Southside residents have rallied behind the ACT government's plans for light rail from Civic to Woden, with locals mostly expressing support.
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Potential routes unveiled this week would see light rail travel down Adelaide Avenue, passing Hopetoun Circuit and the nearby Deakin shops.
One of the proposed stops is right near the Deakin Centre.
Doubleshot cafe manager Daniel Sparrow said he lived in Ainslie and it would make his commute to work easier.
"People that live on the northside can come to us a lot easier," Mr Sparrow said.
"Especially the people who don't have a license as well, the younger generation, which is really boosting in Canberra.
"We'll find a lot more people being able to be employed as well.
"We're starting to compete with the likes of Sydney and Melbourne, with that kind of transport. I think it's taking a step in the right direction."
Deakin resident John Lamb said Canberra was too concentrated on Civic.
"I think we ought to be considering those public transport issues, and we don't balance it against just that immediate cost," Mr Lamb said.
He said people needed to consider the long-term benefits light rail would have for the city.
"It's sensible for a stop to be in this area [Adelaide Avenue and Hopetoun Circuit]," Mr Lamb said
"How you actually, physically connect it there, because we've never designed for those things, will be real issues.
"In concept it's a thing we should be aiming at. I think it's better than building more roads."
Another Deakin resident, Charlotte Nattey, said light rail in the south would have more application and she favoured the proposed route through Barton rather than Parliamentary Circle.
"It depends what the [National Capital Authority] want," Ms Nattey said.
"They can put out as many suggestions as they like but the NCA will decide.
"Public transport in the inner south is lousy. To make the buses work better and to go more frequently would be vastly more sensible."
Doubleshot employee and Nichols resident Lauren Roylance said the light rail would potentially improve her morning commute; her drive to work on Tuesday took an hour.
"I feel like there will be more business and it would make people come out here," Ms Roylance said.
Deakin resident Fiona Wilson said she preferred the Barton route, which would service more people.
"I think it's a good idea," Ms Wilson said.
Ms Wilson said buses were rubbish in the south and hope light rail would improve that.
Meanwhile further down the corridor, Woden Valley Community Council president Fiona Carrick said the council was excited about the density light rail would bring to their ailing town centre.
However Ms Carrick said land use around the transport corridor needed to be mapped out soon to make sure Woden was not awash with endless apartment blocks and no community facilities.
"They need to reserve sites for activity like a CIT or community centre around the Woden Town Square so there are people coming and going. You don't want to have too many rooms at the party," Ms Carrick said.
"We're not a dormitory suburb, we're supposed to be a town centre. When you go to an economic hub you should see an agglomeration of activity, vibrancy. Instead our swimming pool has been privatised, we lost our CIT, our basketball stadium was demolished. We're hoping densification will bring community assets."
