Accessibility of tram services: follow-up

Why this is important

In October 2020, VAGO released a report on whether tram services were meeting the accessibility needs of passengers with mobility restrictions (Accessibility of Tram Services). The report examined the Department of Transport (DoT) and Yarra Trams’ progress on complying with tram accessibility requirements. This included strategies, plans and programs in place to achieve compliance with legislated disability standards. 

We found that tram services were failing to meet the accessibility needs of passengers with mobility restrictions, with only 15 per cent of services in 2018–19 delivering a low-floor tram at a level-access stop. 

Additionally, we found that DoT had failed to meet legislated targets for accessible tram infrastructure and was at risk of failing to meet future tram compliance requirements. DoT did not have a finalised strategy or a funded plan in place and did not know when all tram services would be fully compliant with the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the Disability Standards for Accessible Public Transport 2002. This posed both a legal and financial risk to the state for not meeting legislative requirements.

This engagement will be a follow-up of the 2020 audit to determine the extent to which progress has been made against the recommendations since the release of the report. This will include assessing whether the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP) (formerly DoT) and Yarra Trams have identified the root causes of the issues uncovered in the 2020 audit. 

What we plan to examine
 

We plan to examine whether the audited agencies have effectively addressed the recommendations from our 2020 audit Accessibility of Tram Services. This will also include whether agencies have addressed the root causes of the issues uncovered in the 2020 audit. 

Who we plan to examine
 

DTP, Yarra Trams.