackless trams

An independent business case has provided resounding support for an Australian-first trackless tram system in the City of Stirling and estimated it would generate a net economic benefit of almost $600 million in 30 years.

The business case, presented to Council on Tuesday night, is an endorsement of the City’s bold vision of linking the Perth CBD and Stirling City Centre to Scarborough Beach by trackless tram.
 
Prepared by global infrastructure consultants SMEC, it shows the project is economically viable, with an estimated capital cost of $864 million at 90 per cent confidence and a benefit-cost ratio of 1.96.
 
It states that the project would act as a catalyst for economic development, job creation and housing supply, while reducing urban sprawl and traffic congestion.
 
The report identifies that if nothing is done to address the transport issues in the Scarborough Beach Road Activity Corridor, it will cost the economy an estimated $50.8 million per year, making it a “problem of national significance” under Infrastructure Australia guidelines.
 
Land-use consultants Urbis were also engaged to explore the potential impacts of trackless trams on urban revitalisation in light of SMEC’s 621-page business case.
 
Urbis found the concept presented a “once-in-a-generation opportunity” to create a global drawcard and a blueprint for urban transformation that would trigger a nationally significant revitalisation of the Scarborough Beach Road Activity Corridor.

Council voted on Tuesday night to note the business case and share it with the State and Federal Governments to advocate for the implementation of trackless trams.
 
“One of our roles at the City is to advocate for more sustainable and effective ways of connecting our community, and I’m really proud of the pioneering work we’ve done on trackless trams,” Mayor Mark Irwin said.
 
“We have to prepare for a significant increase in population in the Stirling City Centre and Scarborough Beach Road Activity Corridor, and if we don’t find a way to reduce reliance on cars in these areas, our community is going to have a serious problem.
 
“This business case proves that trackless trams are a solution to that problem.
 
“The estimated cost of delivering this system is $864 million, and when you consider that comparable light rail systems cost billions of dollars and have a far greater impact on existing infrastructure, that’s an incredible figure.”
 
The overarching aim of the City’s research into trackless trams has been to identify the most suitable mid-tier public transport system for the Scarborough Beach Road Activity Corridor.
 
That aim aligns with the City’s Sustainable Stirling 2022-2032 Strategic Community Plan, which commits the City to advocating for improved public transport options and a more sustainable and integrated transport network.
 
The Scarborough Beach Road Activity Corridor, from Glendalough Station to Scarborough Beach, is expected to accommodate most of the City’s projected 50 per cent population growth in the next 30 years.
 
Planning frameworks are already in place for increased density in the area, and mid-tier public transport has long been considered a key element of the success of that planning and development. 
 
SMEC’s business case considered several mid-tier options, including light rail and bus rapid transit, but found trackless trams provided the best balance of cost and benefits.
 
The City initiated the business case in 2021, after receiving $2 million for the project through the Federal Government’s Urban Congestion Fund.
 
The Federal funding was also used to run an award-winning trackless tram trial in November 2023 in partnership with Curtin University, Infrastructure Technology Solutions Group, CRRC and Shanghai Electric.

“Now that we know trackless trams are economically viable in the City of Stirling, we’ll continue to advocate for this project and work with the State and Federal Governments to achieve our shared objectives of better public transport,” Mayor Irwin said.
 
“But it’s important to note that this project isn’t just about transport – it’s about land use, population density, investment, jobs and amenity.
 
“This business case has shown that trackless trams can be an affordable and sustainable option for urban transformation in Australia.”

Read more at www.stirling.wa.gov.au/tracklesstram