Award winning urban design for Adelaide tramline

Urban design for Adelaide tramline wins awards and letter of thanks from Lord Mayor. GHD prepared a Development Application Report and an Urban Design Study to support an extension to the Glenelg Tramline.

Designed for the Department for Transport, Energy and Infrastructure, the project involved extending the existing tramline from Victoria Square to the City West Campus of the University of South Australia on North Terrace.

This was a particularly complex project given the tramline’s prominence within Adelaide’s Central Business District and the diverse array of urban design elements requiring resolution along its route. 
Urban Designer Mark Separovic said the tramline has proven to be a resounding success, ‘Since operating, the tramline has recorded a significant increase in patronage and strengthened the role of the Adelaide CBD as a civic, cultural, government, business, retail, entertainment and tourist centre.

‘It has also showcased the distinctive built form and character of the City to instil a sense of place for residents and visitors alike.’

In providing a free and convenient public transport service through the major north-south axis of the City centre, the GTE has enhanced the accessibility of key sites within the City and provided the impetus for increased levels of public transport patronage. 

We’ve received numerous awards for this project (Australia Award for Urban Design 2008 and the Adelaide Prize at the 2008 RAIA Awards). We’ve also receive a letter of thanks from the Lord Mayor.

The project has contributed to the South Australian Strategic Plan objective to double public transport patronage to 10% of weekday travel by the year 2018 and the realisation of a vision to integrate tram services with the metropolitan public transport network, affording opportunities for future light rail links to other key metropolitan destinations.