Tram Route 96 Corridor Project
Route 96 is one of Melbourne’s busiest tram routes operating along a 14-kilometre corridor from Blyth Street in East Brunswick in the north, through the CBD to Acland Street, St Kilda, in the south. It has been selected as the first route to run the new low-floor trams being built in Dandenong as part of the $800m tram upgrade program.
As part of this program, PTV, in partnership with Yarra Trams and VicRoads is currently developing plans for infrastructure upgrades along Route 96 to improve access, safety, reliability and efficiency for tram customers using the route. These investigations will examine options for:
- Upgraded termini at Blyth Street, East Brunswick, and Acland Street, St Kilda
- Segregation treatments to better separate low-floor trams from traffic
- Improved priority for low-floor trams at traffic lights
- Improved customer information.
Project benefits
The introduction of new low-floor trams onto Route 96 will bring significant benefits to the community including improved access, increased capacity and better comfort and amenity. The objective of the Route 96 project is to maximise these benefits and ensure that the supporting infrastructure is as modern and accessible as the state-of-the-art low-floor trams.
The project also aims to provide tram customers with a significantly improved travel experience, with level access to low-floor trams and faster tram travel times. The improved accessibility and safety will ensure that the new low-floor trams can be used to their full potential.
The key objectives of the project are to:
- Increase access to trams and safety for customers through providing improved infrastructure and information
- Improve tram reliability and efficiency through increased priority and accessible infrastructure
- Ensure better utilisation of the road network with a focus on moving people
- Design a full route of enhancements to demonstrate the benefits of a modern light rail system in Melbourne conditions, compared with a traditional tram network.