Page 2938 - Week 09 - Thursday, 18 September 2014
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efficiency and cost effectiveness, accessibility and social inclusion, safety, active transport and sustainability. It also shows there has been progress in all 34 of the transport for Canberra actions.
In its first two years of implementation, there has been success towards achieving a number of the objectives of transport for Canberra. Those include progress in integrated transport and land use planning. There has been an increase in residential population within walking distance of rapid transit corridors, driven by the government’s investments in new rapid public transport, and planning for higher density development along transport corridors.
A growing number of people are choosing active travel, with growth in sustainable transport use at a faster rate than population growth. With respect to improving the road network to improve safety and efficiency for the movement of people and goods, there has been over $350 million of transport investment since 2012, and there has been the release of the draft ACT freight strategy to support more efficient, safe and effective heavy vehicle movement within and through the territory.
We have achieved 55 per cent compliance with the disability standards for accessible public transport for buses and bus stops to meet the 2012 target. Of course, there has been improved safety for all road users through the implementation of the road safety strategy, including maintaining annual fatalities below the national average.
We have also released the draft low emission vehicle strategy and we are encouraging mode shift to help reduce emissions from the transport sector as part of the government’s commitments under the climate change strategy AP2, and our legislated emissions reduction targets.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Berry.
MS BERRY: Minister, what does the report card show about the government’s continuing development of active transport options?
MR GENTLEMAN: I thank Ms Berry for her question. Canberra has one of the highest rates of active travel, such as cycling and walking, comparing very favourably with other jurisdictions in terms of overall participation rates in cycling. Between 2011 and 2013, overall weekly cycling participation grew from 21.9 per cent to 24.5 per cent. That is the highest of any state or territory and well above the national average of 16.6 per cent. Between 2011 and 2012, cycling volumes increased by 23 per cent, based on counts by TAMS. Data on walking is not available between census years and it will be measured through the next ABS census in 2016.
Highlights of our active travel progress include the ride or walk to school project that was launched in 2012 and is now operating in over 50 schools across the ACT. The active travel framework is under development and the strategic cycle network plan is being delivered through existing maintenance, upgrade and asset creation works programs and planning for new infrastructure. Over $12 million in new cycling funding has been committed from the 2011-12 budget and over 38,000 square metres of community paths, including bike paths, were maintained in 2012-13.
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