Page 737 - Week 03 - Thursday, 2 April 2020
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Additionally, policy and targets for active travel are already outlined in the
2015: Building an integrated transport network: active travel (the framework). Active travel can also deliver health and wellbeing priorities through the Preventative Health Plan 2020-2025 and economic development through the CBR Cycle Tourism Strategy (2018).
Following finalisation of a transport strategy, the ACT Government would like to review the framework and develop new walking and cycling strategies. In doing so, we intend to consider including region-specific targets for underrepresented demographics such as women and youth.
Active Travel Commissioner role
The current governance arrangements for active travel in the ACT include the Active Travel Office (ATO) within Transport Canberra and City Services. The ATO seeks to coordinate ACT Government action on active travel including an internal ACT Government working group and an external advisory group. These arrangements are currently under review and will take account of all the actions under the strategies mentioned above, in particular the Climate Change Strategy.
The Commissioner for Sustainability and the Environment is an independent statutory position. The current Commissioner has assumed a leadership role in supporting initiatives to encourage walking and cycling such as Spoke Up!–for women’s health (women’s cycling initiative). On 13 February 2020 the Commissioner released the ACT State of the Environment Report 2019 which includes a number of recommendations related to transport. The office of the Commissioner can also conduct investigations on its own or by reference from the responsible minister.
The Government does not believe that resourcing an additional Commissioner is a greater priority than directly investing in improvements to active travel upgrades around the City.
Redirect funding towards walking, cycling and public transport infrastructure
The importance of walking and cycling as efficient transport modes are well recognised. They can move large numbers of people without requiring a large space. These modes can provide better health outcomes for our community and are environmentally friendly as they emit zero air pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and noise while improving the vibrancy of our places. They are ideal for short local trips and for connecting us to public transport journeys.
The ACT Infrastructure Plan (2019) sets out the future direction for our transport investments. It states the ACT Government’s commitment to shifting our transport investment from expanding our road network to an integrated network of light rail, suburban bus routes, footpaths and cycleways. In line with the ACT Infrastructure Plan, in the coming years the ACT Government will increase the options available to community by shifting our focus to public transport, walking and cycling, while maintaining safe and reliable roads for driving and freight.
Zero-emissions electric buses
The Government has committed to a zero-emission bus fleet by 2040. Zero emission buses not only benefit our environment through reduced emissions,
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