By Jamie Salter
Public transport users will now be able to see how many free parks are available at a train station before they leave home, thanks to new smart road and parking technology.
The technology has been installed at Berwick and Beaconsfield stations as part of a trial to detect which parking spaces are in use, providing real-time information about where spaces are available and making planning journeys easier.
Live car parking information will be shared through a dedicated Smart Car Parking Trial app, under the Victorian Government’s Car Parks for Commuters program.
The program aims to deliver 11,000 new and upgraded car parking spaces across Victoria.
Roadside electronic sign boards displaying live car parking information will also be placed near car park entrances to help commuters find a spot.
Eastern Victoria Member Harriet Shing said the technology would provide smoother journeys for the whole community.
“Whether you travel by car or public transport, we are improving the transport network for our growing community and ensuring people can get to where they need to go safely,” she said.
Technology has also been installed on arterial roads across Berwick to help address congestion in real time and improve travel for drivers.
Victorian Public Transport Minister Ben Carroll said the upgrades will make it easier for locals to plan their trips and ensure they spend more time at their destination and with loved ones.
“Technology being rolled out across our transport network is helping ensure people get where they need to go easily – no matter what forms of transport they use,” he said.
Twenty-three CCTV cameras have been installed along Princes Highway, Clyde Road and Monash Freeway to improve visibility of the network and allow the Department of Transport’s Transport Operations Centre to clear incidents and adjust traffic lights in real time.
Travel time sensors and live travel time signs have been installed to provide more information to drivers, while Dynamic Pedestrian Sensors are keeping pedestrians safe and moving.
A traffic signal review is set to be undertaken later in 2022 to review and optimise the way traffic light sites operate in the area, to ensure the network is operating as efficiently as possible.
