Implementation plans > Integrated Transport > Actions > Action 2

Action 2
Encourage sustainable travel

Develop a travel demand management action plan
Lead agent: DOI
TDM encourages people, where practical, to reduce their travel by better planning their trips, to choose environmentally friendly alternatives to car travel, and/or adopt more responsible car use (such as ride sharing, use of smaller cars, ‘green’ fuels).

A TDM Action Plan, due for completion in early 2003, will provide a program to encourage people to:

• combine trips or destinations to reduce the distance travelled
• reduce travel in total
• change travel mode - walk or cycle rather than taking a short car trip, take public transport instead of a longer car trip, or
• change their time of travel from peak to off-peak.

The TDM Action Plan will increase walking and cycling, reduce reliance on private cars for travel, increase mode share for public transport; and make more efficient use of existing infrastructure.

It will build on existing initiatives such as VicTrip and TravelSmart, and support new initiatives such as organisational Green Travel plans - site-specific packages of measures implemented by employers to reduce the costs and environmental impacts of travel.

Develop a walking action plan
Lead agent: DOI
Promoting walking for short trips, with benefits in terms of health, saving money and reducing environmental impacts is being developed by several government departments and organisations such as VicHealth, and local government. Consultation shows that many people would walk more for health and recreation - particularly for short trips presently made by car to school, public transport and local shops - if they were given an urban environment that is conducive to walking.

The Walking Action Plan will address the need for coordination of walking initiatives, better information, improved road safety, better pedestrian access and facilities, and skills and training for council planners and engineers.

Develop a cycling action plan
Lead agent: DOI
Better provision for cycling is a part of several agencies’ work plans including DOI, VicRoads, Parks Victoria, VicHealth, Tourism Victoria, and local governments.

The Cycling Action Plan will develop cycling as transport to school, workplaces, public transport and to activity centres of all types. It will address issues such as coordination of existing programs, development of infrastructure, end of trip facilities, improved road safety, better information for cycling, and research and actions to address deterrents to cycling.

Support policies for activity centres and Transit Cities
Lead agent: DSE
Melbourne 2030 identifies a network of Principal Activity Centres, ranging in size and function, which are (or will be) linked by the PPTN. Establishment of this network of centres will provide easier and more equitable access to facilities and services across the city. The activity centres will accommodate a broader mix of activities including housing and personal services.

Draft Implementation Plan 4 - Activity Centres outlines actions to integrate activity centre planning with transport planning and to improve public transport access to activity centres.

The Transit Cities program aims to encourage development in parts of metropolitan Melbourne and at those regional centres serviced by fast rail, by focusing higher-density mixed-use development around key transport nodes. It will include:

• encouraging employment generators in ‘transport rich’ locations to deliver a mix of uses, thus reducing trip numbers and distances
• increasing residential densities in appropriate locations by encouraging diversity of housing types and promoting design innovation, while protecting residential character
• liaising with agencies or institutions (such as TAFE, hospitals, the Victoria Police, VicRoads, VicTrack) to coordinate government actions and achieve the best urban design, built form and functionality for the nominated Transit Cities locations
• capital works to improve public transport infrastructure - this may include upgrading interchanges
• encouraging and making it easier for people to walk or cycle to Transit Cities.

Prepare guidelines to integrate transport infrastructure and development
Lead agent: DOI
Guidelines for transport infrastructure will be developed to help those seeking to obtain planning approvals for private development and the planning authorities who must assess applications. These will include:

• performance standards for safe pedestrian and cyclist access to and within activity centres and other strategic redevelopment sites
• guidelines for development and management of transport corridors with particular attention to urban design aspects
• design guidelines for ensuring public transport services are well provided for in new development areas.

Activity centre policies and the walking and cycling action plans (see above) will also provide guidance on how development proposals can demonstrate sustainability principles.

Guidelines for government-funded projects will also be developed, including:

• environmental design and construction guidelines that ensure best practice standards and reduce the environmental impacts of transport infrastructure (to apply to all projects undertaken by or funded by a State agency)
• updating standards and procedures for reducing traffic and rail noise, including noise standards for new projects and targets for existing infrastructure.