Transport Policy 2024

TRANSPORT POLICY

Transport contributes an estimated 24% of Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions; predominantly due to our dependence on private motor vehicles, which has flow-on effects for land-use planning, housing affordability and road safety. For these reasons, the City of Melbourne should increase use of sustainable modes of transport, while reducing dependency on private cars. The City of Melbourne, being the central destination for employment, recreation and entertainment, is uniquely placed to influence positive change in the broader transport network. In planning for change, our transport policy should be underpinned by consideration of accessibility, socioeconomic disadvantage and health outcomes.

*Principles*
1	The most efficient, accessible and sustainable modes of transport must be prioritised in Melbourne, specifically active transport (public transport, walking, micro-mobility and cycling) and socially inclusive, healthy and environmentally-friendly transport options.
2	Traffic pollution and congestion pose immediate problems that are best addressed by a rapid and significant increase in funding for active and public transport infrastructure. Governments have a responsibility to make this infrastructure environmentally sustainable, convenient and accessible for all.
3	Motor vehicles are over-represented in collisions with vulnerable road users. We should reduce the number of cars on our streets, while public transport, walking and cycling will continue to be the dominant and most efficient modes of travel to and within the City.
4	Successful public transport planning lies in integrating all transport modes, including share schemes.
5	Walkability should be prioritised in all transport and infrastructure planning in the City of Melbourne. Given the strong relationship between walking and public transport, and the City of Melbourne should work with public transport agencies to prioritise this relationship in planning for transport infrastructure and public spaces.
6	Parks and community infrastructure should be free from the threat of new roads.
*Aims: Shifting to sustainable transport*
1	Increase the share of trips made on the City’s streets that use the most efficient and sustainable transport options, prioritising walking, cycling and public transport, especially in urban renewal precincts.
2	Support traffic-light sequencing changes that prioritise public transport, cyclists and pedestrians, including more default green lights for pedestrians.
3	Accelerate the reduction of private car use and space dedicated to car parking within the City of Melbourne. Prioritise on-street parking for delivery vehicles and disabled parking.
4	Advocate for improved public transport services overnight and on weekends.
5	Advocate for and support investment in new public transport, including major rail projects such as Metro 2 and an Airport Rail Link, as well as new tram lines to Fishermans Bend and along the full length of Victoria Street into Arden and Macaulay, and more frequent bus services.
6	Engage with all relevant stakeholders to support events that promote and encourage active transport.
7	Facilitate the further development of car share schemes in the municipality.
8	Advocate to the State Government for fairer public transport fares.
9	Work with the State and Federal Governments to develop targets and policy mechanisms to reduce pollution from private vehicles, including fuel efficiency standards and reduced sales of new combustion engines.
10	Remove the minimum parking provision requirement in the planning scheme and introduce maximum limits throughout the municipality.
11	Integrate all transport modes, with coordinated timetables, easy interchange, pathfinder signage and parking infrastructure (including share schemes).
12	Recognise the role of buses by providing and encouraging upgraded stops, bus-priority signals, full-time bus lanes and recharge facilities for a fully electric bus fleet.
13	Work with the State Government to comprehensively review the congestion levy on commercial car parks, with a view to implementing a fairer scheme which also genuinely impacts on commuting behaviour, including its potential replacement with variable congestion pricing.
*Aims: Walkable city*
14	Expand and prioritise a connected, safe and accessible pedestrian network, through the development of quality walking links between public spaces, the public transport system and within urban renewal areas.
15	Re-commit to the redevelopment of Elizabeth St as a priority pedestrian gateway to the city from Flinders Street Station while continuing to redesign the Little Streets in the Hoddle Grid to provide safe and comfortable shared zones.
16	Increase pedestrian priority and safety in traffic signal design through such measures as auto-on, no left-turn signal while pedestrians are crossing, increased pedestrian walk time, audible pedestrian crossings and reduced pedestrian crossing distances.
17	Design and improve shared pathways to minimise conflict between pedestrians, bikes and scooters.
18	Declutter footpaths by auditing every street to consolidate infrastructure and introduce multi-functional poles.
19	Ensure pedestrian through-links on private land remain open to the public.
20	Foster a culture of safe driver and cyclist behaviour in central city streets focused on sharing and respect.
21	Fast-track the expansion of Melbourne’s bicycle network to make it safe, connected and direct, re-prioritising Council expenditure as necessary.
22	Support bike and micro-mobility share schemes where these are able to be managed and regulated efficiently.
23	Significantly expand bicycle parking across the municipality through reallocation of road space for bike/scooter parking, especially in busy areas.
24	Encourage more people to ride bikes through increased infrastructure on local streets and targeted education and training programs for groups with low participation rates.
25	Install better end-of-trip facilities for cyclists, such as short-stay multiple parking spaces and long-stay secure bike lockers near stations and businesses.
*Aims: An accessible city*
26	Advocate for all train, tram and bus stops and stations to be made fully accessible, and integrated with other active transport modes.
27	Improve the availability of dedicated bike, motorcycle and scooter parking, without limiting the accessibility of footpaths.
28	Continue to improve and add pedestrian crossings to increase the safety of vision-impaired pedestrians and other vulnerable pedestrians.
29	Improve essential signage throughout the city with international symbols, Braille and multilingual signage.
30	Retain the 20km/h speed limit on Hoddle Grid Little Streets, reduce the speed limit on Spencer St and King St to 40km/h, and implement 30km/h limits elsewhere in the Hoddle Grid and in all other high activity areas in the municipality.
31	Advocate for the removal of slip lanes to improve pedestrian safety.
*Aims: Lead by example*
32	Reduce the council vehicle fleet, with all remaining vehicles to be electric only.
33	Support measures which assist council employees to access public transport, including flexible working arrangements that reduce the need for vehicle trips.
34	Work with relevant stakeholders to ensure that CoM initiatives and policies keep pace with changing transport technologies.
*Aims: Improve local freight systems*
35	Implement last-kilometre freight delivery services throughout the municipality that prioritise the use of smaller, low- or no-emission vehicles.
36	Work with the State Government to direct freight through the city in a way that prioritises pedestrian safety, particularly on City Road and Power Street.