Smarter centres: lessons from Perth regarding assessment of transport and access contexts

In Perth, Western Australia, a strategic planning framework has been established to set out the vision for the ongoing growth of the metropolitan region. Transit-oriented development (TOD), delivered in the form of ‘activity centres’, is defined as the key means for 47% of new development to occur as infill. There is a range of opportunities and constraints apparent in all transit station precincts. Collectively, these constitute a challenge to actual delivery of the transit integration, walkability and high-quality urban environment that characterise TODs. Previous research has focused on TOD opportunities based on urban location and market readiness, with potential often being dependent on distance from the Central Business District (e.g. greater distance means less readiness or potential). This paper argues that catalytic development around transit hubs needs to be bespoke in response to local opportunities and constraints, and that more emphasis on interchange opportunities is required where these can be of benefit to the broader urban system. For example, in a sprawled city, a focus on interchange functions (e.g. between feeder transit services and metropolitan rail) over TOD in some locations may add more to regional resilience. Perth is offered as the case study city in this respect.