Five-year focus

Immediate actions to tackle congestion

This report outlines what needs to be done in the next 5 to 15 years to manage traffic congestion in Melbourne.

To improve our transport system, we need a fair pricing regime for the network. This includes making off-peak fares cheaper, fixing Melbourne's bus system and increasing the car parking levy.

We make 9 recommendations that build on existing measures and have proven effective. These recommendations are practical, low cost and can be delivered quickly.

Key findings

• Between 2015 and 2030 there will be an estimated 76% increase in public transport trips. The equivalent of 878,000 additional public transport trips each day.
• Trips in 2030 will be on average longer than in 2015. This will impact different parts of Melbourne in different ways.
• Melbourne’s roads will become less reliable in the coming years. This means travel times will become less consistent.
• As demand for travel on roads grows, people are predicted to respond by changing their times of departure to avoid the peak periods at both ends of the day, in effect widening the peak periods.

Recommendations

• Expand off-peak fares on the metropolitan public transport network.
• Expand and increase the car parking levy.
• Maximise opportunities to encourage travel behaviour change during disruptions to the transport network.
• Overhaul existing bus services, expand successful routes and replace poor. performing routes with low cost, customer-responsive services.
• Establish a transparent fare-setting regime.
• Better allocate road space to prioritise efficiency on identified movement corridors.
• Increase investment to introduce additional bus services in areas of high demand.
• Prioritise active transport investments to high potential areas.
• Improve road connectivity on parts of the network where private vehicle use works best.