- Published:
- Sunday 13 February 2022
Smart road and parking technology is making travel easier for public transport commuters and drivers in Melbourne’s south-east.
New parking technology has been installed at Beaconsfield and Berwick stations as part of a trial to detect which parking spaces are in use, providing real-time information about where spaces are available and making planning journeys easier.
The trial is being delivered under the Andrews Labor Government’s Car Parks for Commuters program, which is helping deliver 11,000 new and upgraded car parking spaces across Victoria.
Live car parking information will be shared through a dedicated Smart Car Parking Trial app, so that passengers can check where station car parking is available before they leave home. Roadside electronic sign boards displaying live car parking information will also be placed near car park entrances to help commuters find a spot.
In addition to the parking trial and as part of the Labor Government’s $340 million Smarter Roads Program, technology has been installed on arterials roads across Berwick to help address congestion in real time and improve travel for drivers.
Twenty-three CCTV cameras have been installed along Princes Highway, Clyde Road and Monash Freeway to improve visibility of the network and allow the Department of Transport’s Transport Operations Centre (TOC) to clear incidents and adjust traffic lights in real time.
Travel time sensors and live travel time signs have been installed to provide more information to drivers, while Dynamic Pedestrian Sensors are keeping pedestrians safe and moving and cutting idle time for drivers.
A traffic signal review is set to be undertaken later in 2022 to review and optimise the way traffic light sites operate in the area to ensure the network is operating as efficiently as possible.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Public Transport Ben Carroll
“Technology being rolled out across our transport network is helping ensure people get where they need to go easily – no matter what forms of transport they use.”
“The upgrades will make it easier for locals to plan their journey and ensure they can spend more time at their destination and with their loved ones.”
Quote attributable to Member for Eastern Victoria Harriet Shing
“Whether you travel by car or public transport, we are improving the transport network for our growing community and ensuring people can get to where they need to go safely.”