Victorian Labor on Monday promised the new cap for full fares and a $15-a-week limit for concessions if it is returned to power for a historic fourth successive term at the state election in November.
It comes a day after Premier Ben Carroll also announced a policy to cap tolls at $30 a week, undercutting the coalition's earlier $50-a-week commitment.
The move proves neither party is blind to the popularity of cost-of-living relief measures, an expert says.
Mr Carroll accused the coalition of copying its policy from NSW, which recently lowered its weekly toll cap to $50 for households as "practical support" for those under financial pressure.
Queensland's move to make all travel on public transport a flat 50 cent fare was met with overwhelming public support and led to significant increases in usage.
The move was so well received the state's Liberal National government promised to enshrine the measure in legislation to make it harder for future leaders to remove.
A recent study by Swinburne transport expert Hussein Dia showed Victorians strongly supported cheaper fares in times of economic hardship.
"Any measure to help people with the cost of living seems to strike a good chord," he told AAP.
But varying availability of services in different parts of the state created equity issues in terms of who was benefiting, Professor Dia said.
"Some of the responses I received is that 'it's not meaningful to me because I don't have public transport at all'," he said.
"It's not only about making public transport affordable; it's also increasing its frequency, making it more reliable, and increasing coverage and capacity."
Labor's fare caps would come into effect from January, but at the outset would only apply to myki card users, not those tapping on using credit or debit cards.
The Victorian Council of Social Service welcomed Labor's policy, saying transport costs hit those on low incomes the hardest.
The Greens have previously promised to make public transport across the state free and more frequent, which it says would save commuters $220 a month.
On Monday, the coalition's focus was on restarting passenger rail services to the towns of Mildura and Dimboola, in Victoria's far northwest, after both lines were closed in the early 1990s under Liberal premier Jeff Kennett.
"Where you live shouldn't determine your access to opportunity," Opposition Leader Jess Wilson said.
Under the coalition's $51.2 million Wimmera Mallee Rail Plan, passenger services would return to the towns by mid-2029.
Victoria's One Nation, which is continuing to poll strongly as a viable third party in the election race, unveiled a plan to crack down on illegal dumping by increasing penalties.
The party said it would, if elected, introduce a higher penalty system for repeat offenders, cost-recovery fines and full liability for clean-ups.
Fines were too low to deter offenders, Victorian One Nation leader Warren Pickering said.
"The current state of Victoria under Labor is a disgrace," Mr Pickering said.Â
"Rubbish is piled on our streets and dumped in our parks and bushland, graffiti covers our buildings, while potholes crater our roads."
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