Linking Victoria
The State Labor Governments have made significant improvements to roads and public transport as part of our commitment to making Victoria the best place to live and raise a family – and we are working to meet the transport challenges of the future.
We have spent more than $3 billion on roads across the State. Projects include the completed Hallam Bypass and Geelong Road upgrade, and the ongoing upgrade of the Calder and Bass Highways. Construction is underway on the Geelong Bypass and the Tullamarine-Calder Interchange has been completed.
"We have spent more than $3 billion on roads across the State"The Brumby Government is getting on with the job of delivering the $2.5 billion EastLink project, which will provide a 40 kilometre link connecting Melbourne’s eastern and south-eastern suburbs.
The Regional Fast Rail Project is the biggest upgrade of regional rail services in 120 years, and is delivering frequent, reliable and comfortable rail links to Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and the Latrobe Valley. The introduction of the new V/Line timetable is delivering an additional 401 services to regional Victorians each week. Train services have been returned to Ararat and Bairnsdale and the Government has announced a $53 million freight upgrade as the first stage in the reintroduction of passenger rail to Mildura.
Between 1999 to 2006, the Government has delivered $1.1 billion worth of new trams, electric trains and diesel trains. We have also increased staffing on trains and at stations and introduced CCTV cameras and duress alarms. Forty metropolitan train stations have been upgraded, and we have delivered tram extensions to Docklands, Box Hill and Vermont South.
Road safety has been a key focus of the Labor Government, and the three lowest road tolls in recorded history in 2003, 2004 and 2005 show we are making significant progress. Since coming to office, the Government has announced an investment of more than $1 billion in road safety projects across Victoria.
"Between 1999 to 2006, the Government has delivered $1.1 billion worth of new trams, electric trains and diesel trains"$10.5 billion public transport upgrade
In May 2006, the State Labor Government released its major transport and liveability statement: Meeting Our Transport Challenges, which will inject $10.5 billion over 10 years into the Victorian transport network.
Meeting Our Transport Challenges will deliver projects including:
- $1.4 billion for new bus services;
- $2.9 billion to boost rail capacity and pave the way for future extensions;
- $2.7 billion to upgrade Victoria’s arterial road network, plan for a second east-west link for Melbourne, and road safety programs;
- $1 billion to boost capacity on the Monash-Westgate corridor;
- $510 million for improved public transport in Provincial Victoria;
- $577 million for new trams, extended services and tram priority; and
- $420 million to make transport more accessible and easier to use.
- The Government has added 720km of bike and pedestrian paths across Victoria, to encourage more Victorians to leave their car at home and enjoy the fitness and recreational benefits associated with walking and cycling.
We have also committed to major projects to improve the operation of the Port of Melbourne, including the Dynon Port Rail Link and, subject to environmental approvals, the Channel Deepening project to enable larger ships to enter the Port.