Think Tram is a Victorian Government

Government of Victoria

The Government of Victoria, under the Constitution of Australia, ceded certain legislative and judicial powers to the Commonwealth, but retained complete independence in all other areas...

 program aimed at improving Melbourne's tram network

Trams in Melbourne

The Melbourne tramway network is a major form of public transport in Melbourne, the capital city of the state of Victoria, Australia. , the network consisted of of track, 487 trams, 28 routes, and 1,773 tram stops. It was therefore the largest urban tramway network in the world, ahead of the...

. The intended benefits are reduced travel time and better reliability, and better accessibility. The program is being run by VicRoads

VicRoads

VicRoads or the Roads Corporation of Victoria is a statutory corporation which is the state road and traffic authority in the state of Victoria, Australia. It is responsible for maintenance and construction of the state arterial road network, as well as driver licensing and vehicle registration. ...

, in partnership with Yarra Trams

Yarra Trams

Yarra Trams is the trading name of the Melbourne tram network, which is fully owned and registered by the Victorian State Government. The current franchise is operated by a consortium named KDR Melbourne which consists of a partnership between French company Keolis and Australian company Downer EDI...

 and the Department of Infrastructure. The program targets individual routes or streets with a mixture of different treatments, including the sometimes controversial Superstops.

Types of treatment

Superstops

Superstops are wheelchair-accessible platform stops, with rain shelters, seating, and real time arrival displays. Superstops, when served by low-floor trams, comply with the Commonwealth Disability Discrimination Act (1992). In general, introduction of superstops along a route has been accompanied by a reduction in the total number of stops and relocation of existing stops.

Traffic light priority

Traffic lights are switched in favour of approaching trams before (or as soon as possible after) a tram stops at an intersection.

Separation kerbing and right turn bans

Yellow separation strips and/or signage are introduced to prevent turning cars from blocking the progress of trams.

Targeted routes

• Swanston Street / St Kilda Road
• Route 19 (Royal Parade / Sydney Road)
• Bridge Road (Routes 48 and 75)
• Route 55 (Queensbridge Street, William Street, Peel Street, Flemington Road)
• Route 59 (Peel Street, Flemington Road)
• Route 86 (Bourke Street, Gertrude Street, Smith Street, High Street, Plenty Road)
• Route 109 (Collins Street, Spencer Street, Victoria Parade)
• Route 112 (Clarendon Street, Brunswick Street, St Georges Road)

Criticism

While many tram users have welcomed the new Superstops, there has also been complaints at the reduction in the number of stops and the introduction of new mid-block stops. A "funeral", coordinated by the Public Transport Users Association

Public Transport Users Association

The Public Transport Users Association is a community-based public transport lobby group in Victoria, Australia, based in Melbourne.- History and Aims :...

, was held for the tram stops being closed, featuring a procession with coffin from the former tram stops to the Transport Minister's office. Despite these protests, the program continued.

During a trial of a number of Think Tram treatments in Clarendon Street, South Melbourne, traders complained about the reduction in parking availability. They successfully lobbied to have the departure-side stops returned to their old arrival-side configuration, although the introduced hook turn

Hook turn

A hook turn is a traffic-control mechanism where cars that would normally have to turn across oncoming traffic are made to turn across all lanes of traffic instead....

s were kept.