Melbourne
UMR Index
Score: 57.8%
Sustainable Mobility
Score: 38.4%
Public Transit
Score: 55.5%
| Population | 5.0 million |
| Surface area (km2) | 2,704 |
| Population-density (people/km2) | 1,841 |
| GDP per capita ($) | 50,382 |
What Melbourne Does Well in Urban Mobility
Melbourne is home to well-maintained and interconnected roadways, with relatively few fatalities. In 2023, the State of Victoria began a US$127 million road infrastructure program to improve road safety
The city's public transit system is known for its efficiency, affordability, and diverse transportation modes. Melbourne’s roads and mass transportation are going to be made stronger with “Victoria’s Big Build,”a, US$57 billion road and rail expansion project to bolster public transit with more stations,airport and suburb connections, and a new metro tunnel
Urban Mobility Readiness Index, Sustainable Mobility and Public Transit scores
Challenges and Opportunities for Melbourne’s Transportation System
Melbourne has limited government investment in electric vehicle (EV) incentivization, charging station development, and connected and automated vehicle (CAV) technologies.
The city's lack of active mobility infrastructure, like bike lanes or dedicated car-free zones, pushes residents to prefer cars instead. However, Melbourne has built more than 19 kilometers (11 miles) of cycling lanes since 2020 as part of its 2030 strategy to have more than 50 kilometers (31 miles) of cycleways.
Dimensions of the Urban Mobility Readiness Index score
How Melbourne Can Improve Its Public Transportation and Sustainable Mobility
While other states are increasing their electric (EV) subsidy offering, Victoria recently ended its 2021 subsidy and is now falling well behind its peer Sydney in EV incentivization. The state, or Melbourne itself, can reinstitute the subsidy for EVs to ensure it stays on target for zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales composing 50% of the market share by 2030. The city also could increase the size of available grants for EV charging stations, such as reintroducing the Destination Charging Across Victoria program, which provided US$3 million for public stations — a promising start but not enough to offer a charging network comparable to its peers. To become a regional leader in charging networks, Melbourne would need to accelerate deployment to double its current station density.
Many of Melbourne's residents have lengthy walks to metro stations and bus stops. The city is undergoing a large-scale public transit project, the previously mentioned “Victoria's Big Build,” to improve station density and encourage ridership of its metro system. In the interim, the city should add routes and stops for buses and trams to help connect residents with metro stations and other destinations — a cost-effective improvement that would help lower walking distances and overall commute times.