The release of the Victorian Transport Plan is looming and the announcement will probably be made in the next ten days if not sooner. Unfortunately, it is as expected, likely to be bad news.

• YCAT Media Release: Launch Of Victorian Transport Plan Imminent

You will have gathered from recent media reports that a number of key recommendations from the Eddington report are likely to proceed. There is no indication that the government’s stated intent to preference new roads over sustainable transport has abated. Our sources, though this cannot be taken as gospel, and a number of strategic government leaks indicate that the road projects expected to be announced this week include:

• The Ring Road “missing link” via the Heidelberg/Banyule flats
• The western section of the controversial Eddington East – West road tunnels
• The elevated roadways/tollways in the western suburbs
• The Frankston Bypass/Toll Road

We have been told that the Royal Park section of the East-West Tunnel will not proceed but will probably be rescheduled to start in 2014 and that Caulfield to Footscray road tunnel will also go on hold until 2014. The reasons for postponement of the East-West Tunnel are seen to be the government’s very real concern that if they proceed, at this time, they will loose their inner Melbourne seats. They are apparently still confident that the Labor’s western heartland is safe. Continue Reading…