Call for action as Melbourne drivers’ morning city-commute times blow out to 43 minutes

CRIPPLING peak-hour traffic has pushed average morning commute times in Melbourne to 43 minutes — 12 minutes more than a decade ago.

CRIPPLING peak-hour traffic has pushed average morning commute times in Melbourne out to 43 minutes — 12 minutes more than a decade ago.

The trip to work takes an average of 27 minutes off-peak.

Urban Infrastructure Minister Alan Tudge will today ­deliver a major speech to the Menzies Research Centre ­outlining the Morrison ­Government’s plan to tackle Melbourne and Sydney’s booming populations.

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New figures from the ­Department of Infrastructure outline the scale of the burden placed on the country’s major cities during the past decade.

The data contradicts a report by the Grattan Institute released last week that argued there had been little to no change in the duration of commutes from 2011 to 2016.

Mr Tudge will say peak ­delays are getting longer, starting earlier and finishing later.

“But that’s not the end of the story because urban congestion also makes trip times less predictable and reliable,” Mr Tudge said.

“And as we all know, there are many things where you just have to be on time, such as medical appointments, job ­interviews, or picking up the kids from netball training.

“So now you have to leave even earlier to be sure you will be on time, even if this means waiting at the other end.”

Mr Tudge, who has been dubbed “the minister for congestion-busting” by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, will back a push to send more ­migrants away from capital ­cities and into regional areas.

The government is understood to be considering a plan to place stricter visa conditions on new immigrants, including forcing them to live outside Melbourne and Sydney for up to five years.

The federal government is keen to act on pressures that increasing congestion is placing on Melbourne.

Its $5 billion promise for a railway line to the airport is part of its pitch.

Peak-hour traffic congestion has pushed out Melbourne drivers’ average morning-commute times to 43 minutes. Picture: Josie Hayden

Mr Tudge will today tell the Menzies Research Centre that more needs to be done to ­address the duration of ­commutes in the city, where the average 30km journey now takes almost an hour.

“Ten years ago, to ensure you made it on time 90 per cent of the time, you had to leave eight minutes earlier,” Mr Tudge said.

“Today, you would need to leave 15 minutes earlier for every trip.

“And keep in mind this is average congestion, not the worst.”

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