Commuters will benefit from a safer and smoother journey into the City of Melbourne thanks to further upgrades across all modes of transport as we continue to deliver our Transport Strategy 2030.
To combat pressure points in traffic flow and improve safety and access in the city, more than 100 improvements to the city’s transport network have been made, with another 60 on the way – based on community feedback and technical analysis.
Council has taken further action along Exhibition Street to improve movement and access to nearby businesses, extending no-stopping zones and creating more short-term parking.
The installation of hook turns has already improved pedestrian safety and eased bottlenecks along Exhibition Street, moving up to 40 more cars per hour in each direction, while the removal of some bike hoops has provided greater space for parking and loading zones.
The City of Melbourne is on track to deliver its protected bike lane program under the Transport Strategy 2030, with more than 19km now complete.
After two years of accelerated delivery, Council will consider pausing the bike lane rollout in the Hoddle Grid over the coming year, instead prioritising bike lane upgrades on popular corridors into the city – including Arden Street, Macaulay Road and Royal Parade.
Council has released independent analysis by Urbis that reveals the economic contribution of different transport modes to future-proof the CBD and restore city confidence.
The report recommends initiatives to attract more office workers back, promote public and active forms of transport, remove through traffic from the CBD, and supports the flexible use of road space to ensure it generates the best economic value for the city.
As Melburnians continue to find their new rhythm, the study predicts continued growth for public transport use coupled with a decline in car use – consistent with long-term trends.
Urbis’ report forecasts that public transport will continue to be the most significant economic driver delivering $35.4 billion by 2026. The contribution of motor vehicles is projected to drop by $4.4 billion to $7.5 billion, while cycling will add up to $3.5 billion annually.
It confirmed walking, cycling, scooting and public transport are the most efficient ways of moving large volumes of people – and are key to bringing more city workers back.
People who enter the city and explore by foot make the greatest contribution to the local economy. The report supports Council’s work to improve pedestrian safety and city cleanliness.
At the southern end of Queen Street, a new southbound dedicated bus lane will be considered to reduce journey times out of the CBD for bus users and create a smoother merge of traffic onto Queens Bridge Street over the river.
Council’s upgrade on Queens Bridge Street has significantly improved perceptions of safety for riders, with more than 70 per cent of people saying the improvements increased their use of the route, while almost 70 per cent said it made them feel safer.
Queens Bridge is predominantly a public transport and bicycle arterial and car drivers are encouraged to use King Street and Clarendon Street.
A motion to complete a ‘future streets framework’ will also be considered as part of the Transport Strategy 2030, which aims to help define the vision for the future of public spaces in the Hoddle Grid and the economic function of streets.
Councillors will consider progress on implementing the Transport Strategy 2030, including the findings of the Urbis report at the Future Melbourne Committee meeting on Tuesday 7 June.
Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Sally Capp
“Our Transport Strategy 2030 is expected to deliver $870 million in economic benefit, and is designed to create safe space for everyone – whether you’re travelling by car, bike, public transport or foot.”
“Changes to Exhibition Street are among the 100-plus improvements Council has made to the transport network, a direct result from listening and responding to public feedback on bottlenecks and pressure points.”
“We will continue to work on our transport network to ensure there are safe options for everyone coming into and moving around the city.”
“The Urbis report backs our ambitious plans to entice more people back into the city and build the infrastructure we need to cater for the growing demand of active transport modes.”
“We are now focusing on connecting major arterial pathways to the city, so more people can take advantage of our effective and safe bike infrastructure.”
“We will continue to listen and work with residents, workers and businesses to make the city’s transport network more efficient, while investing in the projects our city desperately needs.”
Key facts from Urbis economic report:
- City motor vehicle trips are about 94% of pre-COVID levels
- Public transport patronage is approximately 62% of pre-COVID levels
- Bike and e-scooter rides are 70% of pre-COVID levels in the AM peak
- In April 2022, rides along upgraded bike lanes on Peel and Swanston Streets were at 156% and 113% of pre-COVID levels respectively. Queens Bridge Street was at 186%.
- Opening of Metro Tunnel and tram upgrades forecast a 3.5% shift towards public transport
- Bicycle and scooter riders are anticipated to increase to 7% of all transport modes
- Majority of trips to and around the CBD are by sustainable modes: 58% of trips to the CBD are by walking, cycling, scooter and public transport
- Work, socialising and shopping account for 80% of trips to the CBD (58% for work)
- Road space used for pedestrians and riders yield the highest return on investment
- Space required for a pedestrian returns $321,175 per year, whereas the space required for a car returns $93,277 per year in economic benefit
City of Melbourne facts:
- Melbourne’s Hoddle Grid has 50 car lanes available for drivers to enter the city
- If you’re in the CBD, you are never more than 200 metres away from a secure off-street car-park
- There are 215,000 car parks across the entire municipality, with 23,000 on-street parking spaces managed by the City of Melbourne
- The number of people walking in the city has rebounded to around 80% of pre-COVID levels
- Walking is the most popular way to get around the city, with more than 85% of trips on foot.
- 61% of people agree that protected bike lanes make it safer to travel around the city
- 55% of people support installing protected bike lanes in the city
- Melbourne’s bike lanes are proving popular with e-scooter users, accounting for 84 per cent of trips
- Less than 1% of road space is dedicated to protected bike lanes
- More than 400,000 people have used the City of Melbourne’s new bike lanes
