Ten Melbourne tram stops are to receive upgrades to improve accessibility to major hospital, education and tourist destinations and connections to other public transport modes, with works to begin in the coming months.
$19 million in upgrades will be completed at six tram stops along Route 96 on Nicholson Street by September. Stops between Victoria Parade and Kerr Street will become centre island platform stops, enabling those with wheelchairs and mobility aids better access to the low floor trams that operate along Route 96 and better access to St Vincent’s Hospital nearby.
The tram stops opposite Melbourne Museum and the Royal Exhibition Building are to receive upgrades that will provide safety access to passengers between the stops and Carlton Gardens.
Stops near the corner of William Street and La Trobe Street will be made accessible when works are completed there in the middle of 2019, improving connections to the Parkville Hospital Precinct and Flagstaff train station, while others near the corner of William Street and La Trobe will also be upgraded to enable better connection to low floor trams on Route 86 and Route 96.
Currently, works are underway to upgrade the tram stop on Carlisle Street at Balaclava Station, providing kerbside access and improving access to the station for Routes 3, 3A and 16 passengers.
“We’re working hard to upgrade Melbourne’s tram network to make it more accessible for all Victorians,” state transport minister Jacinta Allan said.
“There are 163 low-floor trams and more than 420 raised stops on the network and we will continue to introduce new trams and stops to make our network more accessible.”
Melbourne’s 80 E-Class trams – designed for better passenger accessibility – are currently being rolled-out on the network, with 63 already running along several routes.