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13 Travel Demand Management Policies

Home Motoring Motoring advice Motoring policy 13 Travel Demand Management Policies

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13.1(c) Introduction (23 September 1991)

A growing population and a greater percentage of the population owning motor vehicles results in increasing levels of traffic congestion.  The solutions to this increasing congestion are many and varied and are impacted upon by the overall policies adopted relating to Road Planning, Town Planning, Public Transport and Traffic Demand Management.

These policies relate to the Traffic Demand Management area.

Private transport and roads can no longer be considered in isolation from other forms of transport, land use, planning, or from their environmental and social effects.

Governments are looking for innovative solutions to limit the impact of motor vehicles on the community, particularly with respect to the environment.

Supply of infrastructure essential to an efficient transport system is likely to continue to be constrained by a lack of funding for capital works and rolling stock.  This can only exacerbate the growing problems associated with increased traffic movements, particularly congestion, which confronts all major cities.

Changes in communal working arrangements are unlikely to significantly change travel patterns within the next ten years.  Telecommuting is unlikely to be widely established in this period.

Changes in current working and 'flexitime' patterns are unlikely to significantly impact on travel patterns, particularly peak periods.

Governments must therefore increase the level of funding for transport infrastructure or introduce mechanisms to reduce the demand for travel, or both.

However, it is considered unlikely that any increase in funding levels will be sufficient to alleviate the need to reduce travel demand.

Accordingly, attention should be directed at improved management of travel demand, particularly on arterial roads in metropolitan areas.

The Policies on Travel demand management are based on the following principles:

• The solution to reducing traffic congestion lies in a positive approach to planning a modern road system in conjunction with improved public transport services and improved land use planning and not only in the imposition of restrictive measures, designed to obstruct motorists' freedom.

• An adequate and safe road network is essential for our economic well being, including the distribution of goods and services and access to employment, shopping and recreational activities, etc.

• A balance is required between Travel Demand Management, to reduce some transport and traffic problems and the future development of the road network and public transport system, to improve efficiency and to provide for growth.

13.2(c) Urban planning principles

13.2.1(c) Land use/transport planning (23 September 1991)

All levels of public and private planning should recognise the critical link between land use and transport activities.

Land use planning must give adequate consideration to the resultant traffic impact and aim to minimise direct conflicts between major traffic flows, localised traffic and pedestrians.

13.2.2(c) Urban planning (23 September 1991)

Urban planning strategy should:

• encourage selected suburban sub-centres to develop within corridors having the best potential for employment, housing, travel reduction, leisure and energy conservation;

• encourage increased living densities.

13.3(c) Transport principles

13.3.1(c) Obligations of government (23 September 1991)

Governments have an obligation to provide a basic level of transport infrastructure and services for all sectors of the community.

13.4(c) Public transport

13.4.1(c) The role of public transport (23 September 1991)

An efficient and effective public transport system is fundamental to the management of traffic demand.

Public transport should be promoted as an alternative to private transport particularly for trips to business activity centres.

13.4.2.(c) Interchange facilities (23 September 1991)

Appropriate transport interchange facilities, including secure car and bicycle parking areas, should be provided to encourage the use of public transport.

13.4.3(c) Benefits of road improvements to public transport (23 September 1991)

It should be recognised that improvements to roads not only produce benefits for private and commercial vehicles, but also for road based public transport.

13.5(c) Economic regulation

13.5.1(c) Taxes and charges (23 September 1991)

Equity in the taxes and charges paid by the various classes of vehicles is essential.

13.5.2(c) Government subsidies (23 September 1991)

If Governments subsidise transport costs either generally or to improve access by socially disadvantage groups, the costs incurred should not be funded by motorists.

13.6(c) Parking

13.6.1(c) Parking provisions (23 September 1991)

The need to limit the availability of parking in business activity centres to reduce the demand for private car use and to encourage the use of public transport is recognised.

13.6.2(c) Parking charges (23 September 1991)

Parking charges should be structured to encourage an appropriate balance between long and short term parking.

13.7(c) Traffic management on major roads

13.7.1(c) Management of traffic (23 September 1991)

Traffic Management should be used to encourage vehicular travel on to specific routes and to reduce non essential traffic in business activity centres.

13.7.2(c) Congestion management (23 September 1991)

Using congestion as a means of reducing traffic is unacceptable.

13.7.3(c) Reduction of arterial road capacity (23 September 1991)

Reduction in arterial or sub-arterial road capacity as a means of reducing travel demand is opposed because of the significant economic consequences.

13.7.4(c) Priority for high occupancy vehicles (23 September 1991)

Traffic management measures and parking incentives should be considered to encourage higher occupancy of vehicles.

13.7.5(c) Public transport priority (23 September 1991)

Measures which give priority to public transport or high occupancy vehicles should be implemented only if overall benefits can be demonstrated in terms of road safety and efficiency.

13.7.6(c) Information and guidance systems (29 June 1998)

The potential of driver information and guidance systems to improve efficiency of existing road networks should be researched and effective, efficient systems introduced.

13.8(c) Ridesharing

13.8.1(c) Car pooling (23 September 1991)

Car pooling should be encouraged as a means of easing road traffic congestion in peak periods, conserving fuel and reducing vehicle emissions and noise.

Legislation or other controls, such as provisions on insurance policies, which may inhibit car pooling should be removed.

13.9(c) Community education

13.9.1(c) Education about travel demand management (23 September 1991)

Community education on the need for and the consequences of travel demand management should be promoted.

13.10(c) Other issues

13.10.1(c) Monitoring (23 September 1991)

Any travel demand management initiative which is implemented should be monitored and evaluated for its effectiveness.