❓ Ms. Saffioti questions the Minister for Transport regarding cost blowouts in the Metro Area Express (MAX) light rail project and the justification for considering a bus system alternative. The Minister defends the cost estimates and outlines the validation process for the bus lane proposal.
AnsweredQoN 136Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
METRO AREA EXPRESS LIGHT RAIL — REPLACEMENT
BUS SYSTEM
136. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the
Minister for Transport:
I have a supplementary question. The minister said yesterday
that the blowout in the Metro Area Express costing from $2.2 billion to $2.5
billion was due to escalation, yet the minister tells us today that the time
frame for the delivery of this bus project and MAX is the same; therefore,
there should have been no blowout for escalation for the MAX.
BUS SYSTEM
136. Ms R. SAFFIOTI to the
Minister for Transport:
I have a supplementary question. The minister said yesterday
that the blowout in the Metro Area Express costing from $2.2 billion to $2.5
billion was due to escalation, yet the minister tells us today that the time
frame for the delivery of this bus project and MAX is the same; therefore,
there should have been no blowout for escalation for the MAX.
AnswerView source ↗
I think the member is a bit confused because the blowout was
not from $2.2 billion, but I will not correct all the numbers just now. What we
are talking about is that with escalation, the cost for MAX light rail is going
up to close to $2.5 billion; that is what I have said.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan!
Mr D.C. NALDER : We
have said that we have a preliminary analysis that suggests that we could
potentially do a dedicated bus lane for around 50 per cent of the cost. That is
what we have as a preliminary analysis. The onus is now on me to validate that.
Yesterday I talked about two key assumptions around this; one is capacity and
the other is the economic uplift from permanency on the stations. They are the
sorts of things that I now need to validate to see whether I can prove that up.
At that point, I will need to take it to cabinet. We have to do that work and I
will undertake it because that is what a responsible minister in government
does.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the second time.
not from $2.2 billion, but I will not correct all the numbers just now. What we
are talking about is that with escalation, the cost for MAX light rail is going
up to close to $2.5 billion; that is what I have said.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan!
Mr D.C. NALDER : We
have said that we have a preliminary analysis that suggests that we could
potentially do a dedicated bus lane for around 50 per cent of the cost. That is
what we have as a preliminary analysis. The onus is now on me to validate that.
Yesterday I talked about two key assumptions around this; one is capacity and
the other is the economic uplift from permanency on the stations. They are the
sorts of things that I now need to validate to see whether I can prove that up.
At that point, I will need to take it to cabinet. We have to do that work and I
will undertake it because that is what a responsible minister in government
does.
Ms R. Saffioti interjected.
The SPEAKER :
Member for West Swan, I call you to order for the second time.
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