An ambitious 10-year plan to halve the number of cars driving through Melbourne's CBD and radically boost walking, cycling and public transport use has been unanimously backed by Melbourne City Council.

The transport strategy would see a 40km/h speed zone expanded across inner-city suburbs, footpaths widened and de-cluttered, and Melbourne's "Little" streets (Little Collins, Little Bourke, Little Lonsdale, Little La Trobe) closed to cars at different times of the day to give pedestrians priority.

The council's strategy favours pedestrians and cyclists over motorists. Credit:Wayne Taylor

The policy, which was more than two years in the making, was endorsed by all Melbourne councillors at a meeting on Tuesday night.

Transport portfolio chair Nicolas Frances-Gilley said an extra 500,000 people are expected to use the inner city each day by 2036, which meant more space was needed for people to walk, cycle and use public transport.