Nick Mann - City of Whittlesea - Delivering a 20 Minute Neighbourhood: Route 86 Tram Extension

Tram Route 86 Extension

City of Whittlesea Council Area

Area: 490sq kms

One of the fastest growing municipalities in Australia

Current Population – 202,731* +131,000 people in the next 20 years

+8,000 residents move to the area each year

*2016

Rapidly Growing Population 2016–2036

69% Increase in Population by 2036

Transport Challenges

Significant distances travelled to work predominantly by car

Hume

Moreland

Melbourne

Darebin Yarra

Banyule

Nillumbik

2,992

7,234

4,485

3,252

2,317

58% of Residents

Work Outside the LGA

Low Public Transport Use only 10.9% of households use pt on a daily basis

Traffic & Public Transport reported as residents main issues of concern

Time-Poor Residents (36% report not having enough time to spend with family / friends)

Social and Health Challenges

Physical isolation underpins socioeconomic disadvantage and lack of social participation.

High levels of vulnerability including gambling and family violence and high obesity and diabetes reported in more car dependent areas.

Significant decline in housing affordability and rise of mortgage/rental stress (around 30%) further undermines community resilience.

Large no. of people with less than average incomes in outer suburban area – unable to run several cars per household.

Less access to employment and educational opportunities than in established areas.

Tram 86 Terminus – UniHill/RMIT

Tram and Train Corridors

Existing Town Centres & PT

Creating a Network of Town Centres

• Mernda Rail extension complete in 2019 - connects into a network of Town Centres (and CBD)

• Public Transport Hub at South Morang Station

• Tram extension is missing link

A 20 Minute Network

• 20 minute travel time between town centres

• Tram extension will facilitate more local jobs and self containment

Missing Link

• LGAs most congested Road – only north-south arterial servicing the Plenty Valley Corridor.

• Bus takes up to 30 minutes at Peak Times.

• Current patronage is 310 users per day, 1 service every 40 minutes.

• Existing catchment for bus: 1584

• University Hill/RMIT 2016 – 500 dwellings – 3,000 jobs – 6,000 student places

• Plenty Valley 2016

– 270 dwellings – 3,300 jobs

Future Change

• 4 km to cost, approx $150m to build

• Minimum 10 mins frequency all day

• Would take 15 mins to travel

• Service 90-130 patrons per service

• Future tram catchment 5361

Changing Town Centre Context:

• University Hill/RMIT 2036

– 600 dwellings

– 5,500 jobs

– 10,000 student places

• Plenty Valley 2036

– 3,270 dwellings

– 6,600 jobs

Median – McKimmies Road North

Next Steps

• Collaborate with State government agencies and build evidence base to progress tram extension project

• Monitor land use change and public transport patronage in the tram corridor and on the train line

• Progress PVTC Structure Plan for higher density residential and commercial development which will support the need for a tram