Perth Voice Interactive

FITZGERALD STREET won’t be getting high-tech cutting-edge light rail any time soon, but the Barnett government is offering a consolation prize: a bus.

The public transport authority wants to convert the clearway along Fitzgerald into a peak-period bus lane from Walcott Street into the city.

Perth city council staff sounded lukewarm, predicting “minor negative impacts” while supporting the PTA looking into the option and consulting with businesses and residents.

“It will be PTA’s task to demonstrate that the improvements to public transport improvements far outweigh the sum of any negative impacts,” they told councillors.

Light rail, a major election promise of the Liberals, has been “deferred” while the government investigates whether much cheaper high-tech buses are up to the job.

by DAVID BELL