Transport Portfolio

The Transport Portfolio isn't just about roads, boats, planes or trains.

It's about people.

People who need to get to work, home and everywhere in between and businesses that rely on road, rail, air and sea to deliver billions of dollars in goods and services each year.

Our vision is a better future for Western Australians through connected, resilient, safe and sustainable transport solutions.

An integrated and optimised transport network will give the Western Australian community more choice and improve the quality of our lives and our environment.

Since 2010, WA's three key transport agencies The Department of Transport, Main Roads and the Public Transport Authority have worked together to enhance the coordination of operations and develop unified policies and regulatory functions.

The agencies each have different responsibilities and together they strive to provide world-class outcomes for our customers, all Western Australians and visitors to our State, through integrated and intelligent transport systems and services.

The portfolio has embraced its leading role in both the delivery of the Government's significant METRONET program and development of the Westport Strategy. Project offices have been established comprising expert teams drawn primarily from the Transport Portfolio. These teams are working in a highly collaborative manner with other State Government departments and broader stakeholders to ensure we continue to work together to deliver the best outcomes for the community.

Department of Transport

The Department of Transport's (DoT) key focus is on delivering a range of transport services and strategic transport planning and policy across the range of public and commercial transport systems that service WA.

The Department coordinates and prioritises the transport related infrastructure that allows our economy to grow, planning to connect people with goods and services through an intricate system of roads, railways, airports, ports and waterways as well as educating and regulating those networks to keep West Australians safe.

DoT's services include:

• Providing driver and vehicle services (licensing);
• Regulating the Western Australian On-demand Transport industry;
• Managing marine safety, coastal protection and facilities; and
• State-wide transport planning.

Customer Focussed:

We keep our customers at the heart of our decision making and service delivery.

Sustainable Transport Systems: 

We deliver sustainable, integrated, accessible and safe transport solutions to meet current and future needs.

Optimising Investment and Assets:

We maximise the economic and social benefits of every transport dollar spent.

Investing in our People:

We empower our people to collaborate, learn and grow.

Collaborative Culture:

We champion collaboration and partnerships to achieve better social outcomes.

Connecting people and places for the medium to long term requires the Transport Portfolio to work together to plan sustainable transport systems and solutions. This collaboration will help us to achieve the best outcomes for the community and the Government as our State and cities expand.

The Portfolio Strategic Projects Office (the Office) was established in 2018 to facilitate this stronger collaborative effort between the Portfolio agencies on targeted, strategic priorities selected by the Transport Portfolio Governance Council (the Council). The Council considers the strategic impact of the project, its reach across all Portfolio agencies and how it will support the Portfolio’s objectives.

The Office draws on expertise from the Department of Transport, Main Roads Western Australia and the Public Transport Authority to establish project teams, complemented by expert staff from other agencies as needed. It focusses on ensuring full executive oversight and ownership of the projects, coupled with robust project management to deliver results.

Representing one of the world's most expansive road networks, Main Roads WA is committed to working cooperatively and productively across all levels of government to ensure the State's road network meets the needs of the community, industry and stakeholders.

Main Roads is responsible for the delivery and management of a safe and efficient main road network in WA through operations including:

• Building the State's major Government road infrastructure projects;
• Providing infrastructure that creates a safe environment for all road users;
• Providing infrastructure and operations that improve road efficiency resulting in improvements in traffic and freight levels of service;
• Maintaining the State's major Government roads, bridges, verges and reserves;
• Using technology to optimise the real-time management of the network and providing traveller information; and
• Improving community amenity through the development of roadside stopping places, the incorporation of public art into infrastructure and understanding the needs of all transport users.

Want to know more? Visit the Main Roads WA website by clicking the link below.

Public Transport Authority

The Public Transport Authority (PTA) plans and follows through on WA's public transport priorities, with the State's system having been recognised as one of the finest in the country.

PTA is responsible for providing customer-focussed, safe and cost-effective passenger transport services such as:

• Designing, building and maintaining transport infrastructure;
• Providing rail, bus and ferry services in the metropolitan area (Transperth);
• Providing public transport services in regional centres;
• Providing coach and rail passenger services to regional areas (Transwa); and
• Providing school bus services (SBS).

Want to know more? At the end of this section, you'll find links to the PTA's website, and the websites for all its associated services.

Transperth

Transperth provides the Perth metropolitan region with bus, train and ferry public transport services.

Transwa

Transwa road coaches service more than 240 regional Western Australian locations spread across 29 routes, operating 130 separate coach services a week. The network extends to Kalbarri, Geraldton and Meekatharra in the north, Augusta, Pemberton and Albany in the south west and Esperance in the south east.

TransRegional

TransRegional (an umbrella brand of Transperth) is managed by PTA's Regional Town Bus Services team, which coordinate school and town public bus services in regional WA.

Under arrangement, the various town bus services are provided by a range of contractors from within the regional locations.

School Bus Services

The SBS branch plans school services in WA and contract-manages their delivery through contracted school bus operators. SBS aims to assist students to attend school regularly. A total of 828 school buses service mainstream schools and 141 school buses service special education schools, centres and units.

Wherever possible, students are encouraged to make their own way to and from school by walking, public transport, bicycle or parent transport. However, students who live in rural areas or who need help to get to school may be eligible for transport assistance.

METRONET is the long term plan to connect our suburbs, reduce road congestion and meet Perth's future planning needs.

A team of transport and land use planning experts have come together in one multi-agency METRONET office to deliver the State's most significant public transport project, with Stage One set to deliver approximately 72 kilometres of new passenger rail and up to 18 new stations.

But it's not just about public transport.

The job-creating program will see transport investment as a catalyst for land-use change in more than 5,000 hectares within walking distance of the new stations.

A team from across WA Government is working together to consider what people need for work, living and recreation within these future urban centres with a train station at its heart.

The team works closely to plan and deliver projects that ensure a high level of public transport service on day one of operations, encourage active transport options, and improve connectivity across the city while being flexible enough to meet future developments.

Westport is the State Government’s planning program to move container trade from Fremantle to Kwinana. This includes planning a new port, and the connected freight road, rail, and logistics operations. 

Planning is underway for a new port and supply chain network, to be ready when Fremantle meets capacity and to future proof container trade and Western Australia’s economy for 100 years. 

To develop the design for the new port, Westport are working with industry and the community, along with leading experts in engineering, marine science, sustainability, and transport, to develop the design for the new port. 

Westport will be delivering recommendations for the port and supply chain design, and development timings to Government in mid-2024. 
 

My Say Transport is the Transport Portfolio's online engagement portal.

This space provides an opportunity for you to help shape the future of transport in Western Australia by contributing your opinions, ideas, and feedback on a range of Transport Portfolio projects and activities.

Visit My Say Transport now and have your say on our current consultations.