The Andrews Labor government has announced its plan to establish a new central transport agency, to help coordinate Victoria’s growing transport system and plan for its future.
The concept behind Transport for Victoria (TFV) was made public on Monday by Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan and Minister for Roads Luke Donnellan.
“This is the next evolution of the world-class transport system we are building for Victoria – a single, central, strategic body that coordinates our transport network and plans for its future,” said Ms Allan.
Similar to Transport for London, TFV will bring together the planning, coordination and operation of the entire state’s transport system and its agencies, including VicRoads and Public Transport Victoria (PTV).
It will also provide information for road, train, tram, bus, taxi and freight networks, making it simpler and easier for Victorians to access the information they need from the one source, which Ms Allan says will see motorists and passengers “get home safer and sooner”.
“As we grow into the biggest state in Australia, we need to have a smarter, more integrated transport system, where roads, public transport and freight work together to get people and goods where they need to go,” added Mr Donnellan.
“We need to stop thinking in terms of a road network and a train network and a tram network – we have a transport network, and we need a single transport agency to oversee it.”
TFV will also help Victorians at the helm of the various transport networks better plan for the future, ensuring it grows and evolves with the community’s needs, the economy and technology.
Over the coming months consultation will be carried out with key stakeholders, along with the introduction of legislation to help establish the new body, which is expected to be up and running by the end of the year.