The Allan Labor Government is boosting tram stop accessibility and passenger safety, with 12 more level-access tram stops to be built along La Trobe Street in the Melbourne CBD from next year.
Level-access tram stops are planned at six locations on both sides of the tram tracks along La Trobe Street at Docklands Stadium, Spencer Street, William Street, Elizabeth Street, Swanston Street and Exhibition Street.
The stops will include raised platforms to provide level-access boarding for low-floor trams, new shelters, seating, improved lighting and passenger information displays, making travel easier for passengers on Routes 30 and 35.
The new and improved tram stops will better separate pedestrians from cars and provide more space for passengers.
The stop locations will also allow for better connections to the State Library Station when the Metro Tunnel opens a year ahead of schedule in 2025, connecting people between train and tram services, and slashing travel times.
Tram stops on La Trobe Street at King Street, Queen Street, Russell Street and Victoria Street will be removed to improve stop spacing and reduce tram journey times, while ensuring the majority of the new tram stops remain within a three-minute walk of the removed ones.
The upgrades have been made possible thanks to a $68 million investment in the Victorian Budget 2022/23.
Since 2014, the Labor Government has delivered 83 level-access tram stops, in addition to making the largest ever investment in new trams – $1.85 billion to procure 100 low-floor Next Generation Trams and a new tram maintenance and stabling facility.
Construction on the new La Trobe Street tram stops is expected to begin next year.
For more information on the tram stop upgrades, visit ptv.vic.gov.au.
As stated by Minister for Public and Active Transport Gabrielle Williams
“We’re making Melbourne’s historic tram network better and more accessible than ever before with record investments in new trams and infrastructure.”
“We’re getting on with delivering more level-access tram stops to make it safer and easier for all passengers to get to where they need to go.”
