transport management - Transport Futures Institute

New Technology to Cut Freeway Congestion

>As part of Melbourne’s $1.4 billion M1 upgrade project, a new traffic management system is being developed to effectively tackle congestion on the key freeway.

Victorian Roads Minister Tim Pallas has announced the $14 million contract to design the software for the new traffic management system has been awarded to Queensland company Transmax.

“The system is unique in Australia and will deliver significant improvements to the operation of the freeway, used by more than 160,000 motorists every day,” Mr Pallas said.

Improve mobility to mitigate congestion?

by Phil Charles

Congestion has many potential causes and improving mobility helps mitigate the problem. Reducing congestion means reduced delay, more predictable and lower trip times, lower travel costs and reduced emissions.

The first option to be considered is to make better use of existing infrastructure as they are usually most cost-effective, are flexible in being tailored to each particular situation, can be implemented rapidly and provide publicly visible changes.

Quick clearance of traffic incidents has the potential for considerable reductions in congestion. Attention to traffic flows at road works sites is also important.

Can advances in intelligent vehicles help?

by Phil Charles

Developments in intelligent transport systems, particularly transmission of real-time information between vehicles (vehicle-to-vehicle), and with road network operators (vehicle-to-infrastructure), have led to consideration of further applications to deliver critical road safety and mobility outcomes.

Despite the advances made since the 1970’s, communities are demanding further improvements in road safety, reductions in the growing impact of congestion on mobility and reliability of travel, and reductions in energy use and emissions due to road transport.