Park and Ride services can help combine the benefits of both car use and public transport use into an efficient and effective system and to transfer parking demand from the inner city to suburban/urban fringe locations.
VicRoads, in consultation with other stakeholders, has investigated future Park and Ride sites where pockets of land could be set aside and developed at the appropriate time.
The emphasis of VicRoads Park and Ride projects is on alleviating congestion in key corridors - by providing motorists with better public transport choices.
A Park and Ride facility built in Doncaster in 2003 was the first to be designed and built by VicRoads. Doncaster Park and Ride, near the corner of Doncaster Road and the Eastern Freeway (opposite High Street) serves one of Victoria’s highest frequency bus routes, and has reduced travel times and congestion in the peak period.
This facility has space for 400 cars and an area to pick up and drop off passengers for buses. Buses currently run to this area every 5 minutes during the morning and afternoon peaks.
Laverton Station is a multi-modal public transport interchange. In addition to being a Premium Station (staffed customer service centre) on the Werribee Train Line, four bus routes connect the train station to surrounding areas.
The extension added a further 239 spaces, making a total of 556 spaces. This extension is supported by signage to attract motorists on the congested Princes Freeway corridor to the train and the project was completed in 2007.
Keilor Plains railway station, on the Sydneham line, is located near the heavily congested Calder Corridor and Western Ring Road. There are currently carparking spaces for 350 vehicles. Extension of the carparking facility commenced in 2006 to add a further 130 spaces, making a total of 480 spaces. Once again, signage will facilitate private motorists accessing the train service.
The majority of works on Keilor Plains Park and Ride projects has been completed and all remaining works will be delivered in line with the Taylors Road Projects, St Albans.
Thomastown Railway Station is on the Epping Railway line and is an important transport link in the northern suburbs. The project included the expansion of the existing car park capacity at Thomastown Railway Station to alleviate traffic congestion on the surrounding road network by providing additional car spaces to the south-east of the railway station. These works created an additional 100 car spaces, taking the total to 330. The works were completed in August 2007.