The road network is integral to providing access to economic and social services. Accessibility and mobility issues are fundamental and related aspects of an efficient and effective road network. Access to mobility is a right that governments should guarantee to their population. This report provides selected examples that highlight Australia's response to the challenges of providing communities with effective accessibility and mobility options. Australia is a unique continent. It is geographically large with a population of just under 20 million people and a large road network length of around 900,000 km. The population settlement patterns which include large urban cities as well as regional and remote communities means that Australia faces many challenges in providing communities with accessibility and mobility options, which are similar to those in both developed and developing countries. Accessibility is seen as a broad concept that includes economic, social and environmental dimensions as well as the physical aspect. Accessibility encompasses access by people to communities, services, employment and recreation, as well as encompassing access by business operators to points of production and distribution. Mobility relates to the efficiency and reliability of travel and the ease with which people can move and goods can be delivered via the transport system. The key challenges within urban and metropolitan areas relate to people with limited access to transport choices and the need to provide equity of access. The report highlights action plans associated with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992, which came into effect in Australia in March 1993. As an example, to achieve the requirements of the Act, the State of Victoria has commenced a twenty-year program of transport infrastructure upgrading. The program covers all forms of transport facilities and includes a range of innovative technologies such as wheelchair detection devices linked to traffic signals, pedestrian crossings with infrared sensors to automatically extend walk times, audio tactile devices at pedestrian crossings, tactile ground surface indicators. Other innovations include the provision of low floor buses and trams, and ramped tram stops. In regional and remote areas there is a need to ensure roads contribute to local and regional economic development opportunities and provide an appropriate level of access to goods and services, employment opportunities and leisure activities. The report includes selected examples including the Lockhart River example, which illustrates a modal integration solution used to enhance community connectivity to the outside world. A further example presented is a road upgrade in Boigu Island, which made a significant contribution to enhancing the quality of life for Boigu Island residents. The Boigu Island road transport project dramatically improved accessibility for local residents and in addition provided public health benefits. For the covering abstract see ITRD E135448.
Samenvatting