In 2011, the Department of Transport (now Public Transport Victoria) and VicRoads consulted with the community about a proposal to install level access tram stops on Bridge Road, between Punt Road and Church Street, Richmond.
PTV and VicRoads would like to thank those who responded to the proposal. The preferred locations for two pairs of Easy Access Stops (EAS) have now been finalised. These locations were based on a three month consultation process with tram users, local residents, business owners and operators.
See community consultation outcomes report [PDF 1934kb]
See map for proposed locations. [JPG 74kb]
Community responses to the ideas for the location of the stops included strong preferences for the new EAS to be located outside of Epworth Hospital and close to Bosisto Street.
Feedback was taken into consideration and the configuration of the stops, locations and length of the platform stops has been modified. The EAS include staggered 22 metre long platforms. The reduction in length of the EAS at this location will provide access for tram users, local residents, shoppers and business operators, while minimising the impact on the local environment.
A pair of stops was favoured near the pedestrian crossing and Epworth Hospital entrance. Concerns around access to the hospital entrance and Union Street opposite the hospital, have resulted in a preference for staggered stops. An application to close the entrance to the laneway adjacent to the hospital, to enable the construction of the EAS is currently pending Yarra City Council approval.
The current Stops 16 & 17 will be consolidated into one stop close to Bosisto Street. The stops at this location will provide more even spacing and closer proximity to the supermarket and shopping mall.
Construction is most likely to proceed in the second half of 2012, once the final designs are complete and construction timing is supported by the local business community. The community, tram passengers and other road users will be advised ahead of the works and of any likely impacts on Bridge Road throughout the construction period.
Consultation with the local community, including business owners and operators occurred over a period of three months and concluded in October 2011. More than 380 responses were received via electronic surveys and feedback forms, community consultation sessions and at meetings with business owners and operators.
Further discussions have since been held with business owners and operators located in close proximity to the proposed stop locations to discuss any minor design issues and concerns.
VicRoads and the Department of Transport have proposed to:
- construct two pairs of EAS between Punt Road and Church Street
- replace the existing Stops 15, and 16/17 with EAS
- maintain two lanes of traffic along Bridge Road during peak hour
- remove some on-street car parking spaces where the new tram stops are installed.
Options that were consulted upon
Bridge Road tram stop improvement options [JPG 752KB]
The community provided feedback on a preferred location for each pair of tram stops. Considerations included:
- Spacing between tram stops
- Tram stop proximity to a pedestrian crossing
- Tram stop proximity to Epworth Hospital’s entrance
- Any impacts on cyclists (cyclists will be able to travel over the tram stops)
- Any impacts on traffic on Bridge Road and adjacent roads (two lanes of traffic would be maintained during peak hour)
- The impact on parking (car parking spaces would be removed for the length of each tram stop
- Traffic signalling
- Vehicle access for residents and businesses
Thousands of people use trams on Bridge Road each day to commute to and from the city and to access this vibrant shopping strip.
The existing tram stops along Bridge Road are kerbside stops that can make tram access difficult for hospital patients, the elderly, people with disabilities, and people with prams or heavy shopping.
To ensure tram travel is easy, safe and accessible for all passengers the Victorian Government is proposing to construct easy access tram stops on Bridge Road. Easy access tram stops are raised to eliminate a 'step' to board low-floor trams.
EAS will not reduce traffic lanes on Bridge Road; instead cars, bicycles and other vehicles will be able to travel over the tram stops so that there will continue to be two lanes for traffic on Bridge Road, minimising impacts on traffic.
Since 2001, the Victorian Government has constructed more than 330 level access tram stops (of the 1775 tram stops on the network), to improve accessibility for all passengers.
EAS are one type of level access stop designed to make tram travel easier, safer and more appealing for a greater number of people.
The Disability Discrimination Act (1992) requires all of Melbourne’s tram stops to be accessible for people with a disability by 2022. Currently, about two-thirds of Melbourne tram stops are kerbside stops that do not meet these requirements. Upgrading these stops will improve access for people of all abilities.
Phone: 1300 309 571
Email : thinktram@roads.vic.gov.au
Write to: The ThinkTram Program
88 Mt Alexander Road,
Travancore, VIC, 3032