Sydney, as a whole, is lurching toward an urban structure where its transportation problems are impossible to solve. The only alternative is to create new centres of employment.
Residents protest against the felling of century-old trees to make way for light rail along Anzac Parade in Sydney.
AAP/Karen Sweeny
If planning decisions properly considered the value of trees in a city, we could have a modern transport system and tree-lined views to enhance the journey.
Maintenance has been pushed off so much that the D.C. Metro needs to shut lines down for months for repairs.
momentsnotice/flickr
Elevated rail to remove level crossings, done properly, has many benefits – and the alternatives are more disruptive and costly. But announcing projects with little consultation is asking for trouble.
The report criticises the state’s failure to adequately integrate the planning of land use development and transport priorities, but falls into the same trap itself.
AAP/Melanie Foster
Infrastructure Australia’s latest report is substantial but, critically, it fails to incorporate the transport thinking needed to develop more compact cities that work better for everyone.
According to all the data, urban car use has peaked, but official traffic modelling forecasts a remarkable reversal.
AAP/Julian Smith
On average, people won’t accept a commuting time of more than an hour. As cities grow ever bigger, new road projects can’t achieve this, yet policymakers still rely on modelling that defies evidence.
The Turnbull government seems to have lifted Abbott’s moratorium on rail funding, but giving light rail to every city that wants it will take some clever strategies to woo private investors.
Rail and other public transport infrastructure could receive more funding from the new Turnbull government.
Mick Tsikas/AAP
Jamie Briggs talks to Michelle Grattan about his new portfolio, the policy pivot away from just roads toward other infrastructure projects like public transport, and much more.
Federal governments have traditionally struggled to develop a coherent view for our cities.
AAP Image/NewZulu/Thinking Media
For the first time, both major parties have a cities portfolio in their front bench team. With a few more changes, the government could create a structure that will really get to grips with urban issues.
Australia's transport infrastructure needs urgent upgrades. But with governments willing to fund only one or two major projects, how do we decide which infrastructure project to prioritise?
All spaces should be safe.
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There are a number of reasons why Australia’s public transport systems seem shoddy compared to other countries. But these reasons bring into question the validity of such comparisons.