Global lessons for Australia’s urban transport networks

A major report released by Infrastructure Partnerships Australia and Booz & Company has called for sweeping changes to the way transport projects are conceived, planned and operated across Australia and has been endorsed by the Australasian Railway Association.

“This report calls for a fundamental overhaul of transport planning, ensuring Australia’s governments are harnessing world’s best practice to transparently select the best projects, in the right places, for the right reasons to meet the customer’s needs,” said IPA chief executive, Brendan Lyon.

“Our report studied global best practice to identify the common approaches that have allowed places likeLondon,SingaporeandHong Kongto get their transport networks right.

“Our report starts from first principles, by looking at the actual cost of a journey for a commuter, including fare price, travel time, vehicle operating costs and the other value factors that drive commuter decisions.

“We’ve used this customer-focussed approach to look at two major transport corridors, from the CBD to Penrith inNew South Wales, and Pakenham to the CBD inVictoria.

“Our modelling finds that while no single mode is a silver bullet, more informed decisions are needed about the types of transport projects that should be developed.

“The report found that heavy rail and private vehicles present the lowest user cost for journeys longer than 10 kilometres, while light rail, buses and active transport all have a role to play in shorter journeys.

“Our modelling also shows that motor vehicles continue to represent real value to the travelling public, because they offer point to point service and high level of comfort.

“If we are going to solveAustralia’s congestion challenge, then we need the broader transport system to provide the type of service customers want, and create incentives to support rational decisions.

“Making public transport modes connect effortlessly will be a major factor. Commuters do not like changing from car to bus to rail, so the challenge is to make timetables, ticketing and physical connectivity easy and intuitive.

“Our modelling showed that heavy rail very quickly becomes the most efficient way to move people over medium and long-distances, but the corridors we evaluated aren’t set up to cater to that advantage. That means commuters are more inclined to drive on congested roads all the way to work rather than catch a bus to the train station.

“Over shorter distances, high-frequency travel options like turn-up-and-go buses, rapid light rail and metro-style trains are needed to tackle chronic urban congestion.

“But reform to actual price of use will also be a major factor.

“Ultimately,Australia’s governments will have to front up to the issue of road and transport network pricing, because it allows for the relative economics to be adjusted.

“Reform of transport pricing, such as through congestion charging, is a clear avenue for reform and would also offer the opportunity to fund the expansion and quality of the broader transport network, road and rail.

“In concert with pricing reform, there needs to be a much deeper integration across the transport system and various modes that might comprise a common journey.

“Integration is fundamental, because we can’t build a rail line from everyone’s front door to their workplace – we need to be shrewder about making cars, buses, trains and ferries work together.

“If you make it easier for people to understand, access and traverse public transport, then you will be making huge inroads intoAustralia’s passenger transport challenges.

“While every city faces distinct operational requirements, there are opportunities to learn from the institutional, operational and physical integration that are the trademarks of world class transport networks.

“In these cities, public transport is the mode of choice, not the last resort of a congestion-weary public.

“Integration, quality and reliability are the reasons whyHong Kong,SingaporeandLondonlead the world in transport. These jurisdictions elevate planning above line agencies, such as road or rail authorities, with the likes of Transport forLondonandHong Kong’s Transport Department showing the deep level of integration that is required to achieve better planning for all modes to work together as a single system.

“In Hong Kong, 11.3 million passenger journeys are taken each day on public transport – around 90 per cent of all journeys, while good planning and integration in London has seen public transport journeys surge by more than 3.5 billion passenger kilometres over the last decade.

“Australian commuters are voting with their feet, with our public transport attracting just 10 per cent of passenger journeys for most of the past 30 years, while our road networks are stretched to breaking point.

“Seamless interchanges, frequent services and passenger information are all crucial to making public transport the first option, not the last resort.”

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) welcomed the Infrastructure Partnerships Australia (IPA) report

Given the recent announcements by the Federal Coalition outlining multi-billion dollar investments in the road network, the release of IPA’s Integrating Australia’s Transport systems report is timely.

ARA CEO Bryan Nye said the IPA report concludes that rail is the most cost effective solution to congestion for journeys over 10km.

“When it comes to expenditure on transport, we are not getting the return on investment and this report confirms thatAustralianeeds to re-evaluate its approach to transport.”

The Federal Coalition, has identified the problem of urban road congestion, and announced almost $5 billion of road infrastructure investments.

“The Federal Coalition would achieve more with its investment adopting the IPA report recommendations,” Mr Nye said.

“The $1.5 billion earmarked for the East-West Link inMelbournewould have been better spent upgrading rail services on the Doncaster line and alleviatingMelbourne’s road congestion problems.”

The final piece of the transport puzzle is ensuring adequate funding for transport infrastructure.

“The Australian rail industry supports reform that introduces user-pay models for the provision of infrastructure, and as such support the report’s recommendations for transport infrastructure pricing reforms.”

The ARA advocates for a framework based on sound economic analysis for the provision of transport infrastructure.

“We need less politics and more integrated transport planning,” Mr Nye said.

Source: http://www.tandlnews.com.au/