$60 billion over the next 30 years: How could new bus and tram services help connect Melbourne’s east?

Stressed commuters facing long wait times are among those who could benefit from new proposals to support a more connected Melbourne.

Matthew Sims
November 11, 2025

Residents in eastern Melbourne suburbs like Mitcham, Huntingdale and Upper Ferntree Gully could see quicker travel times into their city jobs, if a proposal for new rapid transit routes gains traction.

🗓️Planning ahead: Earlier this week, Independent advisory body Infrastructure Victoria (IV) released an updated strategy for the next 30 years.

The report called for the State Government to progress works to introduce six new bus trips, including from Huntingdale to Upper Ferntree Gully and from Mitcham to Melbourne’s CBD.

Sense check: In 2015, the State Government created IV as an “independent statutory authority”.

Infrastructure Victoria released its first 30-year strategy for the state in 2016, with a further update published in 2021.
Speaking with Infrastructure Magazine earlier this year, IV chief executive, Dr Jonathan Spear, said between 80 and 90 per cent of its recommendations had been accepted and implemented.
One such recommendation was IV’s call for more consolidated and compact urban development, which shaped the state’s long-term infrastructure strategy.

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What’s needed for Melbourne’s future: The recommendations from IV outlined the need for a new busway along Hoddle Street to create more reliable and efficient services from areas like Doncaster and Templestowe, as well as high-frequency buses running every five to 10 minutes on key routes to major activity centres.

🌆The big picture: Estimated to cost about $60 billion to implement, the strategy outlined 45 recommendations requiring action in the next five years and eight future options, which do not necessarily require immediate government action.

Other recommendations included advocating for the State Government to publish waste levy rates for the next five years to provide greater certainty to the waste and recycling sector, rezone locations near existing infrastructure and reduce the speed limits on local streets to 30 kilometres per hour.

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🚌 Bus benefits: Recent IV research found that every dollar invested in making buses run more often provided about $1.20 return in economic impact.

IV chief executive, Dr Jonathan Spear, said with more housing being built on the outskirts of the metropolitan area, a third of Melburnians wait for more than 20 minutes to catch a public transport service on an average weekday.

🗣️“People who live in these areas have no easy public transport options, forcing them to drive,” said Spear.

🚋 Longer tram journeys: The plan also pushed for the State Government to commit $5.7 billion over the next five years to extend eight tram routes, including East Malvern to Hughesdale via Chadstone (route 3 – south) and Wattle Park to Burwood East (route 70).

According to its modelling alongside two more proposed tram extensions, the expansion would mean 16,100 additional people would board on weekdays by 2031 and 17,500 additional weekday boardings by 2041.

⏭️What’s next: The strategy would be tabled in the Victorian Parliament this week, with IV recommending all parties to consider the recommendations put forward.