An arsenal of transport project announcements are expected for Melbourne in the lead up to this year’s Victorian election, but experts have warned politics must be put aside to stop the city grinding to a halt.

Melbourne’s population is headed to eight million by 2050 , a startling statistic Transport Minister Jacinda Allan has assured her portfolio is prepared for.

“We’re planning for the future… so that as projects that are now underway come to a conclusion, there’s another tranche of projects sitting behind them ready to go,” Ms Allan said.

Transport Minister Jacinta Allan spoke to 9NEWS about the government's impending transport projects. (9NEWS) (9news)

Melbourne's flourishing population will put pressure on the city's transport. (9NEWS) (9news)

Watch part three of the 9NEWS Melbourne's Growing Pains investigation tomorrow at 6pm.

Better roads and rail is a must for those on the suburban fringe, City of Casey Mayor Sam Aziz said.

“If you don’t get to Cranbourne by 7am, there’s no car parks… the trains are full,” he said.

“It needs to be fixed up now otherwise it'll be a complete shemozzle.”

Once complete, the Metro Tunnel project should dramatically increase capacity on the city’s currently overburdened train network.

There will be more space for additional trains in the Loop once the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines are removed. (9NEWS) (9news)

Modelling revealed exclusively to 9NEWS shows as the Cranbourne, Pakenham and Sunbury lines are removed from the City Loop, there'll be more space for additional trains on other lines in the Loop.

This equates to an additional 36,000 peak hour passengers per week on the Frankston line, 72,000 extra passengers on the Sandringham line, and 121,000 more on the Cranbourne/Pakenham line.

“By freeing up the space in the Loop, we actually give an uplift to about 70 percent of the Melbourne’s rail network through this one project,” Metro Tunnel CEO Evan Tattersall said.

Looking forward, infrastructure bodies said the most critical transport projects are:

Infrastructure bodies have named the city's most critical transport projects. (9NEWS) (9news)

• East West link

• North East link

• Preserving land for an outer metropolitan ring road

• Extending and improving the existing train network, with a focus on outer Melbourne

• Public transport to Fisherman's Bend

• The long discussed airport rail link, to which Prime Minster Malcolm Turnbull has pledged $5 billion.

The state's lead motoring body is pleading with both political parties for a more bi-partisan approach.

“I think if we don't tackle these problems we face a difficult future where we can't get critical projects being built,” Dave Jones from the RACV said.

“Unfortunately it has become very political. We really need the major parties to align themselves behind particular projects, and ensure they get done in a logical manner rather than trying to compete with alternative projects and force people to choose.”

Overburdened: experts have warned politics must be put aside in order to prevent Melbourne's transport system from derailing. (9NEWS) (9news)

If the Andrews Government is returned to power, South Yarra Train Station is set for a major upgrade.

9NEWS can reveal May's state budget will include $12.3 million to combat sky-rocketing patronage.

The South Yarra update will involve the Toorak Road entrance being widened, along with the station itself redesigned to make it bigger and more accessible; the neighbouring tram stops are also expected to be upgraded.

South Yarra Train Station can expect an upgrade if the Andrews Government is victorious this election. (9NEWS) (9news)

Construction is due to start next year, concluding in 2020.

Demographics Group Managing Director Bernard Salt said it’s a matter of the government providing what they promise in order to keep Melbourne moving.

“Unless you actually deliver the infrastructure, unless you create the city to a blueprint if you like… the city then grinds to a halt,” Mr Salt said.