(Melbourne)$10.5b Transport Plan

All aboard for a $10 billion ride
Ellen Whinnett and Liam Houlihan
18may06

VICTORIAN drivers are being encouraged to give up their cars, with the Bracks Government pouring billions of dollars into public transport ahead of desperately needed new roads.
The $10.5 billion transport blueprint unveiled yesterday is skewed firmly towards public transport, with two-thirds of the money earmarked for hundreds of new buses, trains, trams and rail upgrades.
Just one-third of the money will go on road projects, with the widening of the Monash and West Gate freeways the main relief for frustrated motorists.

There will be no new roads, bridges or tunnels.

Bicycle-riding Transport Minister Peter Batchelor said the plan would allow Victorians to consider giving up their cars.

"We want to change the choice that people now have," Mr Batchelor said.

"When all these things are put in place, they (families) will be able to have the choice to do all of their travel by public transport and they can choose not to have a car if that's their wish."

The much-hyped Transport and Liveability Statement was touted by Premier Steve Bracks as the biggest transport announcement in Victoria's history.

But it was criticised by both the RACV and the Public Transport Users Association, which both said it did not go far enough.

Key components of the announcement include:

$1.4 BILLION on better bus services, including 700 new buses with gadgetry that can turn traffic lights green and gives passengers accurate arrival times.

100 NEW trams and 100 new trains, with late-night runs on Friday and Saturday nights.

FREE public transport for seniors on Sundays.

$750 MILLION to improve rail technology, allowing for safer and faster connections.

$90 MILLION to provide 5000 new park-and-ride spaces at metropolitan stations.

EXTRA tracks on the Footscray and Clifton Hill lines.

$3 BILLION for road improvements, including $1 billion on unspecified outer metropolitan arterial roads.

NEW lanes on a 25km section of the Monash Freeway, cutting 20 minutes from the 40-minute peak trip time in both directions.

WIDENING of the West Gate Freeway and changing traffic flow in peak periods to provide five lanes instead of four.

HALVING the 76-minute peak-time drive from Werribee to Narre Warren through the combined Monash-West Gate improvements.

A COMMITMENT that tolls will not be used to fund any of the road upgrades.

The transport spending is over and above money already allocated in the state Budget.

Mr Bracks said an extra 50 million passengers a year were expected to use public transport within four years.

He said better public transport would ease the hip-pocket pain felt by working families.

"Many working families have been forced to buy a second car or a third car in some cases to get around, which stretches the family budget even further," he said.

'This is a far-sighted plan for Victoria. It's the most far-sighted plan since Robert Hoddle laid down the grid for Melbourne's CBD originally."

Mr Batchelor went further, claiming that when the work was done Victorians would be able to travel from one end of the state to the other without using their cars.

"(For) those who do want to have a car . . . we will be providing significant upgrades in the road network."

RACV spokesman Ken Ogden was disappointed there was no commitment to complete the ring road between Greensborough and the Eastern Freeway or the Frankston Bypass.

"These are critical projects and it is inconceivable that a 20-year strategy has not recognised their importance," he said.

A spokesman for the Public Transport Users Association, Alex Makin, said the plan was a series of "regurgitated announcements" that failed to deliver rail extensions that were much needed.

Mr Bracks said the Government had not committed itself to building a tunnel across the inner north, connecting the Tullamarine and Eastern freeways, because they "wanted to make sure we do it right".

A $5 million study will look into the tunnel plan. Under other parts of the plan, late-night weekend party trains and trams and a third track to Dandenong will become a reality.

But only the segment from Caulfield to Springvale is paid for, accompanied by a promise to continue the work to Dandenong in a second stage.

$1b to free up city traffic
Liam Houlihan, transport reporter
18may06

DRIVERS have been promised dramatic time savings under a $1 billion plan to unclog the Monash and West Gate freeways.The average speed in peak periods is tipped to increase from 25km/h to 75km/h, according to the Government.
But it comes at a huge cost to taxpayers. Under a sweetheart deal, the Bracks Government will forgo almost $2.3 billion in dues from CityLink operator Transurban over the next 30 years for $600 million upfront to be spent on the overhaul.

CityLink will contribute another $166 million of its own.

Over four years, lanes will be added in both directions on the Monash between Glenferrie and Heatherton roads. This will slash 20 minutes from peak travel times, the Government says.

The West Gate Freeway will be widened and lanes temporarily switched on West Gate Bridge to handle peak-hour volumes.

The painful peak-hour crawl along the Monash and West Gate freeways has long been a bane for drivers.

Discontent reached boiling point recently when a freak truck crash on the Monash brought the city's road system grinding to a halt.

Peak-hour time savings ranging from seven to 38 minutes were promised by road authorities yesterday -- Dandenong to the city would be cut by 23 minutes, Werribee to the city by 20 minutes and Warrigal Rd to Western Ring Rd by 15 minutes.

VicRoads said the average peak-hour speed would rise from 25km/h to a smoother 75km/h.

"The project is expected to reduce the number of casualty crashes along the route by 50 a year to 200," spokeswoman Jennifer Howard said.

Speculation on a new westbound bridge over the Yarra or a tunnel linking east and western suburbs has been dashed. Instead, the Government confirmed yesterday it would undergo a $5 million study of options for the east-west corridor.

The Monash widening will consist of a $740 million addition of two lanes between Glenferrie and Heatherton roads. The West Gate Freeway will be widened between the CityLink tunnels and Bolte Bridge. Ramps will get stop lights to ease on two vehicles at a time.

A counter-flow lane will be introduced in peak times on the West Gate Bridge. Instead of four lanes each way there'll be five into the city in the morning and five away in the evening.

Premier Steve Bracks said congestion was causing headaches for drivers and freight. He said strong growth in suburbs along the route contributed to gridlock.

Works will stretch over 75km from Werribee in the west to Narre Warren in the east.

Other road funding announced yesterday included:

A $1.3 BILLION upgrade of arterial roads in outer suburbs.

RURAL roads and bridges to get a $687 million improvement.

LEVEL crossing works statewide at more than $200 million.

Melbourne motorists agree widening the Monash will get them back on the road but many say it is not enough to curb peak-hour chaos.

Sarah Galgano said it could take up to 45 minutes to get from her home in Camberwell to Glen Waverley. She said extra lanes from Glenferrie Rd to Heatherton Rd were not enough.

"What about the tunnel?" she said. "It's shocking. The Government should do something about traffic in the tunnel."

Oakleigh's Richard Desouza said in peak hour it took double the time to reach the city.

South Oakleigh's Emmanouil Fotiou said he avoided Monash at all costs but once it was widened he would use it again.

Meg Pitcaithley described the road as a car park. "But I would use it if it flowed more freely."

Glen Iris's Rob Bortoli said the move was not a long-term solution. "It'll last three years and will fill up again. But I have to use the road and I agree something needs to be done," he said.

Michelle Feiber was happy to travel on the Monash -- but not in peak hour. "It's an excellent idea adding more lanes," she said.