City of Melbourne’s transport blueprint to overhaul CBD trams
The CBD tram routes we’ve come to know could soon take on a new look as the City of Melbourne unveils a new ten-year plan to upgrade the city’s public transport services.
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Inner city tram routes would be overhauled under the City of Melbourne’s transport blueprint.
The 10-year plan also calls for upgraded train and bus services, but raises concerns that driverless cars will cause more congestion by shifting people away from public transport, walking and cycling.
Metro Tunnel will take pressure off Swanston St tram services when it opens in 2025, so the council suggests some routes be moved to William St, Spencer St and Docklands.
It will lobby the state government and Yarra Trams for more trams on La Trobe St, and supports a new bridge between Docklands and Fishermans Bend to provide services into the emerging urban renewal precinct.
The Transport Strategy 2030 also says new tram tracks are needed for:
PARK St missing link before Metro Tunnel opens.
VICTORIA St missing link Swanston to Spring streets.
SPENCER St extension with branches to Arden-Kensington and Dynon Rd.
Under the Metro project, the government has pledged to extend the Elizabeth St tramline left into Flinders St, which complements the council’s plan to pedestrianise that corner.
The council supports Metro but its plan said the rail network would be at capacity soon after the underground line opens.
It said the government must commit to Metro 2, which would link Clifton Hill and Newport via Fishermans Bend and other stops.
The strategy calls for the reconfiguration of the City Loop with more tracks after Metro Tunnel opens, and to start planning for an extra underground rail line to follow Metro 2.
“Our early concept is for a rapid transit line linking Melbourne Airport with Dandenong via the central city and Chadstone,” it said.
The strategy calls for full-time bus lanes in places like Queen St, the Russell-Lygon streets corridor and along Hoddle-Victoria-Spencer-West Melbourne station.
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It said the government’s proposed Suburban Rail Loop would radically transform public transport across the city, but the project needed more investigation into its benefits and costs.
The strategy said orbital bus services, such as the one between Sandringham and Williamstown, should be expanded to connect Melbourne’s radial train and tram network.
The plan, which was adopted last week, said there was much uncertainty about how soon driverless cars would use city streets.
“(They) could remove most human error in road accidents and help deliver people the the first and last km of their trip … however driverless cars are likely to contribute to more car trips, more congestion and may shift people away from public transport, walking and cycling,” it said.