FACT SHEET:

TRANSPORT

INTRODUCTION
Transport is an integral part of our daily lives. The transport system takes people to jobs,
family, schools and social activities as well as delivering our goods and services.
As Melbourne grows and changes, so will the number of trips made on the transport system
by people. Currently 13 million trips are made per day. Over the next 30-40 years Melbourne
may need to accommodate an estimated seven million additional trips per day.

TRANSPORT TODAY
Victorias transport system includes roads, rail lines, tram lines, footpaths and cycling paths.
Travel by car accounts for around 77 percent of all weekday trips in Melbourne. Public transport accounts for
eight percent, walking 12 percent and cycling two percent.
Since 2005 there has been a significant increase in public transport use. In Melbourne, train patronage has
increased by 44 percent, tram patronage by 22 percent and bus patronage by 34 percent. In regional Victoria,
rail and coach patronage has increased by 96 percent. The number of trips made by private vehicles has
continued to grow, particularly on the outer suburban and freeway networks.

PERCENTAGE OF MODE SHARE, 2009

77% 12% 8% 2% 1%
SOURCE:
VISTA,
2009
INCREASE IN PUBLIC TRANSPORT USE 2005-2011

96%
REGIONAL SOURCE:
METLINK,
MELBOURNE DEPARTMENT
44% 22% 34% OF TRANSPORT,
2011

DID YOU KNOW?

Melburnians make close to 13 million trips across the city each day.
Melburnians make an average of three trips per day.
Public transport patronage is anticipated to double over the next 15 years.
Around 17 percent of travel to work is made on public transport.
60 percent of Melburnians travel on public transport at least once a month.
Travel by car accounts for 77 percent of all weekday trips and this increases to 81 percent on
the weekends.
Almost 70 percent of all trips to the central city are made by sustainable forms of transport (public
transport, walking or cycling).
Walking is the main form of travel for trips less than one kilometre.
 PRIVATE VEHICLE
Travel by car remains the dominant form of how people
travel across Melbourne, providing cross-suburban
TRANSPORT TOMORROW journeys. Suburban roads and the entire freeway
network have seen increased usage and continue to
Here are some key facts about transport and the changes
have capacity constraints. We need to consider how to
government, businesses and the community need
improve traffic flows for the benefit of all road users.
to consider.

PLANNING FOR INCREASED TRIPS TRAIN

The transport needs of Melburnians are increasing, particularly
the demand for public transport, cycling and road trips using Train patronage grew by over four percent in the 12
the freeway network. How effectively we can travel is critical months to June 2011, contributing to a patronage
to our experience of living in Melbourne. growth of 44 percent since 2005. This is an
unprecedented rate of train patronage growth for
Planning for the future will need to consider the increase
Melbourne and capacity issues are being felt across
in transport use and existing pressures, in order to direct
many lines.
transport solutions to where people and businesses need them.

TRAM
13m 20m
TRIPS PER DAY The growing trend for inner city living and recent

2011 2041
developments along key tram lines are likely to further
increase tram patronage. The ability of trams to run on
time has been affected by the need for trams to share
4m POPULATION 6m the road space with cars, buses, trucks and bicycles.
With 78 percent of the tram network operating on
shared roads, congestion has reduced the speed and
SOURCE: VICTORIA IN FUTURE AND DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT, 2012 efficiency of trams over time.

BUS
HAVE YOUR SAY
Overall bus patronage has grown by more than 34
We are seeking your thoughts and ideas on Melbournes future.
percent since 2005. Buses share road space and are
Join our online forums to discuss: impacted by road congestion, with most routes having
What is most important to you about Melbournes to share the road with cars, trucks, bicycles and trams.
transport system?
What do you think the priority should be when
planning for Melbournes transport needs? AIR TRAVEL
Over the next 20 years, air passenger travel to and
from Melbourne is expected to more than double,
increasing from 25 million passengers per year to
@planmelbourne
around 56 million. We need to consider this increase in
passengers, particularly travel to and from the airport.
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CYCLING AND WALKING
planmelbourne@dpcd.vic.gov.au
Over the past five years cycling has grown by about
eight percent each year. Cyclists are some of our most
Published by the Department of Planning and Community Development, 1 Spring Street,
Melbourne Vic 3000 May 2012. Copyright State Government of Victoria 2012. This publication vulnerable road users and the increasing number of
is copyright. No part may be reproduced by any process except in accordance with provisions of
the Copyright Act 1968. DISCLAIMER: This publication may be of assistance to you but the State cyclists requires us to consider improving cycling
of Victoria and its employees do not guarantee that the publication is without flaw of any kind or infrastructure. Walking is the main form of travel for
is wholly appropriate for your particular purposes and therefore disclaims all liability for any error,
loss or other consequence which may arise from you relying on any information in this publication. trips less than one kilometre and importantly, is the
ACCESSIBILITY most common way people access public transport.
If you would like to receive this publication in an accessible format, such as large
print or audio, please telephone Information Victoria on 1300 366 356, or email Around 75 percent of all trips less than 400 metres are
planmelbourne@dpcd.vic.gov.au. This publication is published in PDF and Word
formats on www.planmelbourne.vic.gov.au
made by walking.