It’s not new information that the Victorian Government estimates that the state’s population will grow by over 2 million people between 2011 and 2031 – the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning outlined this figure in its report, Victoria in the Future 2016 – Population and household projections to 2051. In the same report, researchers deduce that approximately 68 per cent of the population, in the range of 15 to 70, will be of working age and approximately 62 per cent will be driving on Victoria’s roads multiple times a day at least five days a week.
What’s more recent are the plans that the government aim to use to tackle the growing congestion on the state’s roads because of this. With journeys to and from Melbourne during the day already taking longer than double the time than journeys at night, according to a Grattan Institute study (Stuck in Traffic? Road congestion in Sydney and Melbourne), Victorians are already facing myriad road congestion issues.
So how will the government face this issue?
That is exactly what the experts on the ‘Tackling Congestion in Melbourne: Road User Pricing the way to go?’ panel at the 10th Annual Victorian Transport Infrastructure Conference 2018 will be discussing. The topical discussion is just one among several issues highlighted on the specialised agenda.
Held on the 11 and 12 of April 2018 at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, the conference convenes transport infrastructure experts to informatively present on projects they are working on and senior-level executives who want to grow their knowledge of what’s happening in the industry. In addition to the presentations and panel discussions are the specialised networking sessions that occur numerous times throughout the event.
Panellists David Warren, Partner at Corrs Chambers Westgarth, and Dr. Charles A. Karl, National Technical Leader at ARRB Group, among others, will discuss the multiple benefits, challenges and constrictions that employing a road-user charge can bring, and if it really will ease congestion on Victoria’s most-travelled roads.
Current projects the state government are carrying out to help alleviate the issue are the likes of the West Gate Tunnel Project, the Level Crossings Removal Project, the $1.8 billion Western Roads Upgrade and the North East Link Project, all of which appear on the 2018 Conference agenda.
Other topics currently featured are: The Metro Tunnel Project – Presentation by Cross Yarra Partnership, The CLARA Plan: SMART Cities and High Speed Rail, Port Transport Initiatives; Lessons from Japan: Connectivity and Agglomeration Benefits of High Speed Rail and How These Might Apply in Australia, Reshaping the Future of Cities with Autonomous Vehicles, Intelligent Transportation for Smart Cities, Airport Rail Link, Station Designs for the $600 million Mernda Rail Extension Project; and more.
To register to attend the 10th Annual Victorian Transport Infrastructure Conference 2018, go to www.vicinfrastructure.com.au
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