03.10.2019Second Cross-City Tunnel | The need for an integrated transport system

Mobility in Melbourne is at a tipping point. The city’s population explosion, increasing trade volumes, and the growing number of domestic and international tourists, is placing our transport system under immense strain.

Given the growing pressures that Melbourne is grappling with, the Committee for Melbourne believes developing an efficient and sustainable integrated transport system, which enables seamless mobility for people and goods, and which forms part of a long-term blueprint for Melbourne, must be a priority for the relevant authorities.

As the fastest-growing major city in Australia and one of the fastest-growing cities in the world, there is an increasing urgency to establish a long-term blueprint to accommodate our growth.

This comes off the back of an article published in The Age this week, highlighting the discussion surrounding two major infrastructure projects being considered – the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) and Melbourne Metro 2 – and the sequencing of their construction.  Many of our members were referenced and the Committee articulated its position.

Both projects have merit. However, this type of debate could be avoided if we had an integrated plan in place, which articulates how our city will grow, and which sequences the critical infrastructure projects that must be constructed. This allows us to establish long-term coherence and collaboration.

The Committee’s Transport Taskforce is developing a report, which will call for the creation of an efficient and sustainable integrated transport system to form part of a long-term, strategic blueprint for Melbourne. For more information, please contact Brett Van Duppen.  Our recent forum on shared Mobility also highlighted the need for consideration of mass transport and nimble, localized transport solutions.