In August 2010, the Australian Government committed to a strategic study on the implementation of high speed rail (HSR) on the east coast of Australia. The Phase 1 report was launched on 4 August 2011, and identified corridors and station locations and potential patronage, as well as providing an indicative estimate of the cost to build an HSR network. The High Speed Rail Study Phase 2 report was released on 11 April 2013 and builds on the work of phase 1, but was considerably broader and deeper in objectives and scope, and refined many of the phase 1 estimates. Perspectives on the study include Is high speed rail in Australia value for money?, Boondoggle or best thing we’ll ever do? What to make of high speed rail and High Speed Rail Cost and Timeline – “laughable”.
Commuters are turning back to trains, trams and buses in record numbers, with new analysis by RMIT University researchers revealing the last five years have seen the biggest jump in public transport usage across Australia in 35 years. The report, Transport Policy at the Crossroads: Travel to work in Australian capital cities 1976-2011, is the only study that uses census data to examine the habits of commuters in seven capital cities and analyse work travel trends since 1976. It includes a state-by-state breakdown.
The final NSW Long Term Transport Master Plan has been released, setting a direction for transport in NSW for the next 20 years and covering all modes of transport and all regions of the state. The NSW Government has also announced Sydney’s Light Rail Future, with plans for light rail to be built through the Sydney CBD to Randwick and Kingsford to reduce congestion and revitalise the city.
Ride2Work Day is the perfect opportunity for you to have a go at riding to work. Whether you are a new or existing commuter, by participating in Ride2Work Day and registering to make your ride count, you make an important contribution to building the case for better bike facilities in your community.
Every 22 September, people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighbourhood blocks on Carfree Day to remind the world that we don’t have to accept our car-dominated society.
Now in its 14th year, Walk to Work Day on Friday 28 September 2012 is an annual event which helps employers and employees to build regular walking into their daily routine.
The Gwangiu Cities Declaration sets the way forward towards the greening of cities through improved planning and intelligent management. Released at the conclusion of the Summit of the Urban Environmental Accords held in Korea on 11-13 October, the Declaration calls for the development of an Urban Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) under the UN Convention for Climate Change. It also recommends the development of metrics to measure and report urban sustainability and to encourage the development of policies, regulations and innovative market mechanisms to accelerate the transition towards greener urban development. The Declaration calls for action across five major sectors:
On World Carfree Day (WCD) people from around the world get together in the streets, intersections, and neighbourhood blocks to remind the world that we don’t have to accept our car-dominated society.
The theme for the 4th International Urban Design Conference is Resilience in Urban Design. Resilient Cities will need to endorse density and diversity in building types, and public spaces. They will be walkable communities that also support the innovative use of public transport. Resilient Cities protect their natural resources while managing the impacts of climate change. In many cases community living needs could be in walking distance. Transport, construction infrastructure, industry and communications systems will need to become more energy efficient, and reduce their environmental footprint. Resilient Cities will increase the use local produce; they will require the active participation of community groups, business and governments.
The authors of the Griffith University Urban Research Program (URP) paper The principles of public transport network planning: A review of the emerging literature with select examples examine the inter-relationships between land-use planning and public transport provision. The paper is intended for three audiences: