when the o'farrell government took office in march 2011, it committed to building a line through the cbd to barangaroo, with a preferred route along george street. it also committed to conducting feasibility studies into the construction of lines from the city to sydney university and the city to the university of new south wales. on 8 december 2011, the government announced shortlisted potential routes for these extensions. in 2012, transport for nsw (tfnsw) decided the routes to sydney university and barangaroo via the rocks provided fewer customer benefits and were considered a lower priority. a route from circular quay to the university of new south wales via central station was seen as the best option.