The Tasmanian Urban Passenger Transport Framework identified the development of transit corridors as one of the key measures to improve public transport use.

The vision underpinning this is to consolidate population density and activity around designated 'transit corridors', which connect to the Hobart CBD. These corridors will need to be supported by high quality features to enhance the attractiveness and reliability of public transport including:

• High frequency bus services
• Bus priority measures
• Off-bus infrastructure such as improved bus waiting facilities and information

Land use change will also need to occur over time, in order to increase population density and activity around the corridors to support use of public transport services.

Through the Passenger Transport Innovation Fund, the State Government has allocated $0.8 million to develop two transit corridor plans.

The Main Road Corridor from Glenorchy bus mall to Hobart CBD via Main Road, New Town Road and Elizabeth Street is the subject of the first transit corridor plan to be developed for Greater Hobart.

Main Road Transit Corridor Plan

The State Government has developed a draft Transit Corridor Plan to improve public transport on the Main Road Corridor. The community is encouraged to provide comment on the draft Plan and its recommended options.

The draft Transit Corridor Plan will improve the operation of the Corridor for public transport, which will help create more sustainable, accessible, healthy and liveable communities.

The improvements will encourage more people to use public transport for a variety of trip purposes such as travelling to work, shopping, accessing services and for socialising.
Implementing the overall plan will:

• Reduce travel times for both buses and cars on the Main Road Corridor
• Improve bus passenger experience through upgraded bus stops, introduction of real travel  time information and creating more frequent and regular bus services
• Improve walking and cycling access to the Transit Corridor and its main activity centres of Hobart, Glenorchy, Moonah, North Hobart and New Town.
• Provide opportunities for more people to live closer to high quality public transport services and activity centres where there are jobs, services and shops
• Maximise our investment in existing roads and bus services

Public consultation

The Plan has a six week public consultation period, with comments due by Friday 19 July 2013.

The community is invited to comment on the Plan's recommendations: Comments can be made by:

• Email: dier@dier.tas.gov.au.
• Hardcopy: Main Road Transit Corridor Plan, DIER, GPO Box 936, Hobart, 7001.

Main Road Transit Corridor Plan, Draft for public consultation, (PDF)  (WORD)

Attachment A

• Sheet 1: Why do we need bus priority?
• Sheet 2: Springfield Avenue/Derwent Park Road
• Sheet 3: Hopkins Street
• Sheet 4: Albert Road
• Sheet 5: Creek Road
• Sheet 6: Risdon Road
• Sheet 7: Cross Street/Roope Street
• Sheet 8: Augusta Road
• Sheet 9: North Hobart Shopping Precinct
• Sheet 10: Collins Street

Attachment B

• Sheet 1: On-street Parking Information Sheet
• Sheet 2: Moonah Shopping Precinct
• Sheet 3: New Town
• Sheet 4: North Hobart Shopping Precinct
• Sheet 5: Collins Street

Attachment C

What happens after comments have been received?

After public consultation has closed, a public response report will be developed based on the comments received and a Final Plan prepared.

The Final Plan will require endorsement from the Minister for Sustainable Transport and the Minister for Infrastructure, Glenorchy and Hobart City Councils and Metro Tasmania.

Further background information:

Stage One:

High level review of Corridor Options Report: confirmed the focus of investigation on Main Road as the Northern Suburbs Transit Corridor. Completed November 2011.

• High level review of corridor options, (PDF)

Transit Corridor Assessment Reports: identifies problems at the metropolitan and Transit Corridor level to inform identification of options for improving the Corridor. Completed July 2012.

• Executive Summary, (PDF)  (Word) 
• Project Background and Concept, (PDF)  (Word)
• Problem Identification - Metropolitan Level, (PDF)  (Word)
• Demographic Influences and Travel Patterns, (PDF)  (Word)
• Public Transport, (PDF)  (Word)
• Corridor Function and Performance, (PDF)  (Word)
• Walking and Cycling, (PDF)  (Word)
• Land Use Planning, (PDF)  (Word)

Appendix A Reliability Workshop Notes

• 1, (PDF)
• 2, (PDF)
• 3, (PDF)
• 4, (PDF)
• 5, (PDF)
• 6, (PDF)
• 7, (PDF) 

Appendix B Pedestrian Access Assessment, (PDF)

Appendix C Cycling Infrastructure Assessment, (PDF)

Stage Two:

Identification of Corridor Improvement Options: identifies Corridor improvement options based on a strategic and detailed option assessment. Completed January 2013.

• Identification of Corridor Improvement Options, (PDF) (Word)
• Appendix A Option Generation Workshop Notes, (PDF)
• Appendix B Strategic Option Assessment, (PDF) (Word)
• Appendix C Bus Priority Measures Map, (PDF)
• Appendix D Developable Sites Analysis Report, (PDF) (Word)
  • Attachment A Developable Sites Analysis Map (PDF)
• Appendix E Cycling Infrastructure Assessment (PDF)

More information

For more details on the Transit Corridors project, please see the information sheets.

• Information Sheet One, September 2011, Outlines the Concept of Transit Corridors, (PDF)  (WORD) 
• Information Sheet Two, December 2011, Outlines the Project that will deliver the Plan, (PDF)  (WORD) 
• Information Sheet Three, July 2012, Outlines the Stage One Report, (PDF)  (WORD) 
• Information Sheet Four, January 2013, Outlines the Stage Two Report, (PDF)  (WORD) 
• Information Sheet Five, May 2013, Outlines the Draft Transit Corridor Plan, (PDF)