A public transport network is an integrated, cohesive set of train, tram and bus services, suitable for all ages and abilities, enabling people to get to any destination in the city.
Benefits
Our public transport network delivers the following benefits:
- Enables local residents to easily access local traders, making Yarra better for business,
- Enables those who wish to use public transport to do, thus reducing congestion and making Yarra better for drivers,
- Helps get cars off the road, thus improving road safety, and
- Helps people in the City of Yarra respond to our climate emergency.
Public transport is managed by the DTP
Melbourne’s public transport network is managed by the State Government Department of Transport and Planning. The image below shows train and tram routes in and around Yarra.
Principal Public Transport Network
The Principal Public Transport Network includes routes that offer high quality services. The Principle Public Transport area indicates the properties that are close to the Principle Public Transport Network, and covers most of the City of Yarra.
Land within the Principal Public Transport Network area has reduced requirements for car parking.
Problems
Problems with public transport in Yarra include:
- Trams are overcrowded
- Trams are delayed by cars
- Most trams stops aren’t level access, or DDA compliant
- Boarding or disembarking from trams risks being hit by a car
- Most tram and bus stops don’t offer much protection from inclement weather
- Footpaths leading to tram & bus stops are too narrow, sloping or uneven
What Yarra can do
Yarra can support public transport by:
- Building wider, smoother footpaths and raised threshold treatments, making it easier to walk or roll to public transport stops
- Converting all LAPM areas to 30 km/h superblocks, with through traffic diverted to VicRoads arterials, making it more pleasant to walk or roll from homes and businesses to public transport stops
- Relocating on-street parking for shopping streets to the first 5-10 bays on each side street, so shopping streets have more space to support level-access public transport stops
- Eliminating all-day parking immediately adjacent to train stations, so people are encouraged to walk, cycle or roll to the train instead of driving
- Advocating to the State Government for more frequent tram & bus services
- Advocating to the State Government for smart traffic light signalling to give priority to trams and buses
- Advocating to the State Government for demand responsive driving charges, to reduce the effect of cars slowing trams
Guidance from the Rail Futures Institute
The Rail Futures Institute has published the Melbourne Rail Plan 2050 (free to download), describing a detailed plan to invest $5 billion per year in our public transport network.
Design guides
Learn more from this collection of design guides, including “A Very Public Solution” by Paul Mees:
Image credit: Melbourne University Press
Supporters
Supporters of public transport across greater Melbourne include the Public Transport Users Association (PTUA):
How you can help
You can help by appearing on the Streets Alive Yarra website as a champion for your local street, neighbourhood, or school.