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UWA - QEII precinct access plan

Preamble

Facilities Management is committed to working in cooperation with the Department of Transport, local councils and the QE II Medical Centre in the development and maintenance of a precinct access plan for the area to improve modes of transport to the area other than the single occupancy vehicle in order to :

 i.   reduce parking problems on the campus and in local residential and commercial areas         
 ii.  reduce traffic congestion and pollution in line with University Environmental Policy

Travel Pass Plan

Transport and parking problems have increased significantly in the University area in recent years, particularly for the student population. As the number of students increases from the 14,115 enrolments in 1997 to the estimated 15,000 EFTSUs and approximately 18,000 enrolments - parking and transport problems will become even more critical.

The limited parking facilities on campus restrict visitor access and affect a) residents in adjacent streets, b) commercial enterprises in the vicinity and c) public use of the Nedlands foreshore. There is also considerable congestion at access and egress points around the campus at peak hours and in Stirling Highway, Broadway and Hackett Drive.

At present there are 3,281 parking bays on campus. 825 bays are reserved for students and 1,921 students hold parking permits. First year students are not eligible for parking permits and students who live in postal areas close to the campus or easily accessible to public transport are also excluded.

1,387 bays are reserved for staff and 1,587 currently hold parking permits. The following 2,269 bays are also available for use by staff, students and visitors to the campus:

Short-term parking (not available to full-time permit holders) 126
Long-term ticket parking 563
Disabled 28
Car pooling 86
Metered, service, delivery, reserved, motor cycle, 15 minutes bays etc. 266
Council ticket parking 600
Council off-street 600

It would be possible to provide additional parking for the staff and students of the University and visitors to the campus. However, this would involve creating multi-storey and underground car parks and the conversion of existing lawn and garden areas to car park usage. It would also add considerably to the traffic congestion in the vicinity of the campus.

As a consequence of earlier planning studies by Stephenson, Bunbury and Ferguson, Senate has accepted that :

a) the landscape quality of the campus take priority over the needs of parking and traffic

b) the area used for ground level parking should not exceed more than ten percent of the total land area available

c) there be no increase in the number of parking bays on campus

More than ten percent of the total campus area has already been assigned for parking purposes.

The Department of Transport has suggested the implementation of the Travel Pass Scheme (TPS) in the University-Medical Centre precinct to a) reduce the use of single occupancy vehicles and b) improve other modes of transport within the area viz. walking, cycling, bus, train, ferry, car and van pooling. The Travel Pass Scheme is based upon transport schemes adopted in universities and institutions in the USA, in particular the University of Washington, and may provide some of the solutions to parking and transport problems at The University of Western Australia.

A Steering Committee comprising representatives from the University, the Medical Centre and the Nedlands and Subiaco councils was formed in 1997 to consider the feasibility of the Travel Pass Scheme.

At the request of the Steering Committee a study was made by BSD Consultants of the transport needs of the UWA-Medical Centre precinct and the possible implementation of the Travel Pass Scheme. In the latter half of 1997, staff were informed that a transport study was under way and the Travel Pass Scheme was being considered as a model for The University of WA. A transport questionnaire devised by the Department of Transport was also distributed around campus and the responses received (84 academic and 115 general staff) were forwarded to BSD Consultants. The same questionnaire was administered informally by BSD Consultants to 200 students on the campus. However, no opportunity was extended to the student population at that time to comment upon the Travel Pass Scheme.

Representatives from the Department of Transport, the University, the Medical Centre, the Nedlands and Subiaco Councils, the Ministry of Planning, Main Roads Department, Hollywood Private Hospital and Bikewest, met with BSD Consultants on several occasions as the study progressed.

One of the recommendations contained in the report of BSD Consultants was that the U-Pass scheme be implemented at the University.

The Steering Committee has accepted the BSD report. An estimate of costs associated with the implementation of the Travel Pass Scheme will be carried out at the earliest opportunity by the Department of Transport.

A broad level of consultation with the University community is now required to consider the Travel Pass Scheme as recommended by BSD Consultants and to develop an implementation plan based upon either a) the scheme as presented or b) a modified form of the scheme, as a consequence of the consultative process.

Travel Pass Scheme (TPS)

Factors critical to the success of the Travel Pass Scheme

  • incentives to promote the scheme
  • elimination of free or low cost parking which is a major obstacle to change
  • availability of a range of commuting options on a flexible and continuous basis
  • an extensive education programme over a 12 month period
  • consultation with all sectors of the campus community
  • contingency plans to supplement services should demand meet expectations
  • adoption of the principle of fair and equitable access by staff and students to transport facilities on campus

Benefits to Members

  • unrestricted travel to and from the campus on any mode of transport provided by the scheme – in return for a monthly payment
  • free use of designated campus facilities e.g. showers and lockers
  • possible discounts and concessions e.g. Student Guild, UWA Sports and commercial enterprises on campus may be prepared to participate

Improvement in Modes of Transport to Campus other than Single Occupancy Vehicles

  • continuous improvement of the No. 78 University bus service
  • provision of a bus terminal on campus
  • provision of a shuttle bus service during the evenings to transport TPS members who live within a 5 kilometre radius of the University from the campus to their homes
  • provision of a "guaranteed ride home" taxi service from campus for TPS members in emergency situations
  • an investigation of the possibilities of van pooling (ridesharing)
  • an increase in the number of parking bays available for car pooling
  • cooperation with state and local councils in the introduction of a comprehensive ferry service on the Swan River

Improvement in Facilities on Campus

  • improvement of facilities on campus for cyclists e.g. showers, lockers, bicycle racks and a bicycle shop

Parking Provisions

  • cooperation with local councils to ensure uniformity of parking regulations, parking fees and parking fines
  • all staff and student parking bays on campus will be converted to pay parking areas
  • members of the Travel Pass Scheme will be able to park several days each month in pay parking areas free of charge when special circumstances require the use of a vehicle
  • members of the Travel Pass Scheme will be able at any time park in pay parking areas and purchase a ticket
  • staff and students who are not TPS members will be able to park in pay parking areas
  • there will be a significant increase in the cost of pay parking on campus to reduce the use of single occupancy vehicles
  • there will be a significant increase in the amount of parking fines to reduce the use of single occupancy vehicles

The Travel Pass Scheme will be presented to the following targeted groups for discussion during 1998 to gauge its acceptability by the University community :

  • Academic Staff Association
  • academic staff
  • general staff unions - CPSU and MWU
  • general staff
  • Student Guild
  • student population
  • UWA Sports Association
  • Unipark and Security sections of Facilities Management who will assist in the administration of the scheme on the campus

March 1998
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