Eastern Rail Trail bicycle path proposal

• PDF version of the proposal (2mb)

• Eastern Rail Trail blog

Table of Contents

1. Background

Bicycle travel is a healthy and environmentally sustainable mode of transport in urban areas. Safe cycling routes encourage people to travel by bicycle.  This is a proposal to create the “Eastern Rail Trail” (ERT) to improve east-west cycle travel through the Cities of Boroondara and Whitehorse in eastern Melbourne.

Boroondara City Council actively supports cycling, as stated on the Council web site:

“The City of Boroondara's is ideally located to enjoy cycling. Situated along the Main Yarra Trail and Yarra Bend Park and boasting good bicycle facilities, Boroondara offers a unique opportunity to enjoy this attractive, healthy and environmentally friendly form of transport and recreation.”

Council is also committed to the implementation of Melbourne’s Principle Bicycle Network (PBN), which includes a mixture of on road cycle lanes and shared cycle paths.

The Victorian Government is also an active proponent of cycling as part of Melbourne’s transport strategy.

“The Victorian Government aims to provide safer travel for pedestrians and cyclists, and to increase the number of people walking and cycling, through improved management of existing road space and the provision of more off-road paths and access.”

1.1 History

A detailed proposal for the Eastern Rail Trail was prepared in June 1996 by the Cities of Boroondara and Whitehorse and the Department of Sport and Recreation Victoria. The Eastern Rail Trail was identified and an important link in the Principle Bicycle Network for Melbourne. It was specified as one of the four radial routes identified by the State Bicycle Committee to link the outer suburbs with the City.  Unfortunately, this proposal has not been implemented to date.

Good shared bicycle paths are now available along the Gardiner’s Creek and the Eastern Freeway, both of which now connect with the Main Yarra Trail. While these paths are heavily used for both recreational and commuting purposes, they tend to follow major creek routes and do not service large sections of the inner eastern suburbs corridor well for travel in east-west directions.

Considerable progress has been made over recent years on implementing both on road lanes (such as Union, Balwyn, Mont Albert and Kilby Roads) as well as marking of wide left lanes (such as sections of Riversdale Road).

However, there is a lack of direct east-west “bicycle friendly” routes through the City of Boroondara to central Melbourne. The routes with wide left lanes such as Riversdale, Barkers and Burwood Roads frequently carry very heavy traffic, with narrow points at traffic light controlled intersections and many tram stops. These narrow points are very intimidating to casual cyclists and are a major deterrent to them making cycle trips along these routes.

2. The opportunity

The Eastern Rail Trail will provide a bicycle path shared between cyclists and pedestrians (but not motor vehicles), that will provide an excellent opportunity for cyclists to travel through the City of Boroondara to connect with the Main Yarra Trail and the bicycle route along Bridge Road.

Users of this trail could include:

• Cyclists commuting to and from the City of Melbourne during weekdays
• Recreational cycling on weekends and during evenings – including visits to the growing local café and shopping areas such as the Glenferrie Road, Camberwell Junction, Maling Road and Union Road strips. This has significant potential to boost local tourism by connecting with Melbourne’s existing heavily used bicycle paths along the Yarra River.
• Shorter daytime bicycle and pedestrian trips by residents to local shopping areas along the trail including Glenferrie, Auburn, Canterbury/Mailing Road, Surrey Hills, and Hawthorn
• The path should accomodate both pedestrians and cyclists.
• Students attending local schools such as Camberwell High School, Strathcona, Fintona, Carey and several primary schools.

2.1    Additional advantages

• Cyclists would have a fast and efficient alternative route to Whitehorse Road (Tram 109), Barkers, Burwood, and Riversdale Roads, which would improve the flow of traffic and trams.
• Increased cycle trips and a reduction in car trips would significantly reduce both traffic congestion and associated air pollution.

3. Route Overview

The suggested route follows the Box Hill railway line from Surrey Hills station over the Yarra River to the Main Yarra Trail and Swan Street. Most of the route can be situated on or next to the railway easement, which will offer unimpeded and enjoyable cycling.

This proposal focusses on the section of the railway line between Mont Albert/Surrey Hills and the Yarra River.

Figure 1: Route overview - Surrey Hills to Yarra River

Figure 2: Route overview - Nunawading to Surrey Hills

4. Route integration with Principle Bicycle Network

The proposed Eastern Rail Trail (dashed blue line) will complement all these PBN routes by providing more direct east-west cycle travel through the City of Boroondara,

5. Camberwell Station - an Immediate Concern

In Camberwell, the path would be best positioned along the south side of the railway line below the existing pedestrian footway, under Stanhope Grove bridge and along the embankment on a platform.

At Camberwell Station, the path would be best routed through where the railway holding yards currently are, under Burke Road via a tunnel and up onto Auburn Parade, to continue on the South Side of the railway.

There is then sufficient space on the railway easement and provision on all existing rail bridges over roads to accommodate an elevated path all the way to Hawthorn Station.

Boroondara Council are requested to make allowance for this path during the planning for the redevelopment of the Camberwell Station area. If it is not accommodated during redevelopment then this opportunity will be lost.

See Appendix 1 for more details.

6. Stakeholders

The stakeholders identified for this project have been identified:

7. Detailed Route

Details for the suggested route location are provided in the following sections.

Box Hill to Mont Albert

• The unused rail easment next to platform 1 at Box Hill Centrail station could be used for cycle transit under Box Hill Central.  There is currently no safe or convenient bicycle route through the Box Hill Central area.
• The bridge over Elgar Road is necessary to maintain the trail grade and transit over the very busy Elgar road without disruption to traffic.
• The path can transit Mont Albert Station car park.  The railway easement narrows at this point.
  

Mont Albert to Surrey Hills

• The easiest option for crossing Mont Albert Road is via the existing level crossing.
• The path can transit Surrey Hills station car park.  The railway easement narrows at this point.
• The easiest option is to cross Union Road at the level crossing.  When grade separation is provided at this crossing, the trail should be seperated from the road.
  

Surrey Hills to Chatham

• Alternate route marked along railway easement may be feasible, but it narrows near Chatham railway station.
• AP = Access Point

Chatham to Canterbury

Notes:

• Bridge over Canterbury Road is urgently required to provide alternate route for cyclists who currently have to cross Canterbury Road and are not permitted to use the footpaths near the pedestrian lights. This is a very dangerous region for cyclists due to heavy traffic and restricted road space. This bridge would also provide improved amenity for pedestrians wishing to cross Canterbury Road – steps for pedestrians could be added on either side.
• Elevated cycle path past Canterbury station above the existing car park to minimise impact on car parking and pedestrian access to the station.

Canterbury to East Camberwell

• Bridge over Myrtle Road to prevent disruption to car traffic.
• Connection to Outer Circle Trail required.

East Camberwell to Camberwell

Notes:

• Cantilevered path to follow new route along south side of railway embankment below the existing foot path (which is pedestrian only)
• Path to go under Stanhope Grove road bridge through existing opening under bridge.
• Path continues along route below the existing foot path.
• This section of the cycle path is for cyclists only as pedestrians have an alternate route.
• (1) Bridge over Box Hill and Alamein railway lines, passing overhead above East Camberwell station
• (2) Bridge over Box Hill and Alamein railway lines from Sefton Place (has the advantage of starting from a higher point compared with option (1)

Camberwell

Notes:

• Tunnel through Camberwell station development is required.
• Tunnel for path under Burke Road is required
• Cycle path can follow Newport Crescent
• Tunnel under Burwood Road is required.

Camberwell to Auburn

• Path follows railway easement along area reserved for “fourth track”
• Bridges over Albert St and Auburn Road have provision for cycle path route

Auburn to Glenferrie

• Path follows railway easement along area reserved for “fourth track”
• Elevated railway bridges have provision for cycle path route

Glenferrie to Power Street

• Path follows railway easement along area reserved for “fourth track” along the south side of the railway lines. This minimises impact on station areas and roads crossed.
• Elevated railway bridges over Glenferrie Rd has provision for cycle path route
• Tunnel required under Power St.

Hawthorn

Notes:

• Path crosses to north side at Ellgin St
• Tunnel under Burwood Road required.
• Existing underpass utilised near Austin Street
• Tunnel under Yarra St required.

Hawthorn to Yarra

• Cycle path follows railway easement
• Bridge support available for cycle path across Yarra River.
• Connections to Main Yarra Trail and Yarra Boulevard required.

Yarra to Swan Street

• Cycle path follows railway easement
• Connection with Swan Street Required

8. Suggested phases for development

The Eastern Rail trail route lends itself well to phased developments. Provision of selected sections of the trail will provide early benefits to local users. Eventual completion of the trail will provide benefits to commuters and cycle tourists.

8.1 First phase developments

Camberwell Station

Surrey Hills to Chatham

Glenferrie to Power Street

Canterbury to East Camberwell

8.2  Second phase developments

Chatham to Canterbury

East Camberwell to Camberwell

Camberwell to Auburn

Auburn to Glenferrie

8.3  Third phase developments

Hawthorn

Hawthorn to Yarra

Yarra to Swan Street

9. Your feedback and comments and an online survey

If you wish to provide any feedback or comments, make a contribution to this proposal, and provide information on how you may use this trail, please use this feedback/survey form or the Eastern Rail Trail blog  

Appendix 1: Submission on Camberwell Station - cycle path

Friday 22 April 2005

Submission on Camberwell Station - cycle path

Dear Mr Storer

In response to the UDF Working Group’s call for feedback on options 1 and 3 for the Camberwell station development proposals, I would like to submit this response on behalf of the Boroondara Bicycle Users Group (BBUG) for your consideration.

We believe that provision for good access for cyclist to, from and through the Camberwell station precinct will further enhance transport efficiency and amenity for both Options 1 and 3. This will also complement and align with several of the design principles set out for option 3.

Improved provision for cycling in the Camberwell Station precinct will also align with objectives of Melbourne 2030 including (8.6) Review transport practices, including design, construction and management, to reduce environmental impacts and (8.7) Give more priority to cycling and walking in planning urban development and in managing our road system and neighbourhoods.

BBUGs proposal for a cyclist route offers:

• Improved cyclist access to and from the Camberwell station precinct
• Improved safety for pedestrians as cyclists will cease using existing pedestrian paths around the station
• Improved safety for cyclists as they will have a path separate from motor vehicles
• Improved motor vehicle transport as there will be less cyclists transiting via roads near Camberwell station
• Promotion of Camberwell Junction as a safe and pleasant area to visit by bicycle

We propose that a cycle path and tunnel under Bourke Road be incorporated into the development of Camberwell Station (Option 3) as illustrated in the diagram, or built above ground (Option 1). In both instances we believe a tunnel under Bourke Road is required.

This will provide unimpeded transit though the precinct for cyclists as part of the Eastern Rail Trail connecting the Yarra River in Richmond to Surrey Hills. It will also boost bicycle-based tourism from existing cycle trails to several shopping areas within the City of Boroondara. Please refer to the “Eastern Rail Trail bicycle path proposal” for more details on this.