82. Transport Futures

From horse-drawn carriages to automobiles and mass transit, new transport technologies have historically transformed and disrupted cities. Today, autonomous vehicles and other forms of smart transport technology are predicted to remake transport networks and contribute to a new round of urban expansion. Are Australian cities preparing for a driverless future? This session explores how autonomous vehicles may impact Australian cities and how governments are preparing to address the potential challenges and opportunities. Festival of Urbanism Panel Dr Allison Stewart is the Deputy CEO of Infrastructure Victoria (IV). She is a mega-project leader and strategist and led IV’s automated and zero emission vehicle infrastructure research. Mr Damon Rao is a Senior Transport Planner in the City of Melbourne. He has been leading the City’s e-scooter pilot program. Prof Graham Currie is a renowned international public transport research leader and policy advisor. He is researching the long-term impacts of autonomous vehicles on cities. Dr Crystal Legacy is an Associate Professor in Urban Planning at the University of Melbourne. She has researched widely on the governance of disruptive transport technologies. Discussant Dr Liton Kamruzzaman is an Associate Professor in Urban Planning and Design at Monash University. His research focuses on the nexus of transport and land use planning.