Two major routes in Victoria will be upgraded to improve public transport reliability
Two of Victoria’s busiest arterial routes will be upgraded over the next few months to improve public transport reliability and travel times.
VicRoads is about to begin consultation with the City of Melbourne and Yarra City Council to finalise plans to implement $32 million worth of vital improvements to public transport in Victoria Parade and Hoddle Street.
The works are an important part of the Doncaster Area Rapid Transit (DART) improvement package, announced earlier this year.
The works will include new dedicated bus lanes along Hoddle Street and Victoria Parade, upgraded bus stops along these roads, signalling improvements to give greater priority to public transport, and improved bicycle connections and crossing options in Victoria Parade.
Minister for Roads and Public Transport Terry Mulder says the nearly 20,000 people per day who use bus services between the city and the eastern suburbs could expect to save on average seven minutes in the PM peak when the full package of upgrades are rolled out.
“At an individual level, someone who travels on these buses every weekday could save around 50 minutes per week when all of the upgrades have finished,” he says.
“At a macro level, the economic benefit of the project is significant as productivity benefits to current bus users are realised, more people are attracted to more reliable public transport, and bus operators use their fleet more efficiently.”
The City of Melbourne and Yarra City Council both bring a lot of local planning expertise to the project which will assist VicRoads in finalising the plans.
Works are planned to start first in Victoria Parade from October, before moving soon after to Hoddle Street.
VicRoads will keep affected residents, businesses and road users up-to-date with developments, particularly as road works start.