200007 – Martinovich – Extension to Perth Suburban Rail System

Public transport accounts for 3% of inter-suburban journeys and 35% of peak hour trips to the Perth Central Area. Of all trips in the Perth Metropolitan Area, the public transport share is around 6%.

A primary objective of the Department of Transport’s Metropolitan Transport Strategy (MTS) is to significantly increase the number of people who use public transport. The MTS has set the following targets:
– to increase the public transport share of inter-suburban trips from 6% to 12.5% by 2029; and
– to increase the public transport share of peak hour trips to the Perth Central Area from 35% to 50% by the year 2010, rising to 65% by 2029.

The above requires an integrated public transport system which will complement, and provide a viable alternative to private car usage on major trunk routes.

There is also a growing concern with regard to the air quality of the Perth Metropolitan Region, as detailed in the Air Quality Management For Perth, which highlights that private car travel is a significant contributor to degradation of air quality in the Metropolitan region.