AITPM Priority Recommendations
Adopt the 'Avoid, Shift, Improve' framework to decarbonise the transport sector
All levels of government should adopt an ‘Avoid–Shift –Improve’ approach to decarbonise the transport sector. Planning and decision-making, coordinated across all jurisdictions to maximise impact, should follow this order of priorities:
a. Minimise the need to travel, and enable people to travel shorter distances for their daily needs.
b. Give robust consideration to no-build and low-build solutions.
c. Invest in, and promote, the shift to more sustainable travel modes.
d. Roll out low and zero-carbon fuels and technologies across the private and commercial vehicle fleet.
Instigate an ‘Australian Roads Review’
The Australian Government, in partnership with state and territory governments, should instigate an ‘Australian Roads Review’ as part of its Net Zero Roadmap. This would examine the contribution of proposed projects towards emissions, their compatibility with Net Zero targets and the value for money they offer in the context of an updated price for carbon, when compared to alternative transport investments. This information should be used to inform future priorities.
Allocate 20 per cent of transport budgets to active transport
Governments should allocate 20 per cent of transport budgets to walking and cycling infrastructure, in line with world’s best practice. All levels of government should prioritise the planning, funding, delivery and maintenance of active transport infrastructure in accordance with delivering these outcomes:
a. Footpath and cycling networks that are safe, direct, connected, comfortable to use, attractive and adaptable to change
b. Facilities that are fully separated from high-speed and high-volume traffic
c. Extensive bicycle parking and shared mobility facilities.
Use all levers to maximise mode shift from driving to public transport
All levels of government should use all levers at their disposal to enable maximum mode shift from driving to public transport, including through:
a. Growing public transport services faster than road networks
b. Reducing the overall costs of public transport use compared to driving, for urban trips of different lengths
c. Improving public transport travel times and ease of use relative to car travel.
Consider first no-build and low-build solutions to reduce embodied carbon.
The Australian, State and Territory governments should address the significant embodied carbon cost associated with transport infrastructure, particularly road building, and transparently confront the decarbonisation challenge, including by:
a. Consistently challenging the need to build new transport infrastructure
b. Instead, looking to low-build and no-build solutions that optimise the use of existing assets
c. Adopting the Infrastructure Sustainability Council’s infrastructure sustainability ratings scheme for all major transport projects
d. Providing funding and other resources to support research into ways of reducing embodied emissions.
