Could Ballarat use Launceston-style park-and-ride buses to help ease the parking squeeze?
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Could a bike-share program complement the city's Bicycle Action Plan?
Will we see trams return to Sturt Street in our lifetimes?
Think carefully about how you get to work, or go to visit friends, or how your children get to school - could that improve?
WHAT DO YOU THINK? CHECK OUT THE DOCUMENTS AND HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW
The City of Ballarat's draft Integrated Transport Plan has been released for public consultation, and there are some fascinating ideas within.
There are six major priorities, and a variety of policy positions within.
These include review and overhauling Ballarat's bus network, a major issue in the city.
In 2016, just 1 per cent of residents used the bus network to get to work, and while the state government has committed to a new bus interchange, routes won't be reviewed by Public Transport Victoria until after it's built.
The city is also pushing for "city-shaping infrastructure upgrades", like the Ballarat Link Road, which still requires funding.
Another priority is "seamless, reliable, and convenient fast rail between Ballarat and Melbourne", a notion council and lobby groups have demanded for years, and has support from both state and federal governments, but no clarity on how it will occur yet.
Council has also prioritised focusing its current projects on delivering "safe, accessible, (and) enjoyable walking and cycling routes", with an emphasis on improving access for people with a disability.
The final priorities are advocating for piloting new transport options, and helping other regional transport advocacy activities.
The Public Transport Users Association Ballarat convenor, Ben Lever, said in a statement the public should get involved.
"We can't have conversations we need to have about things like parking without an understanding of the alternative modes that are available to people," he said.
"All the different transport modes, like public transport, walking, cycling, and driving, interact with each other, and they also play a big role in the planning of land use around the city - so it's really important that we take an holistic view rather than looking at each one in a silo.
"It's great that the City of Ballarat is taking an in-depth look at how all these things fit together, so that they can plan the things they control, like walking, cycling, and land use, as well as have a coherent vision for their advocacy on matters they don't control, like buses and trains.
"How we get around is so important to how the city functions, so if we're going to have a clear vision for how we want our city to look in a few decades, we really need to make our voices heard now."
The Committee for Ballarat's chief executive, Michael Poulton, said the Integrated Transport Plan could be an "innovative community building project".
"COVID-19 has shown us there is an appetite for active transport, especially cycling, so let's use this opportunity to improve the improve the infrastructure that enables active transport," he said.
"Designated cycle lanes must feature in our planning if we are going to enable people's desire for active transport and reduce traffic congestion, and new housing developments must include provision for walking tracks, open space, and localised neighbourhood hubs that act as a catalyst for small business and community."
"We need to plan and deliver the infrastructure we need to better accommodate more active transport, allowing us to be less reliant on our car.
"We encourage the community to have their say."
The documents are available online - consultation closes June 29, with the final report to be released by the end of the year.
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