OUTCOME 3
Melbourne has an integrated transport system that connects people to jobs and services and goods to market
Melbourne’s transport system needs the capacity to cope with an additional 10.4 million trips26 a day by 2050—up from the current figure of 12.5 million trips a day.
To achieve that, Melbourne needs a huge, well planned investment that enables the city to grow whilst meeting the transport challenges.
Melbourne’s Plan
Transform Melbourne’s transport system to support a productive city
Melbourne’s transport networks link people to jobs and businesses to markets—making the city productive and liveable.
Major transport projects, or city-shaping projects, significantly influence the way in which the city develops.
The transport network will continue to be managed and developed in ways that balance access (including movements through and between places) with the creation of liveable communities. In doing so, improved road networks and effective public transport connections are needed to support growth in capacity.
Create a metro-style rail system with ‘turn up and go’ frequency and reliability
Melbourne’s rail network must grow so it can continue to support the productivity of Melbourne and service the needs of a growing population. The Metro Tunnel, to be completed by 2026, is a critical step towards evolving the train network into a metro-style system.
A metro-style rail system will have a strong focus on passengers, delivering:
• simpler timetables with a ‘turn up and go’ frequency and consistent stopping patterns
• frequent services that facilitate easy interchange with other train lines as well as trams and buses
• separate train fleets, maintenance and stabling facilities for each line
• stand-alone, end-to-end lines that prevent service disruptions on one line from affecting other lines
• modern signalling technology to maximise the number of trains that can operate on each line
• high-capacity metro trains designed to minimise boarding and alighting times
• separated road and rail crossings.
Improve arterial road connections across Melbourne for all road users
The arterial road network is the foundation of transport across our suburbs, supporting the movement of private vehicles, public transport, cycling, walking and freight.
The ongoing development and maintenance of the network will support national employment and innovation clusters, metropolitan activity centres, major activity centres and other areas with high or growing job densities.
The existing road network creates a number of challenges and constraints. Trade-offs between different road users are often required. For example, on arterial roads the primary focus will be supporting reliable and efficient movement and mitigating amenity impacts on nearby communities. However, roads that service more intense land use will prioritise walking, cycling and public transport. Figure 10 shows the concept of improved road use.
The removal of level crossings improves the efficiency and safety on the arterial road network. They can also create opportunities for urban renewal and development.
Improve transport in Melbourne’s outer suburbs
The provision of transport services and infrastructure—such as arterial roads—must keep up with population growth in outer Melbourne. It is critical that land uses and transport are integrated to support each other. Increasing density of development, particularly around transport nodes, creates the critical mass essential to make a range of services viable.
Improve local travel options to support 20-minute neighbourhoods
Local travel is different to journey-to-work travel. It relates to service, recreational and social activities—such as sport and shopping—as well as personal business and education. It occurs throughout the day, rather than just at peak times. It is important to ensure all residents, regardless of age and ability, can access the local services they need in their community.
Neighbourhood design and the development of destinations influence local travel, dictating how much people walk and cycle. Short neighbourhood daily trips enable people to have choices other than the private car.
Improve freight efficiency and increase capacity of gateways while protecting urban amenity
Melbourne has a range of competitive advantages in freight and logistics, including a strong supply of well-priced industrial land, efficient and well-located freight precincts with good transport links, an efficient capital city port with capacity to grow, and a curfew-free international airport.
The Port of Melbourne is critical to Melbourne’s leadership in freight and logistics. Enhancements that support the Port of Melbourne, such as the Western Distributor and the port-capacity project, will play a vital role in the Victorian economy and ensure Victoria remains Australia’s freight and logistics capital.
Air freight is playing an increasing role in facilitating Melbourne’s trade, particularly for high-value, time-sensitive commodities such as fresh produce bound for growing Asian markets.
Melbourne must protect its curfew-free airport and support its expansion, support Avalon serving Geelong and western Melbourne, plan for a possible future airport to serve the long-term needs of south-east Melbourne and Gippsland, and provide efficient access to each airport.
