The transport sector contributes significantly to Australia's overall greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for nearly 17% of Victorian emissions and 14% nationally.
About 60% of emissions are from cars.
VicRoads is working to reduce our direct greenhouse gas emissions, from a range of sources including:
- energy consumption in offices
- fleet vehicles
- street lights
- traffic signals
- construction projects
We are also investigating a range of technology options to decrease the indirect greenhouse gas emissions associated with road construction.
Solar panels power some road fixtures, including VicRoads Help Phones, traffic monitoring stations, variable speed signs and school speed zones.
In an Australian first, 210 solar panels are installed along a 500 metre section of the Tullamarine-Calder Freeway noise walls at Essendon North. These panels offset power demand for up to 10% of the freeway lighting, which is the equivalent of powering three homes, saving half a million black balloons of greenhouse gas every year.
All new traffic signals and Variable Message Signs use energy efficient Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology which is up to 40% more efficient than older traffic lights. All Victorian traffic signals are being progressivelly retrofitted with LED lights.
We are also trialling emerging energy-efficient technologies for street lighting.
The design of roads can help to reduce vehicle emissions. We plan new roads to minimise wear on vehicles so they don't need to work as hard, saving fuel and decreasing pollution.
Techniques to reduce vehicle emissions and impacts include:
- surface treatments for smoother roads
- minimising gradients on new roads
- improving traffic flow at intersections
- using Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) such as freeway ramp signals
- installing high occupancy lanes and transit lanes
VicRoads is working with other state road authorities and AustRoads to improve vehicle emission standards.
Low Emission Vehicles (LEVs) generate less greenhouse gas emissions compared to other vehicles. Around half of VicRoads vehicle fleet is is considered low emission, including hybrids, fuel-efficient four cylinder cars, and LPG powered vehicles.
Hybrid vehicles which combine an electric motor with an internal combustion engine help save fuel and are eligible for a $50 registration discount. More than 3000 hybrid vehicles are currently registered in Victoria.
We actively support the LEV Automotive Partnership, a joint initiative of Future Climate Australia, RACV and EPA Victoria.
This partnership aims to reduce the greenhouse impact of transport by:
- promoting the purchase of LEVs
- providing advice on which car to buy
- helping different groups work together on sustainable transport
- raising awareness of new technologies and fuels that lessen the environmental impact
- publishing the Green Wheels Guide, ranking vehicles by their emissions.
We have improved roads and facilities to allow a smoother trip for road-based public transport users and cyclists. These improvements include:
- transit lanes (Eastern Freeway)
- Doncaster Park and Ride
- expanding the principal bicycle network
- SmartBus project
- dedicated bus lanes and intersection signal priority
- clearways
The Mickleham Road duplication project at Greenvale was a pilot project to measure the carbon footprint of road construction and identify ways to potentially reduce and offset carbon emissions from roadworks.
Project-generated emissions were offset with carbon credits sourced from an accredited supplier by planting more than 7,000 trees in the north-west Victoria. This equates to offsetting around 40 million black balloons of greenhouse gas.
As Australia's first 'carbon-neutral' road construction project, the learnings from Mickleham Road have been shared with the road construction industry Australia-wide to help generate a national approach.
In collaboration with interstate and overseas road authorities VicRoads has helped develop a common whole-of-life methodology for assessing the greenhouse footprint of road projects.
More information on the Greenhouse Emissions Assessment Methodology for Road Construction is available by request from VicRoads Environmental Sustainability Group at: environment@roads.vic.gov.au