Infrastructure Victoria has unveiled a new report that calls on the state government to start planning for bus rapid transit services on six priority routes across Melbourne.
The state’s independent infrastructure advisor released its infrastructure strategy for 2025-2055, making 45 recommendations to the state government across infrastructure sectors including transport, health, housing, energy, social infrastructure and the environment. It also identifies eight future options for the government to consider.
Three of these recommendations relate specifically to buses, starting with recommendation nine to run faster bus services, more often, in Victoria’s largest cities. This includes running buses for longer hours and giving buses priority on the road, as well as straightening out existing routes so that they are fast and direct and adding routes in growth areas that don’t have any services.
Recommendation 10 is for the state to build a new bus rapid transit network in Melbourne, starting with routes that connect train stations and busy destinations, as well as extending the new Eastern Busway along Hoddle Street.
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Recommendation 14 is to make off-peak public transport cheaper while simplifying regional fare zones. After upgrading the myki ticketing system, the body calls for fares to lower for off-peak travel on all state buses.
“Melburnians have built many new homes on the edges of the city, often far away from train lines. People who live in these areas have no easy public transport options, forcing them to drive,” Infrastructure Victoria chief executive Dr Jonathan Spear says.
The updated strategy offers practical, evidence-based advice on the projects, policies and reforms most critical to Victoria’s growth and resilience over the next three decades. New evidence and analysis, together with stakeholder and community feedback, have directly informed updates to the strategy.
“Bus rapid transit networks provide a faster and more frequent service than Melbourne’s existing bus network as they use larger buses that run along dedicated or separated lanes. Buses stop at stations with platforms, real-time information, shelter and seating.”
With Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide already having bus rapid transit networks, Infrastructure Victoria has prioritised six routes to progress by the early 2030s based on new modelling that shows the number of passengers expected to use the services.
These routes include Tarneit to Highpoint, Point Cook to Watergardens, Melton to Broadmeadows, Huntingdale to Upper Ferntree Gully, Endeavour Hills to Southland and Mitcham to Melbourne’s city centre (including a new Hoddle Street busway).
The 30-year infrastructure strategy also recommends the government introduce high-frequency buses that run every five to 10 minutes on key routes to major activity centres. In growth areas, the government should add new bus routes and run buses more often.
“About a third of Melburnians wait more than 20 minutes for a nearby public transport service on an average weekday,” Spear says.
“This makes it an inconvenient option for many people.”
He says running buses more often provides around $1.20 of benefits for every dollar invested.
“Thousands more people used buses after service changes in the past two years. The changes ran buses more often and added more direct services to key places,” Spear says.
By partnering with the Australian government and other organisations, along with smarter use of existing government land, Infrastructure Victoria says the state government can implement the strategy’s 45 recommendations at a cost of around $60 billion.
“Our recommendations lay out how the Victorian government can reduce the costs of providing infrastructure over the next three decades and generate over $166 billion worth of benefits for Victorians,” Spear says.
Infrastructure Victoria is required to develop and update Victoria’s 30-year infrastructure strategy every three to five years. This is the second strategy update since Infrastructure Victoria was created 10 years ago.
Victoria’s infrastructure strategy 2025–2055 will be tabled in the Victorian Parliament this week to inform the policies of all parties. The Victorian government is required to respond to the strategy recommendations within 12 months.
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