|
Policies and initiatives
> Direction 8. Better transport links
> Policy 8.5
Policy 8.5 – Manage the road system to achieve
integration, choice and balance by developing an efficient and safe
network and making the most of existing infrastructure
The road system will remain the key element of
the region’s transport system. While growth in car usage will
be moderated as a result of Melbourne 2030, roads will
continue to be needed for the region’s ongoing development,
and freight demands are expected to increase.
Despite the 20 per cent share of motorised trips
target for public transport, some 60 per cent of all personal trips
will continue to be undertaken by car.
However, the focus for road system development
will change. In a sustainable transport strategy, indefinite expansion
of road system capacity to meet continuing growth in traffic demand
is not an appropriate response. For the developed urban area, road
space is a finite resource. Melbourne 2030 aims to improve
management of the existing road system and to make better use of
the community’s investment in roads. Factors that must be considered
include the needs of all road users, the road use efficiency of
different modes and the requirements of adjacent land uses. Techniques
might include provision of wider footpaths, bicycle lanes, transit
lanes (for buses and taxis) and specific freight routes. ‘Intelligent’
transport systems, spreading peak demand, giving priority to high-occupancy
vehicles and other measures will be used to make the best use of
this valuable resource.
Selected expansion and upgrading of the road network
will continue. Improvements will include the completion of high-quality
connections between regional cities, the upgrading of key freight
routes, and ongoing development in outer suburban areas. Upgrades
to arterial and secondary road systems will also be undertaken to
provide higher standards of on-road public transport. As road vehicles
(car, bus, freight, commercial and emergency service vehicles) will
continue to be needed for many trips, key cross-town arterial links
in the outer suburbs must be improved.
A greater proportion of new transport infrastructure
in development areas will need to be financed by new development.
The development contributions system will be used to help fund delivery
of transport infrastructure to service new and growing communities
in an integrated, strategic manner.
Initiatives
| 8.5.1 |
Complete the upgrading of the major
arterial road links from metropolitan Melbourne to regional
cities |
| 8.5.2 |
Introduce into the planning system
principles for managing access to and from different categories
of roads |
| 8.5.3 |
Develop a plan for management of
arterial roads so that road space allocation better meets community
and business needs in different urban environments |
| 8.5.4 |
Improve road networks where public
transport is not viable, and where the road development is compatible
with the Neighbourhood Principles and urban design objectives
– in particular, continue improving roads in developing
outer-suburban areas to cater for car, public transport, freight,
commercial and service users |
| 8.5.5 |
Improve the management of key freight
routes to make freight operations more efficient while reducing
their external impacts |
| 8.5.6 |
Adopt, where appropriate, developments
in transport technology that will make our roads more efficient
and safer |
| 8.5.7 |
Adopt travel demand management
measures to use road space more equitably and encourage more
sustainable travel habits |
|
