A vision to drive higher transportation uptake, as part of the 10-year, $1.6 billion Hobart City Deal, is being progressed with the release of an implementation strategy in early October.
The Hobart City Deal Implementation Plan commits to capacity building in transport services and the providers of those services, as well as in the infrastructure to encourage and enable public transport.
The Australian and Tasmanian governments and the Glenorchy and Hobart councils will determine which projects to fund as part of this, a statement from the federal government indicated.
One of the targets is to increase development along transit priority corridors, including activating the northern suburbs rail corridor and a light rail corridor.
Tasmanian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Michael Ferguson said that in order to activate the Northern Suburbs transit Corridor, the Tasmanian government is currently advertising for a transport consultant to undertake a study into the most effective transport solution along the disused northern suburbs rail corridor.
“The study will take into consideration the infrastructure needs within the corridor, the ideal surface the particular vehicle type would travel upon, station requirements, signalling considerations and integration with other transport options,” said Ferguson.
The city will also establish a common ticketing platform, supported by a $7.5 million investment over four years by the Tasmanian government for Metro Tasmania to lead the work.
Investments will be made towards improving the reliability and speed of real-time information, as well as to provide for new technology.
Road usage will be supported by Smart Traffic Management solutions, such as implementing a new On-Road Traveller Information System, which will provide road users with real-time data on incidents, alternative routes and travel times. A new incident management system will determine tow truck deployments and clearway management.
Another target of the Hobart City plan is to reduce congestion bottlenecks through targeted capital investment and smart technology solutions.
A commitment of $25 million in funding has been made through the Australian government’s Urban Congestion Fund for infrastructure projects to reduce congestion with a focus on the northern corridor.
The Tasmanian government is committing $105.5 million in total to reduce congestion. $20.8 million has been set aside for the Kingston congestion package, which will support the redevelopment of a bus transit centre and provide clearways to improve the flow of traffic.
Federal Minister for Population, Cities and Urban Infrastructure Alan Tudge said, “Planning, design and construction of congestion-busting roads across Greater Hobart can start thanks to a combined investment of over $890 million.”