A leading Australian urban planner is pushing for a rollout of the technology across the country’s congested and car-centric suburbs.

Mike Day, a Partner at Hatch, says it’s time for the nation to cement itself as a global leader and bring the cost-effective and green transport to the metropolitan and outer suburbs in the capital cities.

Emphasising their cost-effectiveness in comparison to steel-on-steel trams, Day says Australia is uniquely positioned to bring trackless trams – also known as digital mid-tier transit vehicles - to Aussie suburbs: “Australia is suffering from a lack of viable public transport across our severely congested car-dependent metropolitan growth areas. Sydney and Melbourne’s suburbs are synonymous with excessive car usage while other major cities across Australia are also battling growing car congestion.

“And it’s costing us in more ways than one. Light vehicles emit 10 percent of the nation’s harmful carbon pollution. Moreover, it’s hurting the hip pocket of Aussie families too," he says.

“Many couples are forced to own two cars at an estimated cost of about $26,000 per year, and according to The Australian Automobile Association’s (AAA’s) latest Transport Affordability Index private transport costs are rising.”

Technologically advanced, digital mid-tier transit vehicles could be the panacea as they are less costly to introduce than steel-on-steel trams and much more accessible for commuters. They also provide a much smoother ride and far sleeker and narrower design than buses, with greater capacity to carry more passengers.

Trackless trams have been in development for almost two decades and they operate without overhead wires while getting a booster charge at dedicated stations while passengers board.

Day says: “When you’re sitting in an inner-city alfresco neighbourhood café on a transit boulevard and this type of vehicle goes past, it enhances the streetscape and urban fabric and could also complement the timeless future neighbourhoods we are striving to shape. A bus, on the other hand, is bulky, an imposition to the streetscape and more difficult to access. They are invasive and ableist compared with digital mid-tier transit vehicles which are equipped with the suspension developed for the high-speed rail program which allows passengers to move around the vehicle safely and easily when they’re in motion.

“Additionally, one trackless tram can carry up to 300 people – compared with maybe 80 people on a bus. Each vehicle boasts ample space for bikes, prams, luggage and surfboards while featuring doors on each side. They are fully electric which means less vibrations and noise and they can run on a narrow lane.”

While Mike says now is the time to integrate trackless trams across Australia’s city suburbs – especially outer rings – the passionate futurist has long remained ahead of the sustainable transport curve ball. In 1993, Day and his team incorporated a dedicated 40-metre-wide transit corridor in Ellenbrook, its award-winning Perth masterplanned community. Now, 30 years later, the construction of the rail line and station is finally commencing. He is of the view that, had trackless trams been available the transit connection to Ellenbrook would most likely have been in place within a decade of the project commencing.

“Ellenbrook is generally an outstanding example of what happens when you adopt a futurist mentality and consider the needs and liveability of a community three decades after you design and build it. However, if a mid-tier transit line had been delivering at Ellenbrook in the early years, a much more compact and connected community may have been possible,” he says.

Images: City of Stirling

Branko Miletic

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