Transport Program 2003 - 2006 Contents 1Introduction 2 2Strategic Context 4 3Transport Patterns 8 4 Basis for the Transport Program 11 5Program Structure 15 6Program Contents 16 7Appendix - The Transport Program - Major Issues 24 8Attachment One - Existing City By-Pass Routes 28 9Attachment Two - CBD Street Classification 29 www.melbourne.vic.gov.au Transport Program 1 1 Introduction 1. Consistent with the strategic direction of the City of Melbourne, the aim of the Transport Program is to ensure the municipality has a sustainable and highly integrated transport system that services the City’s needs. The Transport Program concentrates on the delivery of items that are directly within control of the City of Melbourne. However the City of Melbourne also has a significant capacity to influence the State and Federal Government transport priorities. 2. The following objectives from City Plan 2010 have been applied to shape the Transport Program outcomes: 2.1 increase opportunities for City visitation by continually enhancing all transport modes, particularly public transport, 2.2 provide for an efficient and integrated road freight system that reduces negative environmental effects on residential and public areas, 2.3 improve the quality and design of pedestrian access within the City, 2.4 ensure the city’s pedestrian and transport infrastructure connects and links key sites, places and activities, including Docklands and Port Melbourne, with the Central City, 2.5 improve the bicycle network and facilities within the City, 2.6 develop a co-ordinated, accessible and integrated water transport system, 2.7 augment the availability of affordable short-term car parking in the City, 2.8 facilitate accessible transport options for people with a disability. 3. The Transport Program is not a long-term strategic planning document although measures put forward in the document take account of long-term transport and land use issues and trends in State Government policy. In order to meet the transport related objectives set out in City Plan 2010, the City of Melbourne needs to continue to build workable relationships with other levels of Government, inner Metropolitan Councils’ and other relevant authorities. The City of Melbourne looks forward to assisting with the implementation of the State Government’s Melbourne 2030 Policy with its strong emphasis on transport improvements. 4. According to the 2001 census, the City of Melbourne’s population grew from 39,827 in 1996 to 52,117 in 2001. Residents live within an area that is 36.5km2. The largest census demographic grouping for new residents is for those aged between 15 and 34. This is mostly comprised of students and young professional people - presumably attracted by an inner city lifestyle. Census data indicates there are only modest increases in the numbers of people in the 60+ age groupings coming to live in the city between 1996 and 2001. 5. The CBD is the fastest growing part of the municipality. In 2001 there were 13,000 people living in the CBD (including Southbank) - an increase of more than 50% from 1996. The 2001 census figures list only 159 people living in the Docklands. New developments at New Quay and Yarra’s Edge will ensure this area to the west of Melbourne’s CBD continues to grow. The strategic transport importance of the connection between the CBD and Docklands will continue to grow. 2Transport Program City of Melbourne Hotline 9658 9658 6. Although new residents in the City of Melbourne are mostly aged between 15 and 34, the population of metropolitan Melbourne is ageing with large projected increases in the numbers of over 55-year- old people living within this broader area of Melbourne over the period 2001 to 2006. [Source: 2001 Census]. The City can expect that this will be reflected in visitation to the CBD. Its likely implications for transport planning include an increased reliance on transport other than private car and a requirement for a more readable road environment and improved pedestrian networks. This change in demographics may also impact on traffic signal arrangements especially in areas of the municipality where more elderly people live and in the vicinity of strip shopping centres (eg. Errol Street, Rathdowne Street). 7. The population of the City of Melbourne is expected to rise to 73,000 by 2006 [source: 2001 Census]. Major growth areas are expected to be the CBD (from 8000 in 2001 to 13,000 by 2006) and Southbank 4,000 in 2001 to 9,000 by 2006). Other areas within the City of Melbourne (eg. Carlton, North Melbourne, South Yarra) are expected to have small population increases. Docklands is projected to have 5,000 residents by 2006. 8. The City of Melbourne is at the centre of the radial road and public transport network of metropolitan Melbourne. Well in excess of half a million people visit the City on a daily basis (567,000 by day and 76,000 by night), generating well over a million trips to and from the City each day. By 2010, the number of trips per day is expected to be around 1.2 million, plus those generated by Docklands developments. 9. The City of Melbourne also continues to grow as a destination - commensurate with its growth as a 24-hour city. The number of entertainment venues within the Capital City Zone has grown from 481 in 1997 to 1,287 in 2002, with the main increase occurring in the period 1997 to 2000. Between 1997 and 2002, the number of businesses within the City of Melbourne’s central city area grew from 6,868 to 7,536 with employment rising from 184,278 to 198,487 (CLUE, 2002). 10. There are 315 kilometres of roads within the City of Melbourne. The City of Melbourne exercises management control over all local roads. VicRoads, under the Transport Act 1983, is responsible for declared roads such as freeways, state highways and main roads. There are approximately 1,900 (half hour to two hour) metered on-street parking spaces and over 1,000 spaces for 1/4 hour, loading zones, taxi ranks, disabled and bus stops. There are 485 motor cycle on-street parking spaces. There are approximately 60,000 off-street parking spaces of which approximately 20,000 are private/ reserved spaces. The municipality’s Parking Guidance System covers 18,000 spaces at 20 carparks. 11. Between January 1997 and December 2001, there were 544 road accidents where pedestrians were injured within the CBD. Between 1996 and 2000, 21 pedestrians were killed in road accidents within the City of Melbourne. 12. The Transport Program is structured as follows: 12.1 Chapter 2 presents the strategic context for the Transport Program, 12.2 Chapter 3 describes transport patterns, 12.2 Chapter 4 describes the basis for priorities over the coming three-year period, 12.3 Chapter 5 discusses the structure of the program, and, 12.4 Chapter 6 presents the program contents. A works schedule for year one of the Transport Program can be found in the Appendix. A works schedule will also be developed in advance of year two and year three of the Program. www.melbourne.vic.gov.au Transport Program 3 2 Strategiccontext 13. The Transport Program takes into account the established directions of City Plan 2010 as well as emerging State Government policy, especially the recently released Melbourne 2030 and its associated land use and transport planning directions. 14. It must also take heed of institutional arrangements, changes in the economy and the socio- demographic factors of Melbourne’s population, advances in technologies and other issues that will have important long-term impacts (such as greenhouse gas reduction). City Plan 2010 15. City Plan 2010 is the City of Melbourne’s primary planning strategy, setting out the necessary ingredients for a ‘thriving and sustainable city’. City Plan 2010 outlines the key strategic issues for the city as a whole, as well as the particular issues for each of 14 designated local areas that are key components of the municipality. It is the driver of an integrated planning framework that guides the City of Melbourne’s three-year Corporate Plan, the Municipal Strategic Statement, Annual Budgets and the Annual Plan. 16. As the centre of the State’s capital city, the City of Melbourne’s development is more closely connected to wider metropolitan Melbourne and the State than any other local government area. This means that the City of Melbourne needs to work with the many stakeholders involved in planning and managing the City and its transport systems. It advises on major state infrastructure initiatives such as Docklands and the Spencer Street Station redevelopment and advocates on behalf of the wider community in relation to initiatives such as the Commonwealth Games Village, the Melbourne Airport Transit Link and the Northern Central City Corridor Study. City of Melbourne responsibilities 17. The City of Melbourne can also use its planning powers through the Melbourne Planning Scheme and the approval process for specific land use developments to integrate transport and land use. Like all municipal Councils, the City of Melbourne is responsible for developing a Municipal Strategic Statement (MSS) within the context of the State Planning Policy Framework. The MSS and local planning policies are the strategic components of local planning schemes, and each Council is responsible for preparing and approving amendments to the local planning schemes. 18. Under the Local Government Act 1989 and the Road Safety Act 1986, the City of Melbourne has direct responsibility for managing and maintaining the local road network as a Highway Authority. On declared roads, the City of Melbourne is responsible for parking regulation (where permitted) and VicRoads is responsible for management and maintenance.