SRL's Shortsighted Cost Cutting Measures Will Haunt Melbourne's Commuters The Victorian government's decision to slash $1 billion from the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) project by eliminating underground station interchanges and pedestrian overpasses is a case of penny pinching that will ultimately cost the state more in the long run.
Premier Ben Carroll justifies these "bells and whistles" as unnecessary, but this view neglects fundamental principles of good urban planning. The impact on travel times is a major concern.
By eliminating interchanges at Box Hill and Glen Waverley, commuters will be forced to take longer routes, making the SRL less competitive with car travel.