FAQs

Q. What’s happening on Hoddle Street?

The Government has allocated $5 million to commence engineering investigations to determine the feasibility of improvements including public transport operation along Hoddle Street.  

The role of Hoddle Street will be examined within the context of the wider transport network, and the study will identify key issues relating to traffic and transport efficiency and reliability; safety and land use planning.

The community will be given the opportunity to provide input and feedback throughout the study.

Q. How long will the study go for?

A detailed feasibility report (assessing the options) is due for completion by mid 2011.

Q. What will happen at the end of the study?

We will conduct extensive engineering investigations, to consider all social, environmental and economic issues to fully understand the feasibility of the options investigated.

Following this recommendations be made as to the best way forward.

Q. How will the buses be affected on Hoddle Street?

Hoddle Street is an important bus route for the Doncaster Area Rapid Transit (DART) service. The morning peak-hour bus lane between the Eastern Freeway and Victoria Parade provides significant travel time and reliability benefits to bus commuters.

Any options developed would aim to improve bus travel times and reliability. The Government will also investigate opportunities to enhance the existing bus priority infrastructure on Hoddle Street.

Q. How will the trams be affected?

There are a number of tram routes crossing Hoddle Street. The study will be investigating options for improving tram operations across Hoddle Street, which has the potential to benefit tram commuters by improving tram travel times and reliability.

The study will also look at any potential short term implementation/construction impacts on tram routes.

Q. What wil be done to make pedestrian access safer along this route?

The study will include detailed investigations of pedestrian networks and crossings to ensure safety and accessibility.

Q. What will be done to make cycling safer along this route?

Provision for cyclists, and bicycle facilities that integrate with the Principle Bicycle Network, will be considered in the development of options to ensure the safety of cyclists along and around Hoddle Street.

Q. What relief does the Victorian Transport Plan provide for motorists stuck on Hoddle Street in the morning peak?

We acknowledge that there are currently a large number of people who drive into Melbourne’s CBD from the eastern suburbs. The State Government is seeking to reduce this number by delivering a $360 million plan to upgrade bus services from Doncaster which will double the number of bus services running on four key routes within the next three years.

This upgrade to buses will include more on-road priority treatments, increased frequency and extended hours to encourage more people to leave the car at home and use public transport.

The Victorian Transport Plan aims to create an efficient and integrated road and public transport system that will carry more people around Melbourne than ever before.