- More than $1 billion allocated across a range of transport initiatives
- Public transport suburban flat fare to put money back in the pockets of Western Australians
- Major road projects to help alleviate congestion and improve road safety
- Additional funding to support shift to electric bus manufacturing
- Investment to establish new Driver and Vehicle Services centre in the Armadale/Byford area
The 2025-26 State Budget will include more than $1 billion in new spending to deliver on a range of transport election commitments.
Headlining the investment is $151.9 million to implement the Cook Labor Government's suburban flat fare election commitment, which will see all travel on public transport capped to a one-zone fare.
It means Western Australians will be able to travel anywhere on the public transport network for no more than $2.80 when using an autoload SmartRider, building on the existing two-zone fare cap.
The new fare structure will begin on 1 January 2026, with the changes also extending to relevant regional services.
Regional Western Australians will also benefit with $18.2 million invested to permanently reduce the cost of Transwa fares by 50 per cent from 1 January 2026, making travel to more than 200 regional destinations cheaper.
Addressing congestion hot spots will also be a key focus of new investment in the Budget.
A total of $599 million has been allocated across a range of road projects that were committed to in the election campaign, including:
- widening of the Kwinana Freeway between Roe Highway and Mortimer Road;
- grade separation of the Reid Highway and Erindale Road intersection;
- intersection improvements along Wanneroo Road;
- upgrades to the McGilvray Avenue and Morley Drive intersection in Morley;
- construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Craigie Leisure Centre and Whitfords Avenue and creating a new access road into Pinnaroo;
- construction of roundabouts at the intersections of Kargotich Road with Abernethy Road, Orton Road and Gossage Road;
- upgrades to the Baldivis Road and Kulija Road intersection, including new traffic signals and an additional westbound through lane on Kulija Road; and
- upgrade of the intersection of Nicholson Road and Warton Road (to be delivered by the City of Gosnells).
Investment of $25 million has also been allocated to the Northam Pithara Road upgrades. The works will include road realignment and bridge replacements.
Several important commitments to road projects in the regions will also be funded, including:
- $25 million for major upgrades to South Coast Highway between Cheyne Road and Kojaneerup;
- $7.7 million to upgrade Coolgardie's main street; and
- $3 million to address access issues at Austin Lakes in South Yunderup.
The Cook Government will also invest $4 million to establish a new Driver and Vehicle Services centre in the Armadale/Byford area.
Additional funding will be allocated to the State Government's landmark Regional Road Safety Program, with $200 million to be invested to deliver road safety treatments on local government roads over the next four years and a further $50 million in 2028-29.
While the budgets for several METRONET projects have also been updated in the 2025-26 State Budget, no new State Government investment has been allocated to the METRONET program.
Any additional costs have been funded from specific underspends on other METRONET projects, the allocation of previously budgeted provisions, and Commonwealth contributions for the jointly funded program of works.
For more information, visit https://www.ourstatebudget.wa.gov.au
As stated by Transport Minister Rita Saffioti:
"We took a transport plan to the people of Western Australia, and we're wasting no time in delivering.
"The investment in this State Budget delivers on our commitments and our plan to make public transport more affordable, bust congestion hot spots on our road network and transition local manufacturing of buses to fully electric.
"We understand that investing in our transport network is also a major creator of local jobs, and supports business, which is why we will continue to invest in infrastructure across our State."
As stated by the Minister Assisting the Minister for Transport Jessica Stojkovski:
"This Budget delivers more than $1 billion to keep WA moving, ease congestion, improve safety and build a more connected and accessible transport system across WA.
"With growing demand for driver and vehicle services in the south-east metro region, our commitment to deliver a new Driver and Vehicle Services centre in the Armadale/Byford area will help ease travel and wait times for locals".
As stated by the Road Safety Minister Reece Whitby:
"It is crucial we invest in improving local government roads in our regions to reduce the number of crashes across WA.
"Safety on our regional roads is incredibly important which is why we're committed to upgrading and delivering new infrastructure.
"The extra funding invested in upgrades and safety treatments shows that improving road safety is a high priority for the Cook Government - which is why we have committed more than $1 billion since WA Labor's Regional Road Safety Program commenced in 2020."
