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IMPROVING THE STATE OF TRANSPORTATION

IN VICTORIAVicRoads tackles the issue of population growth with a fresh look

at the state’s roadways and public transportation needs Written by: Sasha Orman | Produced by: Andy Turner

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IMPROVING THE STATE OF TRANSPORTATION

IN VICTORIAVicRoads tackles the issue of population growth with a fresh look

at the state’s roadways and public transportation needs Written by: Sasha Orman | Produced by: Andy Turner

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W hen Nick Fisher joined the VicRoads team at the start of 2004, the

agency was known for a handful of vital but standard functions. Beyond the licenses and registrations it issues, most customers knew VicRoads primarily as a road builder. “That was its business,” he explains. “Pretty much every solution

VicRoads offered as a core group of engineers was to build its way out of congestion or traffic problems.”

More than a decade into the future, Fisher has risen through the ranks to his current role of Director of Road Operations, and Victoria’s roads agency has evolved as well in both vision and scope. With its latest efforts, VicRoads aims to

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VICROADS

The West Gate Bridge with traffic management active on the overhead gantries

ensure that customer journeys are safe, reliableand enjoyable throughout Melbourne and beyond.

FORECASTING THE FUTURE TO IMPROVE THE PRESENTEach year the Victoria State Government’s Department of Environment, Land, Water and

Planning releases Victoria in Future (VIF), a document that projects population and household growth trends in Victoria up to 40 years into the future. The purpose of this forecast is to anticipate the various needs of that future population and start the planning process far in advance.

Current projections see Victoria

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V ICROADS

The West Gate Bridge with traffic management active on the overhead gantries

AS4801

AS4801

SUPPLIER PROFILE

Established: 1960

Industry: Towing & Transport

Strategy: Nationwide has chosen a very deliberate path to build a quality-assured business platform based around ICT, WH&S and comprehensive training in support of our fleet and people that sets the benchmark for the industry.

Services: Nationwide is the industry leader and completes over 300,000 tows per annum for all types of vehicles, a wide range of plant & equipment and other unique items. Other specialty services include clearway and emergency related towing and salvage. Nationwide services a broad range of customers such as state-based automotive clubs, police, road authorities, local councils and large Australian and multi-national corporations.

Projects: During the past five years Nationwide has invested more than $30m in ICT, WH&S, quality, training, fleet and people. The ICT investment includes the collection of a wide array of data including video streaming from in-truck cameras, GPS tracking, speedometer reading, duress management and job status.

Key to success: Nationwide attributes its success to its heavy focus on ICT, Quality and WH&S in support of its people, industry knowledge, fleet and supplier relationships. Nationwide has a partnership with a premium supplier, Prestige Hino, which extends over 10 years. This supplier relationship has developed due to the reliability and durability of over 150 Hino vehicles which is critical to enable Nationwide to deliver customer expectations.

Management: Tony Re – Managing Director; Rob Nicholls – Chief Executive Officer; Lennie Jerliu – National Sales Manager

Website: www.134tow.com.au

growing to 10 million people within the next 40 years, with Melbourne in particular expanding from today’s population of 4.3 million to as much as 7.8 million by the year 2051. Melbourne is consistently ranked as one of the Top 10 livable cities in the world, and agencies like VicRoads are charged with the task of maintaining that mobility, productivity and livability for a growing population.

“One of the big challenges for VicRoads is preserving our livability with a population that’s almost

going to double in a 40 year period, but with a transport network that won’t double in a traditional form,” says Fisher. “My team at Road Operations is tasked with dealing with that particular challenge around journeys, where we must preserve both well being and productivity.”

MEETING NEEDS THROUGH COMMUNICATIONTo achieve this task, VicRoads is taking a fresh look at the way it

C O N S T R U C T I O N

The old Mitcham Road level crossing approaching Whitehorse Road in Mitcham

TRANSMAX

For more information, contact Transmax:

+61 7 3355 8700

info@transmax.com.au

transmax.com.au

Transmax is a full-service Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) solutions provider that develops, deploys and supports the international award-winning ITS platform STREAMS.

Transmax offers customers systemsengineering, software design and development, along with a range of consulting and support services throughout the entire ITS lifecycle.

We place our customers at the centre of everything we do. We are committed to the highest standards of quality, and work collaboratively with our customers to ensure our products are purpose-fit for their specific needs.

Our products and services are innovative and unique – designed by experts and delivered with customer service excellence.

With over 40 years’ experience developing, implementing and managing ITS, we help our customers realise the community benefits of optimising transport networks by providing smarter, more sustainable ITS solutions.

The benefit of an extra freeway lane at a fraction of the cost

Travel time using the STREAMS ITS platform on a 15-km section of the M1 Monash Freeway was reduced by more than 42% during peak periods which equates to travel time savings achievable by adding almost an extra freeway lane (based on a four-lane cross-section) at a fraction of the cost and with minimal impact to road users.

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TRANSMAX

For more information, contact Transmax:

+61 7 3355 8700

info@transmax.com.au

transmax.com.au

Transmax is a full-service Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) solutions provider that develops, deploys and supports the international award-winning ITS platform STREAMS.

Transmax offers customers systemsengineering, software design and development, along with a range of consulting and support services throughout the entire ITS lifecycle.

We place our customers at the centre of everything we do. We are committed to the highest standards of quality, and work collaboratively with our customers to ensure our products are purpose-fit for their specific needs.

Our products and services are innovative and unique – designed by experts and delivered with customer service excellence.

With over 40 years’ experience developing, implementing and managing ITS, we help our customers realise the community benefits of optimising transport networks by providing smarter, more sustainable ITS solutions.

The benefit of an extra freeway lane at a fraction of the cost

Travel time using the STREAMS ITS platform on a 15-km section of the M1 Monash Freeway was reduced by more than 42% during peak periods which equates to travel time savings achievable by adding almost an extra freeway lane (based on a four-lane cross-section) at a fraction of the cost and with minimal impact to road users.

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SUPPLIER PROFILE

The Australian Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics forecasts that, without improvements in the management of congestion, rising traffic volumes in Australian cities are likely to result in the doubling of the net social costs of congestion from $16.5 billion in 2015 to more than $30 billion in 2030. To alleviate this congestion, road authorities are increasingly turning to the Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) rather than the traditional approach of simply widening roads. Not only can ITS be implemented at a fraction of the cost of building more infrastructure, their deployment is much less disruptive to the transport network.

VicRoads engaged Transmax to undertake a trial of STREAMS (Transmax’s international-award winning ITS platform) coordinated ramp metering on a 15-kilometre section of the M1 Monash Freeway, Melbourne’s most congested freeway.

Before and after studies demonstrated the following benefits:

• Peakhourflowincreasesexceeding10%andaveragepeakhourspeedincrease of 20kph

• Traveltimereductionofmorethan42%duringpeakperiodswhichequatesto travel time savings achievable by adding almost an extra freeway lane (based on a four-lane cross-section) but at a fraction of the cost

• Accidentswerereducedby30%

• Dailyfuelsavingsestimatedat16,500litresofpetrol

• Greenhousegasemissionreductionsof11%(approximately39,800kgperday)

• Economicbenefitsestimatedatmorethan$1millionperdayandthepayback period relative to the project cost was just 11 days.

‘InVictoria,STREAMSnowalsomanagestheM80,and75kmoftheM1whichincludes 64 ramps and 40 lane use signal gantries,’ says Transmax Managing Director, Mark Williamson. ‘As well as the quantifiable benefits, STREAMS Managed Motorways realises social benefits including: community satisfaction through noticeable improvement; reduced stress; financial savings; increased comfort; and improved availability and quality of information on road networks.’

STREAMS Managed Motorways has the ability to maximise the capacity of existing road infrastructure and reduce travel times while improving day-to-day reliability and safety outcomes. Through the implementation of STREAMS Managed Motorways, road traffic authorities are able to benefit from the capabilities of a fully integrated ITS platform that can deliver substantial improvements in traffic management and safety.

Website: www.transmax.com.au

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approaches problem solving. This includes working directly with the communities it serves to find out exactly how to meet its needs.

“VicRoads recently released its new four-year strategic commitment, which includes our vision and how we intend to deliver on that vision,” says Fisher. “Unlike in the past, where we’d typically come up with an engineering solution that we would then tell the public and the customer about, we’ve substantially changed our approach. We now engage with our customers, understand what

“VicRoads recently released its new four-year strategic commitment, which includes our vision and how we intend to deliver on that vision.”– Nick Fisher, Director of Road Operations

it is about their local area that they enjoy most, and then build a solution around the needs of the community.”

This approach, which includes annual satisfaction surveys, has yielded communication around which VicRoads can build concrete action plans and goals. “What our customers are telling us is that they would like the ability to plan their journeys in an easier way before they make them, and to ensure that those journeys are more predictable. If something does happen, they want to be told what

VICROADS C O N S T R U C T I O N

Delivering successful projects from Hobart to Dublin and many cities in between, we are totally committed to designing and integrating advanced electronic road network management products and providing adaptive engineering services to the traffic control and global ITS management industry.HavingHaving designed & developed the latest SCATS® compliant Traffic Signal Controller (ATSC4) that is Type Approved by the Roads and Maritime Services Authority (RMS) of New South Wales Australia and VicRoads, these ATCS4’s are now controlling more than 2,500 intersections globally with more than 600 in Victoria.LeadingLeading the market, ATC has deployed the first controller in the world with the RMS VC6TRAFF software. Our ATSC4 SCATS®

Controller is significantly more capable & flexible than any other on the market.ATCATC delivers, implements & maintains the RMS SCATS® software for international customers and provide support services from its network of SCATS® practitioners and traffic engineering staff.

ATSC4 SCATS® TrafficSignal Controller

ATSC4 with Internal Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) for Traffic Signals

Aldridge Traffic Controllers Pty LtdBuilding N, 10-16 South Street, Rydalmere NSW 2116ABN 44 098 257 035

Telephone: +61 2 8846-5599Facsimile: +61 2 8846-5590

Web: www.atsc4.com.au

VICROADS C O N S T R U C T I O N

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we’re doing about it and find out easily what their alternatives are. They want to know that their journeys will be safe—and post-journey customers are telling us they would love to be able to give feedback on how their journey went.”

SHORT TERM AND LONG TERM GOALSTo address these customer needs as well as business needs, VicRoads has first identified several short term priorities including delivering more predictable journeys and moving freight more efficiently. As a key part of realising the goals in these priorities, VicRoads is

Overnight works to lift beams

into place for the bridge

over Cheltenham Road in

Keysborough as part of the

Dandenong Bypass

Employees: 40+ Established: 2001

Industry: Transportation, Supplying the global Intelligent Transport Systems market

Worldwide distributors and integrators of; SCATS® software and SCATS® Traffic Signal Controllers and associated hardware and software.

Services: SCATS® Installation & maintenance, adaptive traffic engineering services, training & consulting, Electronic Engineering, Design & Manufacturing of advanced traffic control devices.

Ongoing Projects: In more than 12 Countries throughout Asia, Middle East, Europe and America.

Management: Andrew Bull - Managing Director

Website: www.atsc4.com

SUPPLIER PROFILEATC - MOVING TRAFFIC

BRAUMS proudly delivers the world’s very best ITS solutions to the Australian & New Zealand markets. With ATC and SWARCO-FUTURIT as our key technology and product supply partners we offer best of breed solutions to our market. BRAUMSBRAUMS is the leading Australian supplier of the latest in LED Traffic Signals HPSM Technology. Proudly the first Company to gain the approvals of this technology across Australia and New Zealand (including RMS NSW and VIC ROADS). Having provided the first significant roll out of this technology in the region in 2012 we now have more than 50,000 HPSM LED Traffic Signal aspects deployed and growing fast.OurOur depth of engineering experience has also led to a more robustly designed and manufactured Pedestrian Detector and Audio Tactile unit. This robust design has become the preferred product as they are proven to be reliable, not only for general use but also in areas that experience high rates of vandalism. BRAUMSBRAUMS have partnered with SWARCO-FUTURIT and introduced a new leading edge full matrix RGB VMS technology to our region. This technology provides rich fully saturated colours at high intensity with very low current usage. This VMS provides road users with strong sharp text display as well as pictogram displays without needing a dedicated graphical section, text and graphics can be located wherever needed. (available with NTCIP and RMS protocol)WeWe understand our ITS market not only requires the best technology but also exceptional service and support. Our experienced team of qualified Engineers and Partners have decades of industry experience ensuring our customers receive the best possible products, solutions and service.

Braums Pty LtdBuilding N, 10-16 South Street, Rydalmere NSW 2116ABN 31 150 551 732

Telephone: +61 2 9684-3300Facsimile: +61 2 9684-3390

Web: www.braums.com.au

looking at transportation altogether in a different way.

“We’re in the business of moving people and goods. We recognise a diverse choice of transportation modes for our customers—cars, trains, buses, trams, and active transport modes including walking and cycling,” says Fisher, noting that use of public transportation in Melbourne is growing rapidly at a double-digit rate, each 5-year census period. “If we’re going to be successful in moving people in such a rapidly growing city, as

a roads organisation we have to really embrace public transport as a solution to the future for moving people, as opposed to just more cars.”

VicRoads is taking several steps toward improving journeys for both driving and public transport options. Some of these steps include installing Bluetooth readers at traffic signal sites to accurately measure and predict travel patterns and travel times, capital investment into Victoria’s successful managed motorways, and the development

VICROADS

Employees: 35+ Industry: Transportation, Supplying the Intelligent Transport Systems market

Australia’s LEADING HPSM Traffic Signals Company. Having partnered with the world’s leading signal and VMS manufacturers SWARCO-FUTURIT, together with ATC, BRAUMS delivers innovative and advanced technology to benefit Road authorities and users.

Services: Electronic Engineering, Design, Manufacturing and Integration of advanced ITS devices.

Management: Andrew Bull - Managing Director

Website: www.braums.com.au

SUPPLIER PROFILEBRAUMS PTY LTD

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such unforeseen circumstances, how do we get this information to customers and then provide available alternatives? That’s a gap we want to be able to fill using the VicTraffic app and other communication channels.”

LOOKING AHEAD AT WHAT’S NEXTVicRoads has significant plans for the year ahead, especially at the

and impending relaunch of the VicTraffic app.

“Some years ago VicRoads released its first version of VicTraffic to provide customers and travelers with some data around congestion levels on the network,” says Fisher. “By next year, we’re looking to relaunch that app with substantial improvements. For example, Victoria Police can close roads during incidents. When there are

The Tullamarine Freeway and M80 Ring Road hosted a visual tribute to commemorate the centenary of ANZAC

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Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) World Congress taking place in Melbourne in October 2016, where the agency will display some of its biggest initiatives and engage the industry for collaboration.

“One thing that’s very important to us is that we need to partner with the industry to make this successful,” says Fisher. “The Congress is one place where we’ll be showcasing some of the initiatives that we want to deliver on, but also we want the industry to

“We’re in the business of moving people and goods. We recognise a diverse choice of transportation modes for our customers —cars, trains, buses, trams, and active transport modes including walking and cycling.”

– Nick Fisher, Director of Road Operations

The Tullamarine Freeway and M80 Ring Road hosted a visual tribute to commemorate the centenary of ANZAC

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partnered with Public Transport Victoria to support the growing population of mass transit users. “We’ve partnered with PTV to understand how we can prioritise public transport movements,

VicRoads recently installed 70 concrete bridge beams over the Princes Freeway to form the new Sneydes Roda interchange in Werribee

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better engage with VicRoads to help Victorians.”

VicRoads is also turning a strong focus to freeway improvement to support the region’s large population of motorists, and has

VICROADS

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particularly public transport modes that are on-road,” says Fisher. “At the moment we have a tram system that’s the biggest in the world. There are a lot of opportunities, and we will be working with PTV to see how we can make that far more successful. That is the future for us.”

Company Information

N A M E

VicRoads

I N D U S T RY

Transportation /

Construction

H E A D Q U A RT E R S

Kew, Victoria - Australia

A B O U T

VicRoads purpose is to

deliver social, economic

and environmental

benefits to communities

throughout Victoria by

managing the Victorian

arterial road network and

its use as an integral part

of the overall transport

system

VicRoads recently installed 70 concrete bridge beams over the Princes Freeway to form the new Sneydes Roda interchange in Werribee

C O N S T R U C T I O NVICROADS

60 Denmark Street, Kew Victoria, Australia - 3101

Tel. 61 3 9854 2666

www.vicroads.vic.gov.au