Victorian Transport Plan
Encyclopedia
The Victorian Transport Plan is a now defunct transport planning framework for the state of Victoria, Australia announced on Monday 9 December 2008 by then Premier of Victoria, John Brumby
. The plan was submitted to the Government of Australia
for funding approval.
It was prepared in response to and largely centred on solutions to urban transport problems in Victoria's capital Melbourne
, particularly alleviating growing traffic congestion and passenger congestion on public transport (trains) as a result of an 100% increase in public transport patronage during the 2000s.
The Transport Plan followed several previous transportation strategies including Linking Victoria
, Linking Melbourne: Metropolitan Transport Plan and Meeting our Transport Challenges as well as major studies including the Eddington Transport Report
.
The plan was shelved in January 2011 by the incoming Baillieu government
, with the projects contained in it to be reviewed by the soon-to-be-established Victorian Public Transport Development Authority
. $6 million of taxpayer funds were spent promoting the plan during the two years it was in place; including television, radio, newspaper, online and outdoor billboard promotions. These advertisements were described by one newspaper columnist as "Stalinist-style propaganda".
These 6 main goals are:
The delivery of these goals is through the implementation of projects across Victoria, in particular Melbourne by setting short, medium and long term time frames for project delivery. Many of these projects have yet to be properly costed and most are subject to ongoing funding arrangements with the Federal government and capacity of future state budgets to accommodate additional funds in the future.
, Victoria's prime transport statute.
The Act requires the Department of Transport to "...prepare and periodically revise..." the plan. The initial Victorian Transport Plan is deemed to have been prepared under the Act. This is the first requirement in legislation in Victoria which mandates the preparation of a transport plan for the state.
The Transport Integration Act
requires that the plan be revised having regard to the vision statement, transport system objectives and decision making principles set out in the Act. The Act also requires that the plan include medium to long term strategic directions, priorities and actions and demonstrate an integrated approach to transport and land use planning.
John Brumby
John Mansfield Brumby , is an Australian Labor Party politician who was Premier of Victoria from 2007 to 2010. He became Premier after the resignation of Steve Bracks. He also served as the Minister for Veterans' Affairs and the Minister for Multicultural Affairs. He contested his first election...
. The plan was submitted to the Government of Australia
Government of Australia
The Commonwealth of Australia is a federal constitutional monarchy under a parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth of Australia was formed in 1901 as a result of an agreement among six self-governing British colonies, which became the six states...
for funding approval.
It was prepared in response to and largely centred on solutions to urban transport problems in Victoria's capital Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, particularly alleviating growing traffic congestion and passenger congestion on public transport (trains) as a result of an 100% increase in public transport patronage during the 2000s.
The Transport Plan followed several previous transportation strategies including Linking Victoria
Linking Victoria
The Linking Victoria was a State Government program launched in 1999 to upgrade transport infrastructure in Victoria, Australia. Costing $3.5 billion, it included the road, rail and port networks...
, Linking Melbourne: Metropolitan Transport Plan and Meeting our Transport Challenges as well as major studies including the Eddington Transport Report
Eddington Transport Report, Victoria
The "" or Eddington Transport Report or Sir Rod Eddington Plan was a major transport study undertaken in Victoria, Australia, by Sir Rod Eddington in 2007 concentrating on solutions for transportation in Melbourne with a primary focus on reducing congestion of road transport in Victoria.The report...
.
The plan was shelved in January 2011 by the incoming Baillieu government
Ted Baillieu
Edward Norman "Ted" Baillieu MLA is an Australian politician. He is currently the Premier of Victoria and the member for the Legislative Assembly seat of Hawthorn...
, with the projects contained in it to be reviewed by the soon-to-be-established Victorian Public Transport Development Authority
Victorian Public Transport Development Authority
Victorian Public Transport Development Authority is the independent body that will corodinate all aspects of an integrated transport system in Victoria, Australia....
. $6 million of taxpayer funds were spent promoting the plan during the two years it was in place; including television, radio, newspaper, online and outdoor billboard promotions. These advertisements were described by one newspaper columnist as "Stalinist-style propaganda".
Overview
The Victorian Transport Plan has 6 main goals in which it aims to achieve through extensive expansion of the public transport network and road system and improvements made to existing roads and rail services as well as addressing changes in the way people commute to around Melbourne and Victoria.These 6 main goals are:
- Shaping Victoria by integrating current services with new and existing land developments. This involves de-centralising Melbourne from the current CBD and investing in 6 'Central Activities Districts'. It also involves supporting growth in regional and rural Victoria as well as expanding the use of the current transport network.
- Linking rural, regional and metropolitan Victoria involves creating better links between rural and regional centres through investment in rail and road services.
- Creating a Metro system by investing heavily in expanding the existing rail network in Melbourne, as well as upgrading and improving punctuality, cleanliness and capacity. The centrepiece of this involves the construction of a metro rail tunnel as well as new trains, trams and stations all across Melbourne.
- Moving around Melbourne involves better integration of current and future services of rail, bus and road services and significant improvements and expansion of the existing freeway and road network. This also involves the construction and improvement of bike trails around Melbourne
- A sustainable future is planned by investing in alternative modes of transport to work such as cycling, scooters and walking as well as setting mandatory emissions targets for new cars.
- Strengthening Australia's and Victoria's economy by investing and supporting the movement of good across Victoria more efficiently and supporting the creation of jobs through the construction of new roads and rail projects.
The delivery of these goals is through the implementation of projects across Victoria, in particular Melbourne by setting short, medium and long term time frames for project delivery. Many of these projects have yet to be properly costed and most are subject to ongoing funding arrangements with the Federal government and capacity of future state budgets to accommodate additional funds in the future.
Projects
The Victorian Transport Plan includes more than $38 billion in projects to meet the demands of Victoria. Major initiatives include:- New trains and new tracks – an investment of more than $2.6 billion
- More trams and buses – $1.5 billion for 50 new low-floor trams and up to 270 new low-floor buses
- Regional Rail LinkRegional Rail LinkThe Regional Rail Link is a 47.5 km railway track currently under construction through the western suburbs of Melbourne from Southern Cross Station, running through Sunshine, Tarneit and meeting the Geelong Line at West Werribee...
– more than $4 billion for a new track from West Werribee to Southern Cross StationSouthern Cross StationSouthern Cross is a major railway station and transport hub in Melbourne Docklands, Victoria, Australia. It is located on Spencer Street between Collins and La Trobe Streets at the western edge of the central business district... - Melbourne MetroMelbourne MetroThe Melbourne Metro is a planned metropolitan rail tunnel in Melbourne, Australia. The tunnels are proposed to travel from South Kensington railway station to Caulfield railway station...
– a new rail tunnel between the city’s west and east, costing more than $4.5 billion - Better regional roads
- An alternative to the West Gate BridgeWest Gate BridgeThe West Gate Bridge is a steel box girder cable-stayed bridge in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It spans the Yarra River, just north of its mouth into Port Phillip, and is a vital link between the inner city and Melbourne's western suburbs with the industrial suburbs in the west and with the city...
– more than $2.5 billion to build the East-West road connectionEast-West road connectionThe East-West road connection is a proposed 18 kilometres long freeway standard road link in Melbourne, Australia, to run from the western suburbs to the Eastern Freeway. It was proposed in the 2008 East-West Link Needs Assessment report by Sir Rod Eddington, but similar ideas have been proposed...
as a new tunnel under the Maribyrnong RiverMaribyrnong riverThe Maribyrnong River rises about 50 km north of Melbourne, Victoria , near Mount Macedon. It flows generally southward and combines with the Yarra River to flow into Port Phillip.... - Shaping Victoria – $60 million to bring jobs and housing together
- Truck Action Plan - $380 million to remove trucks from residential streets in the inner west
- Completing the missing link in Melbourne's ring road - more than $6 billion for the North East Link between the Metropolitan Ring RoadM80 Ring Road, MelbourneThe M80 Ring Road, more formally known as the Western Ring Road or Metropolitan Ring Road, is a freeway in Melbourne, Australia connecting the northern suburbs and the western suburbs to various freeways:* the Hume Freeway;...
to the Eastern Freeway - Peninsula Link - $750 million to link EastLink and the Mornington Peninsula FreewayMornington Peninsula FreewayMornington Peninsula Freeway is an incomplete freeway in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, that provides a link from outer suburban Melbourne to the Mornington Peninsula.- History :...
- Regional Rail – $600 million to return trains to Maryborough and for up to 74 new V/Line carriages
- Extension of the Metro Electrified Rail Network to South MorangSouth Morang, VictoriaSouth Morang is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 23 km north-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Whittlesea...
, SunburySunbury, VictoriaSunbury is a regional city, located north-west of Melbourne's central business district, in the state of Victoria, Australia. Its Local Government Area is the City of Hume. At the 2006 Census, Sunbury had a population of 31,000...
, MeltonMelton, VictoriaMelton is an outer-suburban city of Melbourne Victoria, Australia located 35 km east from Melbourne's central business district. It is the administrative centre for the Shire of Melton Local Government Area. At the 2006 Census, the Shire of Melton had a population of 35,490...
and Cranbourne EastCranbourne East, VictoriaCranbourne East is a suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 44 km south-east from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Casey. At the 2006 Census, Cranbourne East had a population of 3600.-Facilities:...
to provide more transport choice in growth areas - Removal of one level crossing - at Springvale Road, Nunawading
Transport Integration Act 2010
The Victorian Transport Plan is referenced in the Transport Integration ActTransport Integration Act
The Transport Integration Act 2010 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia. The Act is the prime transport statute in Victoria, having replaced major parts of the former Transport Act 1983....
, Victoria's prime transport statute.
The Act requires the Department of Transport to "...prepare and periodically revise..." the plan. The initial Victorian Transport Plan is deemed to have been prepared under the Act. This is the first requirement in legislation in Victoria which mandates the preparation of a transport plan for the state.
The Transport Integration Act
Transport Integration Act
The Transport Integration Act 2010 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia. The Act is the prime transport statute in Victoria, having replaced major parts of the former Transport Act 1983....
requires that the plan be revised having regard to the vision statement, transport system objectives and decision making principles set out in the Act. The Act also requires that the plan include medium to long term strategic directions, priorities and actions and demonstrate an integrated approach to transport and land use planning.
See also
- Sustainable transportSustainable transportSustainable transport refers to any means of transport with low impact on the environment, and includes walking and cycling, transit oriented development, green vehicles, CarSharing, and building or protecting urban transport systems that are fuel-efficient, space-saving and promote healthy...
- Environmental planningEnvironmental planningEnvironmental Planning is the process of facilitating decision making to carry out development with due consideration given to the natural environmental, social, political, economic and governance factors and provides a holistic frame work to achieve sustainable outcomes.-Elements of environmental...
- Land use planningLand use planningLand-use planning is the term used for a branch of public policy encompassing various disciplines which seek to order and regulate land use in an efficient and ethical way, thus preventing land-use conflicts. Governments use land-use planning to manage the development of land within their...
- Transport Integration ActTransport Integration ActThe Transport Integration Act 2010 is a law enacted by the Parliament of the State of Victoria, Australia. The Act is the prime transport statute in Victoria, having replaced major parts of the former Transport Act 1983....
- Department of TransportDepartment of Transport (Victoria, Australia)The Department of Transport or DOT is the central Government agency responsible for the coordination, integration and regulation of the transport system in the State of Victoria, Australia...