ACT Labor has announced it will spend $25 million on research into the design, scope and logistics of the second stage of light rail if re-elected on Saturday.

Earlier this year, the party announced if it wins government again it would extend the network from the City, south to Woden via the parliamentary triangle.

Transport Minister Meegan Fitzharris said the money would provide information that would hopefully progress the project to the procurement stage.

"We have done preliminary technical analysis that shows us that it is a good route, it has excellent and sustainable outcomes for the development of our city, connecting the north and south of our city," Ms Fitzharris said.

"It's really important that we get the scoping and design work right in consultation with the community and with technical experts just like we have on stage one."

Ms Fitzharris said the Labor Party had already learned lessons from their experience with the first leg of the light rail network from Gungahlin to the city.

"We've learned a lot from experts, we've learned a lot from the community," she said.

Free trials of new rapid bus routes

Ms Fitzharris also announced the party's plans to offer a two-month free trial of their rapid bus network once it begins in the middle of 2017.

If re-elected a Labor government would roll out two new routes from Woden to the City through Manuka and Barton, and a route from Belconnen to Gungahlin.

Ms Fitzharris said although the rapid routes would help take the pressure off buses currently in high demand, she hoped the free trial would encourage others to give them a go.

"It's a good way of getting some excitement around new routes, to get people to give it a try," she said.

"It also allows people who don't have a MyWay card just yet to try the rapid bus services and we're really confident ... that there'll be really good patronage across each of these new rapid services."