Measuring success

We will monitor and report on success by using whole-of- Territory indicators to measure the impact of our investment and policy decisions. To effectively monitor our progress, ongoing data collection will be needed including future Household Travel Surveys, data on emissions reductions and transport movements.

Mode share

Mode share compares the usages of different types of transport within a network. It measures change in travel behaviour; as travel behaviour changes slowly, mode share is most meaningful when trends are measured over time. Mode share complements and serves as a guide to ambition for transport sector specific targets – such as patronage targets and customer satisfaction ratings. While sector specific targets show how we are performing in areas of our network, mode share gives us a picture of how our network is performing across all modes.

Modal share for journeys to work is measured through the Australian Census, whereas modal share for all trips is measured through a survey of all households in a city or region, namely a Household Travel Survey. The Australian Journey to Work Census data tends to give a picture only of employed people at peak times on weekdays, whereas the Household Travel Survey gives a picture of the travel behaviour of all Canberrans for all purposes, including education and leisure, through the day and week. In other words, it is a ‘transport census’. For this reason, it is the more relevant data for understanding behaviour change, modal shift and progress towards zero emissions travel within Canberra, whereas journey to work is useful for benchmarking commuting behaviour between Australian cities.

This strategy retains the aspiration to see increased modal share for walking, cycling and public transport as a guide to our ambition for travel in Canberra, both now and as we transition beyond COVID-19. Experience from other Australian cities shows that consistent investment, combined with a move towards more compact urban form, achieves modal shift over time. Updated modal share data will be in the Australia Census 2021 and the next available survey of travel in the ACT. This data will provide further information to evaluate transport policies and inform future decision making.

This strategy will be subject to regular review as significant infrastructure developments come online, such as future stages of light rail, and as we reach milestones in key areas, such as the 2025 interim emission reduction target.