A New 50 Year Transport Plan for Perth

Emmerson Richardson

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What are the Drivers for Change?

> Climate change > Road congestion > Health and fitness > Affordable living > Road safety

Less dependence on and use of cars 2

We Have a Choice – North American West Coast Comparison

City and Public Transport Mode Share Comment

Vancouver (British Columbia) 8% to 9% Vancouver has put a reasonable effort into developing its public transport system over most of the last 50 years and has generally not built urban freeways within the inner city area. Portland (Oregon) About 5% Portland changed direction in the 1970s and has greatly increased investment in public transport since that time. Los Angeles (California) 2% to 3% Los Angeles allowed its rail system to be removed and its public transport system generally to fall into disrepair, whilst it invested heavily in major road systems. More recently, it has begun re-investing in rail based public transport. Which is the most liveable city?

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What has Munich Done Right?

> Invested heavily in regional rail (S-Bahn) and subway (U Bahn) since 1970 – four new U-Bahn lines since 1972 > 517 kms S-Bahn, 138 kms U-Bahn (with 100 stations) in addition to traditional rail and bus routes > Targeted investment to public transport >

Annual per capita Investment in Infrastructure (Euros) Public transport

Munich Manchester 221 (65%) 32 (18%) Glasgow Source: WS Atkins, 2001 23 (11%)

Roads

121 (35%) 149 (82%) 216 (89%) One of the most vibrant cities in Europe

Roads plus public transport

342 181 239

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How does Munich Compare with Like Sized Cities?

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2/3 1/3 2/3 4/5

Melbourne – A Tale of Two Cities

Region

All Melbourne Inner Middle pre 1960 Middle post 1960 Outer Stable Outer Growing Source: VATS 1997/1999

Car Driver

43.7% 24.6% 43.3% 49.8% 49.9% 49.6%

Melbourne Mode Share 1997-1999 Car Passenger Public Transport Walk Only

23.1% 9.7% 21.5% 24.4% 28.2% 30.7% 6.6% 15.8% 6.6% 4.6% 3.6% 3.1% 25.6% 48.3% 27.5% 20.2% 17.5% 15.8% Where do Melbournians aspire to live?

Other

1.0% 1.6% 1.1% 1.0% 0.8% 0.8%

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Liveable/ Sustainable Cities > > > > > > Great places for social, cultural and business exchange Great public places – to walk around or stay a while Diverse mixed uses – leisure, education, retail, employment and a mix of housing types Preserve heritage and create new urban art A human scale of urban design – active interesting streets Easy to access and move around

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Transport for Sustainable Cities > Complement and fit the urban form > > > High capacity access without high numbers of cars A walkable city – safe, secure, comfortable and convenient A transit city – more than a city with transit

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Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - 4th Assessment Report, 2007

“The scientific evidence is now overwhelming: climate change presents very serious global risks and it demands an urgent global response”

Stern Review: The Economics of Climate Change

“The threat from climate change is perhaps the greatest challenge facing our world. Without decisive and urgent action, it has the potential to be an economic disaster and an environmental catastrophe.” Former British Prime Minister, Tony Blair (March 2007)

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Transport and Climate Change > Currently 14% of emissions for transport > > > High growth in transport emissions in Australia: o 28.4% growth (1990 – 2004) o 60.5% estimated growth (1990 2020) under BAU UK + 26.4% (1990 – 2002) USA + 27.6% (1990 – 2004)

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Australia: Emissions by Vehicle Type BTRE Report: 2002

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Transport and Climate Change – International Comparisons Population Total greenhouse gas emissions

Total greenhouse gas emissions per person

Greenhouse gas from cars per person

AUSTRALIA

20.1 million

UK USA

60.3 million 296.4 million 565 mt/yr

28.1 t/yr 100%

2.07 t/yr 100% 656 mt/yr

10.9 t/yr 39%

1.04 t/yr 50% 7147 mt/yr

24.1 t/yr 86%

3.95 t/yr 191%

Analysis of data supplied under UN Framework on Climate Change, 2004

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Greenhouse Emission Characteristics – International Comparisons

Region or Country Total private transport CO 2 emissions per capita (kg/person)

4322

Total public transport CO 2 emissions per capita (kg/person)

83

Total passenger transport CO capita (kg/person) 2 emissions per

4405

% of passenger transport CO 2 emissions from public transport

USA cities Australian/New Zealand cities Canadian Cities West European cities 2107 2348 1133 119 74 134 2226 2422 1269 1.9% 5.3% 3.1% 10.6% High income Asian cities 688 162 825 19.7%

Source: Kenworthy, JR: Transport Energy Use and Greenhouse Gases in Urban Passenger Systems: A Study of 84 Global Cities

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Melbourne/ London Comparison

Source: Bus Association Victoria Transport Emissions Report

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Road Congestion > > > A major and growing concern in large cities Warren Centre Market Research (Sydney) found: o • • • Most important transport problems; 42% traffic congestion 12% lack of public transport 11% reliability of public transport o • • Most favoured transport solutions (public and decision makers); reduce traffic rather than build more freeways improve public transport even at expense of roads budget Private cars with low occupancy are a major cause of congestion

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Impact of Road Building on Delay – America’s 20 Biggest Cities Source: Urban Transport Monitor (1999)

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Impact of Public Transport on Travel Demand – America’s 50 Biggest Cities

Indicator

Public Transport Ridership (kms per person) Car Driver Travel (kms per person) Traffic Safety (Deaths per 100,000 persons)

Increase/Decrease Compared to Bus Only System Cities Large Rail System ( 7 cities ) Small Rail System ( 16 cities ) Bus Only System ( 27 cities )

+ 500% + 50% 0% - 20% - 35% - 10% - 15% 0% 0% Source: Rail Transit in America – A Comprehensive Evaluation of Benefits; Litman, T (2004)

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Health and Fitness > > > > > 60% of Australian adults overweight or obese (2.5 times higher than 1980) 25% of Australian children overweight or obese US Surgeon General: “be physically active for at least 30 minutes (adults) and 60 minutes (children) on most days” Walking (or cycling) as a part of transport can make a difference WA TravelSmart found improving health and fitness was one of two major motivators to use cars less

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Affordable Living > Cost of running a car is expensive Source: RACWA Website (2007) * Excludes parking costs

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International Comparison – Expenditure on Travel

City or Region

Australian average US average

Total private passenger transport cost as a percentage of metro GDP

12.2% 11.2%

Total public passenger transport cost as a percentage of metro GDP

1.2% 0.6%

Total passenger transport cost as a percentage of metro GDP

13.4% 11.8% Canadian average West European average 12.9% 5.6% 0.9% 1.8% 13.7% 7.4% Asian average 3.6% 1.3%

Source: Kenworthy and Laube (2001) Millennium Cities, Database for Sustainable Transport

4.9%

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Road Safety > Worldwide, over one million people die each year from road crashes and many millions more are injured > More Australian lives lost in road crashes than the more than 100,000 Australians killed in wars

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Transport Vision - 2060 > > Fast, frequent public transport Car travel – an important choice mode > Reduced congestion in city/ town centres > > More efficient freight movement Walking and cycling – modes of choice > Better, safer cycling networks and a quality walking environment

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Integrated Policy and Planning Framework > Most cities have developed transport strategies with a theme of reducing car dependence and improving public transport > No large city in Australia has publicly committed to a plan to implement its strategy > There needs to be a commitment to ensuring future infrastructure development supports agreed policy positions > Establish principles for public transport planning

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An Integrated Land Use Development and Transport Planning Approach > Urban Development o High to medium density in walking catchments of station o o o o Permeable network of streets that connect communities and retain planning robustness Mix of uses to encourage walking and reduce driving Integrate public transport into city development (stops, stations, vehicles, priority routes) A human scale of urban design with active street fronts and great public places

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> An Integrated Land Use Development and Transport Planning Approach Transport Planning o Connectivity before capacity in road/ street design o o o o o o Streets not roads in town and regional centres Permeable, legible street networks with good walking and cycling access Parking and other demand management measures to restrain car use Public transport first for access to city and regional centres Major roads generally outside town centres to provide access to industrial and car based uses TravelSmart (behaviour change) programmes to encourage travel change

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The need for a Long Term (50 Year) Plan A long term plan is needed now. It must: > Be capable of meeting projected long term travel needs > Address the community’s quality of life objectives – specifically drivers for change > Ensure efficient use made of existing infrastructure by increasing people and freight moving capacity through adaptation and renewal > Assess short term projects for compatibility with long term objectives > Be funded and implemented continually and progressively

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Key Ingredients of a Long Term Plan for Perth > Increase the capacity and frequency of the existing public transport system on an annual basis > Plan and construct new railways, busways and light rail systems > Increase the percentage of public transport services operating on priority routes > Accelerate the development of safe, quality walking and cycling routes within and between centres > Plan and develop high density mixed use communities around transit stations > Limit major urban road construction

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Increase Capacity of Existing PT System > Increase number of rail cars on existing lines on an annual basis > Increase capacity of the bus system on an annual basis > Enable PT peak spreading by increasing frequency and capacity of bus system feeding rail during shoulder periods – particularly the 6:00 – 7:30 pm period

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New Major Infrastructure Projects > Extend NS Railway to Yanchep (including bus interchange and bus feeder systems) – by 2015 > Introduce Stage 1 of Perth Inner City Light Rail – UWA to East Perth – by 2015 > Introduce a network of busways or priority bus systems linking centres – from 2015 (e.g. Cannington to Fremantle via Murdoch) > Plan and extend inner city light rail system – from 2015

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Accelerate the Development of Network City > Substantial expansion of residential and mixed use development around rail stations, e.g. Maylands, Bayswater, Claremont, Cottesloe > Remove zoning constraints within 1km walking distance of major rail stations on NS railway, e.g. Warwick and Whitfords > Create special TOD precincts along established and establishing transit corridors, e.g. Beaufort Street, Stirling Highway, Rockingham Station to Rockingham Beach corridor

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Limit Major Urban Road Construction > Place a moratorium on major urban road construction except where: o there is a genuine need and priority for freight vehicles o the road construction is primarily for public transport on priority routes > Consider reallocation of road space from general traffic to public transport priority along important community activity corridors

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Concluding Comments > We are moving along an unsustainable path in our city development and our transport planning > Perth, like most other Australian cities, has accepted sustainable transport planning strategies, but is doing too little and moving too slowly to make any real difference > We need to move quickly to develop and implement a long term sustainable transport plan for Perth

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