National guidelines for transport system management
In December 2006 the Australian Transport Council (ATC) endorsed the content of the 2nd edition of the National Guidelines for Transport System Management (the Guidelines). These Guidelines have been developed to support transport decision-making and to assist with planning and developing transport systems within a multi-modal setting. The latest version includes a volume on assessing urban transport initiatives, including public transport. Department of Transport and Main Roads have provided detailed input during the development of the Guidelines over a number of years.
As part of the commitment given by Queensland Government at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) April 2007 meeting, the Guidelines are to be adopted and consolidated into current planning processes. The implementation of these guidelines marks a major step in promoting the inter-modal approach the Queensland government is taking towards transport planning. This edition of the Guidelines has focused on making the material more cohesive, accessible and user friendly, while maintaining rigour.
The aims of the Guidelines are to:
- support transport sector decision-making
- provide an approach, and national standard, for strategic network/system planning and appraisal of transport initiatives
- guide and complement existing practices
- promote consistency, objectivity and transparency in the evaluation of initiatives within and across modes, undertaken by different jurisdictions and analysts
- move Australia towards a more holistic, multi-modal approach to transport policy, planning and evaluation that compares all feasible solutions and takes full account of social, environmental and economic factors
- provide a basis for integrating with, and implementing, related initiatives such as the National Charter of Integrated Land Use and Transport Planning.
The Guidelines are designed to encompass the needs and concerns of all parties providing input to the development of transport initiatives. These include both government and non-government sectors. The framework is a decision-support system to achieve high-level transport system objectives. Decision making in transport is complex. There are competing objectives, trade-offs, constraints, uncertainties, multiple options and quantifiable and unquantifiable impacts. For industry and business, the Guidelines provide clarity around the decision-making processes of government.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads have comprehensive planning frameworks and business models in place which are consistent with the Guidelines.
To download a copy of the Guidelines visit the ATC website .
For further information please contact us .
Last updated: 19 June 2009
