The tram is an icon of Melbourne. But how do we capitalise on Melbourne's love affair with the tram to attract more people to the system ? Public transport needs to be an attractive and competitive option. We are now seeing the car culture and road mentality slowly shift from vehicle moving to people moving. With rising petrol costs, public transport is now high on the agenda for a more sustainable city. But despite several projects to prioritise the tram over the car, progress is painstakingly slow.Challenges include sharing road space, efficient use of land, parking and local community and trader issues. With the right investment, support and vision, the Melbourne tram can become a more reliable and efficient way to travel, offering an attractive alternative to the car. This presentation looks at the history and performance of such projects as Think Tram and the demonstrated positive changes achieved to date. With the right stakeholder support and transport policy, Melbourne can deliver truly sustainable transport to ensure that it retains its most liveable city status. (Author/publisher) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E214755.
Abstract