Climate Action Merribek: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change

Submission: Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy

September 2, 2018 at 4:16 pm John Englart 4 comments

MITS – capacity of a transport corridor at peak time of different transport modes

Transport is an important sector for emissions reduction both in Australia and locally in Moreland. Moreland Council have prepared a draft Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy to ‘drive’ the reduction in transport emissions through increased use of public transport, cycling and walkable neighborhoods and commercial centres. We commend Moreland Council for the policy goals in this strategy of reducing transport emissions.

Transport is a more complex area than energy to get emissions reduction at the local level as many of the important policy levers are driven by State politics and infrastructure investment.

Some of us in Climate Action Moreland attended and participated in the Brunswick Residents Network forums on the Draft Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy. The Brunswick Residents Network have done a considerably detailed submission which we broadly endorse for consideration of incorporation in the Council’s final strategy document.

There were a number of issues which we think weren’t covered by the Brunswick Residents Network submission.

Of particular note is the importance for continued advocacy for improvements to the quality, service frequency and extension of public transport services in and through our municipality.

A second consideration is co-ordinating and co-operating with adjacent Municipal Councils to improve public transport and cycling links. Both points address social equity both within Moreland and within the northern Melbourne region. Advocating for extension of the Upfield line to Wallan can improve equity issues for Melbourne’s northern urban fringe and also address one of the drivers for congestion in Moreland.

Improving arterial cycling connections to neighboring areas will encourage more residents to cycle and more people visiting Moreland by bicycle to see friends, to shop and use services in our municipality.

Submission on Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy

We appreciate the opportunity in submitting comments on Moreland Council’s draft Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy. We acknowledge the significant work that has gone into community engagement and in preparing this document. We are in general agreement with the goals and most of the detailed action points.

Making the behaviour change to zero emissions transport is an important goal and ensuring the community is engaged and on board with the necessary changes will be vital.

We note the detailed submission made by the Brunswick Residents network and generally add our endorsement to the specific details in their submission, but offer some extra thoughts in this submission: (Read Brunswick Residents Network Submission).

Executive Summary:

• Climate Change considerations must be a high priority
• Action Points needed for strong advocacy on public transport upgrades and extension
• Action points needed for arterial cycling links to neighboring Municipalities
• Action point needed on Integration of public transport and bicycle parking
• More Measurement points needed to assess the effectiveness of the Strategy

These points are outlined in more detail below.

Climate change considerations must be a high priority

We strongly support Council’s commitment to reducing transport emissions in The Moreland Carbon Evolution Strategy and associated policies, targets and action plans. The transport sector in Australia has the second highest level of carbon emissions at 19 percent after electricity generation (35 percent).

According to Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory, transport emissions grew 62.9 percent between 1990 and December 2017. In the year to December 2017 transport emissions were 100 Mt CO 2 -e, and experienced a 3.4 percent increase year on year. (NGGI Dec 2017 update)

Australia’s rising Transport emissions 1990 – Dec 2017

In Moreland transport emissions were 34 percent (500kT) of total emissions per year in 2011. The Moreland Zero Carbon Evolution strategy has a 2020 target of 25% reduction in car trips for personal use and 25% reduction in car trips for work. This needs to be facilitated by improved public transport, cycling facilities and increased walkability of our urban social hubs, which the Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy seeks to address.

Further Information:

Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: December 2017
http://www.environment.gov.au/climate-change/climate-science-data/greenhouse-gas-measurement/publications#quarterly
Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy 2018 and Parking Strategy
http://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/about-us/projects/transport-and-parking-projects/transport-strategy/
Moreland Zero Carbon Evolution Strategy
https://morelandzerocarbon.org.au/

Action points for strong advocacy on public transport upgrades and extension

Policy 1.4 of the Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy grossly underestimates the role of advocacy to the state Government. We believe Moreland Council needs to continue a vocal and strong advocacy role to other levels of Government. This is a matter of addressing equity in transport issues with generally poorer public transport and cycling infrastructure in the north of Moreland to the south.

Specific areas we have identified:

• Council needs to continue to advocate for extension of No 58 West Coburg tram line up Turner and Derby Street at least to Boundary Road and perhaps further to the Glenroy hub. This is particularly important after the Council stand on the terminus being moved from Melville Road across Bell Street and into Turner Street at the August 2018 Council meeting. Not presently covered in Strategy under 1.4
• Secondly, extending the no 19 Sydney Road tram to Campbellfield is important to provide important short trip travel servicing motels along Sydney Road, public transport access to Campbellfield Plaza, and if the track is taken up to Barry Road, servicing residents and many manufacturing and light industrial areas in Campbellfield. At the moment employees at many of these commercial and industrial sites need to own cars for employment. Not presently covered in Strategy under 1.4
• Track duplication upgrade and extension of the Upfield rail line to Wallan is also an essential advocacy position to increase service and frequency on the Upfield Line. Council needs to push strongly for this both to service Moreland public transport needs, but also to assist the needs for good public transport on Melbourne’s northern region and urban fringe to address equality issues in access to good public transport and reduce congestion that partially derives from suburbs further out. We note this is covered in Action Point 1.4.4 but could be strengthened.

Action points for arterial cycling links to neighbouring Municipalities

People seldom live their lives only within our municipality and the Strategy does not highlight sufficiently arterial cycling routes to adjacent municipalities.

The east west links to Darebin in the north and east-west links to Moonee Valley, and north-south links with Hume need to be upgraded. This is consistent with the many existing important north south routes connecting Moreland with Yarra municipality, Darebin municipality and City of Melbourne in the southern parts of the Moreland.

Moreland Council need to work in cooperation with Hume Council in continued advocacy for extension of the Upfield bike path at Fawkner to Campbellfield to address the needs of Moreland residents in accessing employment further north in Hume and accessing Campbellfield Plaza shopping centre.

There also needs to be an action point promoting co-ordination with neighboring Councils to improve arterial cycling links linking municipalities.

Integrate public transport and bicycle parking

Under Policy 1.2 Public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure needs to be well integrated. Multiple mode travel on trips should be encouraged through integration of bus, train and tram services, walkable neighborhoods and commercial hubs and bicycle parking. There is no action point for integrating bicycle parking with other transport modes

We note the provision of Parkiteer secure bicycle cages at Fawkner and Coburg stations and think more of these facilities should be made available across Moreland.

Undercover bicycle parking should be considered at some popular locations such as at the Brunswick Baths.

Adequate bicycle parking should be provided at all tram terminuses within the municipality and also regular assessment of the need for bicycle parking along the tram routes near tram stops. (Yes a few people cycle to a tram stop then use the tram to their destination)

On Measurement – the effectiveness of the Strategy

We note the Brunswick Residents network submission that mode share change is far from sufficient for measuring the effectiveness of the strategy.

We need multiple data sources including from regular bicycle counts, bus and train passenger patronage statistics, and independent audits and surveys on an ongoing basis to track the effectiveness of the strategy.

About our group

Climate Action Moreland is a grassroots climate action group that was started in 2008, with a strong local focus addressing climate issues in Moreland, and advocacy at local, state and federal levels for strong and rapid climate action.

Climate change is an important imperative for Moreland citizens:

We know that climate change is already affecting us in Moreland with more frequent and intense heat events, more torrential rainfall events producing flash flooding.
As a highly urbanised municipality, Moreland has a strong urban heat island effect.

Climate Action Moreland recognizes climate change is an existential problem that needs to be addressed through declaration of a climate emergency and plans for rapid implementation of emissions reduction to zero carbon emissions and development of carbon drawdown techniques.

We are eager to have ongoing input into Moreland’s Integrated Transport Strategy as we believe this is a not to be lost opportunity to mitigate and adapt to climate change through community and individual behaviour change and the renewal of important public transport infrastructure.

After electricity generation, transport emissions are the sector with the next highest level of emissions, and need to be urgently addressed.

Some Detail from the Draft Moreland Integrated Transport Strategy

Here are the action policies as listed in the draft strategy document from the ‘Policies on a Page’ under the five transport key objectives:

A SUSTAINABLE MORELAND – which achieves a city-leading shift toward sustainable modes of travel, supporting the transition to active transport or zero-emissions transport by 2040.

A LIVEABLE MORELAND – where the transport network is family-friendly and where we consciously reduce local vehicle traffic and safeguard the wellbeing of our community.

A MORELAND THAT IS SAFE AND HEALTHY
where transport safety is a key focus, we improve perceptions of personal security and safety and promote a healthy community with cleaner air.

A MORELAND THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND EQUITABLE FOR ALL – where we reduce barriers to community movement and strongly commit to making
Moreland accessible to all.

A PROSPEROUS MORELAND – which connects people to local jobs and services, focuses on the reliability of the
transport system for people and goods and caters for population and employment.

A SUSTAINABLE MORELAND
POLICY 1.1 – Establish world-class pedestrian routes that make walking safe, easy and accessible.
POLICY 1.2 – Make cycling an obvious choice for travel in Moreland.
POLICY 1.3 – Prioritise walking, cycling and public transport initiatives before car travel.
POLICY 1.4 – Advocate tor better public transport for Moreland.
POLICY 1.5 – Lessen our reliance on cars and minimise growth in car traffic.
POLICY 1.6 – Inspire everyone to take ownership of the future of travel in Moreland.
POLICY 1.7 – Be open to collaborating with partners to deliver sustainabimproved public transport such asle transport outcomes.
POLICY 1.8 – Be a leader on zero emission transport modes.
POLICY 1.9 – Be a leader in the adoption of e-bike technology.
POLICY 1.10 – Promote, but regulate, dockless bike share schemes in Moreland.

A LIVEABLE MORELAND
POLICY 2.1 – Discourage car use, especially for short trips.
POLICY 2.2 – Reallocate road space based on Moreland’s road user hierarchy.
POLICY 2.3 – Recognise that our streets are flexible spaces and evolve their use accordingly.
POLICY 2.4 – Reduce the time people spend travelling by encouraging more local trips.
POLICY 2.5 – Protect our local streets.
POLICY 2.6 – Create a greener Moreland.

A MORELAND THAT IS SAFE AND HEALTHY
POLICY 3.1 – Create safer neighbourhoods for all by reducing speed limits
POLICY 3.2 – Maximise the safety and accessibility of key walking and cycling routes to schools.
POLICY 3.3 – Encourage innovative forms of cycling that accommodate a ‘family’ lifestyle.
POLICY 3.4 – Put the safety of vulnerable road users first.
POLICY 3.5 – Improve personal security and make sustainable travel feel safe for all users and at all times.
POLICY 3.6 – Set a leading example to the rest of the community in our commitment to maintaining good air quality, for our health.
POLICY 3.7 – Prioritise pedestrians and cyclists at roadworks and construction sites.

A MORELAND THAT IS ACCESSIBLE AND EQUITABLE FOR ALL
POLICY 4.1 – Recognise and mitigate barriers to pedestrian movement.
POLICY 4.2 – Create a Moreland which is accessible for all users at all times.
POLICY 4.3 – Rebalance fairness in the use of public assets and encourage sustainable transport modes through pricing mechanisms.
POLICY 4.4 – Improve access to transport information which guides and assures all users, particularly those who are new or require additional assistance

A PROSPEROUS MORELAND
POLICY 5.1 – Strive for better access to local jobs and services.
POLICY 5.2 – Protect our ability to extend the transport function and serve the future needs of Moreland.
POLICY 5.3 – Genuinely integrate new developments with sustainable travel.
POLICY 5.4 – Make travel reliability a higher priority than travel times or speeds.
POLICY 5.5 – Support safe and efficient local freight and service movements without detriment to liveability.

MITS – present Mode share (All trips)

MITS – present Mode share (work trips)

MITS – vehicle speed and mortality

MITS – accident statistics for Moreland

MITS – 2027 transport mode share targets

Entry filed under: cycling, Moreland Council, public transport, submission, transport, walking.