Fast rail answer to urban sprawl
The survey, conducted by the Business School's internationally respected Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (ITLS), found that 40 per cent of respondents would move if their round trip by rail to the city could be cut to less than two hours a day.
However, the number of metropolitan respondents prepared to relocate fell to just one in five when the travelling time in each direction was doubled to two hours.
The Director of ITLS, Professor David Hensher, has described the results of the regular Transport Opinion Survey as "encouraging."
Although the findings are likely to be higher than what we might actually see if fast rail were introduced, it is very encouraging to see some serious interest in the prospect of moving to regional Australia away from the capital cities.
Sydney and Melbourne residents were the most likely to move to a regional area with a two hour rail service to the city (21 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively), while Perth residents were least likely to move (8 per cent), given the same travelling time.
About one in four metropolitan respondents said that a fast train service would not convince them to relocate. About 75 per cent of Perth residents said they would be reluctant to move.
The Transport Opinion Survey also surveyed travellers about their knowledge of trip planner apps that offer information on travel options.
On a scale from zero to ten, 45 per cent of Australians gave a score of seven or higher (quite familiar) while 20 percent of the respondents gave a score of zero or one (not familiar at all).
About one in five respondents had an average level of familiarity with smartphone travel apps (scores 5 and 6).
"The level of familiarity with transport planning apps is surprisingly high and is expected to grow as people share their experiences in using such apps to inform their travel," said Professor Hensher.
The Transport Opinion Survey index of transport confidence, which measures public confidence in transport infrastructure and services provided by local and national authorities, is now at its highest level since a major fall in 2015.
The short-term transport confidence index for local transport is now at 87, up from 78 in March 2019, but down from 100 at the beginning March 2010. The long-term confidence index in Australian transport slightly decreased to 81 from 83 in the September last year, yet increased from 77 in March this year.
The Transport Opinion Survey is the only regular national survey (commencing in 2010) to measure public opinion on transport related issues. Read the September 2019 report.
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