4.6.1.3 Road corridors in greater Perth

The Audit dataset provides a broad range of data about corridors, and there are many ways of analysing this data. Given the focus of the Audit on economic indicators, the analysis in Table 63 and Table 64 focuses on delay cost. This applies a dollar cost to time delays, based on lost productivity, and taking account of the different costs applicable to different vehicle types.

Some users of the Audit dataset may prefer to use more traditional indicators of congestion, such as traffic volume compared to capacity (V/C). This measure is included in Table 63 and Table 64, as is the DEC measure, which gives insight into the underlying value of activity on the corridor, and the proportion of DEC attributable to delay cost.

These measures are expressed per lane kilometre of road. This normalises the results to facilitate comparison across a wide range of different corridor types - some very long, some consisting of multiple roads, and some relatively short single roads.

The modelling provides one method of measuring and projecting demand for transport infrastructure and the corridors identified in Table 63 and Table 64 reflect this approach. The WA Government may have utilised other data, and different methods of analysis, to inform identification of infrastructure priorities. For further information on the assumptions, included projects and methodology applied in the model, refer to the supporting documentation by Veitch Lister Consulting.

Table 63 shows corridors ranked by delay cost per lane kilometre in 2011, with the equivalent projections for 2031 in Table 64. Taken together, these tables give an indication of which corridors warrant further study, and where interventions are likely to have the biggest economic return.

Table 63: Top 10 road corridors in greater Perth area 2011, by delay cost (2011 dollars)

Rank	Road Corridor	State	Delay cost by lane km 2011 ($m)	DEC per lane km 2011 value ($m)	Volume Capacity Ratio 2011 AM Peak (7-9 AM)
1	Mitchell Fwy Corridor	WA	1.96	5.52	70%
2	Leach Hwy Corridor	WA	1.21	3.97	61%
3	Canning Hwy/Great Eastern Hwy (west) Corridor	WA	1.20	3.41	62%
4	Graham Farmer Fwy/Orrong Rd/Welshpool Rd East Corridor	WA	1.20	3.49	62%
5	Roe Hwy Corridor	WA	0.81	2.99	65%
6	Reid Hwy Corridor	WA	0.80	2.48	62%
7	Tonkin Hwy Corridor	WA	0.76	2.40	50%
8	South St/Ranford Rd Corridor	WA	0.71	2.43	56%
9	Albany Hwy Corridor	WA	0.63	2.36	42%
10	Kwinana Freeway	WA	0.55	1.93	40%

Source: Infrastructure Australia analysis of data from ACIL Allen Consulting (2014b) and Veitch Lister Consulting (2014e)

Table 64: Road corridors in greater Perth metropolitan area 2031, by projected delay cost (>1.75 million per lane km, 2011 dollars)

Rank	Road Corridor	State	Delay cost by lane km 2031 ($m)	DEC per lane km 2031 ($m)	Volume Capacity Ratio 2031 AM Peak (7-9 AM)
1	Mitchell Fwy Corridor	WA	10.03	16.19	86%
2	Tonkin Hwy Corridor	WA	7.57	11.42	82%
3	Graham Farmer Fwy/Orrong Rd/Welshpool Rd East Corridor	WA	7.50	11.64	82%
4	Marmion Ave/West Coast Hwy Corridor	WA	6.75	9.57	85%
5	Wanneroo Rd Corridor	WA	6.38	9.04	88%
6	Leach Hwy Corridor	WA	6.06	10.65	80%
7	Roe Hwy Corridor	WA	5.84	9.47	87%
8	Canning Hwy/Great Eastern Hwy (west) Corridor	WA	5.52	9.49	80%
9	Albany Hwy Corridor	WA	4.63	7.90	64%
10	Kwinana Freeway	WA	4.21	7.33	70%
11	Reid Hwy Corridor	WA	4.20	7.01	84%
12	South St/Ranford Rd Corridor	WA	3.48	6.34	74%
13	Perth Landsdale Corridor	WA	2.99	6.29	69%
14	Nicholson Rd Corridor	WA	2.95	4.79	73%
15	Great Eastern Hwy (east)/Guildford Rd Corridor	WA	2.92	5.41	52%
16	Gnangara Rd Corridor	WA	2.20	3.94	70%
17	North Lake Rd Corridor	WA	2.08	4.54	62%
18	Morley Dr/Karrinyup Rd Corridor	WA	1.98	4.72	66%
19	Scarborough Beach Rd Corridor	WA	1.94	4.72	58%
20	Pinjarra Rd Corridor	WA	1.81	3.67	51%
21	Beeliar Dr/Armadale Rd Corridor	WA	1.76	3.45	66%

Source: Infrastructure Australia analysis of data from ACIL Allen Consulting (2014b) and Veitch Lister Consulting (2014e)

Figure 83 and Figure 84 show projected road congestion in 2031 in the AM peak hour and daytime inter-peak periods respectively. These show the corridors and locations likely to reach or exceed maximum capacity by 2031, in the absence of any additional capacity.

During the AM peak hour several parts of the network show significant congestion in 2031, particularly the Swan River crossings between Perth City and South Perth. In the inter-peak period there is surplus capacity across the network. This suggests some scope for demand management to spread peak period transport flows.

Figure 83: Perth road network volume/capacity
ratio in 2031 - AM maximum peak hour

Figure 84: Perth road network volume/capacity
ratio in 2031 - daytime inter-peak period

Source: Veitch Lister Consulting (2014e)