Active and Public Transport

The presence of infrequent public transport services and congested meandering bus routes, leads to greater levels of car dependence.

The City of Maribyrnong sits at the gateway to Melbourne’s west and our community is directly impacted by the significant amount of through traffic travelling from Melbourne's CBD to other western municipalities.

Action and investment that reduces car dependence across the region and improving transport choice will result in a healthier less congested City of Maribyrnong. We are seeking to work with the State and Federal Government to achieve this.

Key ask

Council is advocating for investment in public transport infrastructure to increase mobility choices leading to less congestion and improved air quality in Melbourne's inner west.

Transport infrastructure and service priorities

• A dedicated public transport hub at Irving Street, Footscray to seamlessly integrate bus, tram, and train services in the heart of Footscray. Footscray Station is the busiest station outside of the Melbourne CBD and an efficient interchange to other modes of public transport is essential to ensuring sustainable growth.
  
  
• Implementation of Infrastructure Victoria’s recommendation for a bus rapid transit route between Maribyrnong (Highpoint) and Tarneit via Ashley Street and Tottenham railway station.
  
  

• Sunshine-Highpoint high-frequency and high-capacity public transport connection.

• Public transport service uplift, including increasing the frequency of evening and late-night train services.
  
  
• Bus reform to provide fast, frequent and direct services.
  
  
• Construction of accessible tram stops along route 82.
  
  
• Plan for the extension of tram route 57 into the Maribyrnong Defence site.
  
  
• Enforcement of non-compliance with truck curfew.
  
  
• Review of the freight network to reduce trucks on local roads, including new alternative routes to connect to existing freeways.
  
  
• Funding to support key Active Transport initiative along major corridors and connections to the Westgate Tunnel Cycling Veloway.
  
  
• Delivery of improved pedestrian, bicycle and public transport infrastructure, including accessible super-stops at the new Footscray Hospital and Leeds Street, Footscray, as announced in the 2025-26 State Budget.

Council also supports regional advocacy campaigns for better buses in Melbourne’s west, including:

• Better Buses Campaign by Melbourne Friends of the Earth
  
  
• Improving the regions active and public transport networks by LeadWest