Key Takeaways:
- The planned changes to the North Melbourne tram corridor include merging stops and removing 40 car parks to accommodate 25-metre long G-class trams.
- The new trams are almost 50 per cent longer than the oldest trams on route 57.
- The changes do not include elevated platforms, which are necessary for people with wheelchairs, elderly passengers, and parents with prams to access trams.
- The absence of elevated platforms may lead to increased pressure on other transport systems, such as taxis.
- The government has missed deadlines to make the entire tram fleet accessible, and the auditor-general report revealed little improvement in tram network accessibility in the last five years.
Introduction to the Planned Changes
The Victorian government has released plans to upgrade the North Melbourne tram corridor, which include merging some stops and removing 40 car parks to accommodate the new 25-metre long G-class trams. The new trams are significantly longer than the oldest trams on route 57, and the changes aim to improve the efficiency and capacity of the tram network. However, the plans have been met with criticism from accessibility advocates, who argue that the changes do not go far enough to make the tram network accessible to all users.
Accessibility Concerns
Andrew Bretherton, an advocate from the Disability Resources Centre, has expressed concerns about the lack of elevated platforms in the planned changes. Elevated platforms are necessary for people with wheelchairs, elderly passengers, and parents with prams to access trams safely and easily. Without these platforms, Bretherton argues that these groups will remain excluded from using the tram network, and will be forced to rely on other transport options, such as taxis. However, Bretherton notes that accessible taxis are already unreliable and hard to find, and that the absence of accessible tram stops will only add to the pressure on these services.
Proposed Changes to the Tram Corridor
The planned changes to the North Melbourne tram corridor include merging stops at Howard and Chetwynd streets into one, and merging existing stops at Curzon and Abbotsford streets into a station at Union Street. Two options are being considered for Errol Street, including extending existing stops or creating a new kerbside stop between them. The Transport Department has stated that the proposed new stop locations and treatments will set the foundation for building level-access stops in the future. However, the department has acknowledged that more needs to be done to improve the accessibility of the tram network.
Government Response to Accessibility Concerns
The Transport Department has responded to concerns about accessibility by pointing to recent improvements, such as the construction of new platforms on La Trobe Street in the CBD and Droop Street, Footscray. However, the department has acknowledged that there is still more work to be done to make the tram network accessible to all users. The auditor-general report released last month revealed that there had been little improvement in tram network accessibility in the last five years, and that the government would miss another deadline to make the entire tram fleet accessible by 2032.
Conclusion and Future Directions
The planned changes to the North Melbourne tram corridor are a step towards improving the efficiency and capacity of the tram network, but they do not go far enough to address the accessibility concerns of people with disabilities, elderly passengers, and parents with prams. The absence of elevated platforms and the lack of accessible tram stops will continue to exclude these groups from using the tram network, and will add to the pressure on other transport services. The government must prioritize accessibility and take concrete steps to make the tram network accessible to all users, including the construction of elevated platforms and level-access stops. Only then can the tram network truly be considered a viable and inclusive transport option for all members of the community.
