Business case for walking

Image: The State of Queensland

Action 4.4, Action Plan for Walking 2019–2021

Status: Complete

Prepare a business case to define the economic benefits for Queensland of increased investment in walking.

Achievements

In 2020, the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) prepared a business case which examined the evidence base for investment in walking. 

Investment in walking for transport, health and recreation was found to align with a wide range of state, federal and local government strategic priorities including:

• integrated transport
• access and inclusion
• economic growth
• health and wellbeing
• connected and liveable communities
• safety and security
• environment and sustainability.  

National and international best practice were examined during the project, as were the ways walking infrastructure and programs are currently funded in Queensland. A robust economic analysis was undertaken to identify the best value approach to investment in walking.

An innovative approach was used to model different levels of investment in walking in 4 types of precincts to understand the best return on investment:

• schools (1km radius)
• public transport nodes (800m radius)
• medium-high density residential areas (approximately 1km radius)
• activity centres/town centres (approximately 900m radius).

Different levels of intervention packages that could be delivered in these precincts were identified and costed. The intervention packages were grouped by scale of investment from very low cost ($11,000–$64,000) to high cost ($4million–$9million) and included:

• infrastructure
• 'lighter, quicker, cheaper' initiatives
• traffic interventions
• lighting
• shade
• wayfinding
• public realm and safety improvements
• behaviour change.

The modelled interventions delivered benefit-cost ratios of up to 13:1 with benefits varying across urban and regional areas in different precincts.

The business case identified that the most cost-effective investments in walking were in network planning, especially at the local government level, and in packages of very low and low-cost interventions in priority precincts around schools, public transport, activity centres and medium-high density residential developments.

Next steps

In the 2021–22 budget, the Queensland Government allocated $2.5 million over 2 years to further walking initiatives. The business case will be used to inform future investment in walking infrastructure and initiatives and ensure future programs are well targeted and achieve value for money.

The methodology developed for the business case will also inform updates of Australian Transport Assessment and Planning guidelines to capture a broader range of benefits.

TMR will also work with local governments to monitor the impact of investment in walking.