Media Release
12.04.15
GREENS MP CALLS FOR AN END TO ERA OF FAILED TOLL ROADS
Greens NSW MP and spokeswoman for Transport, Roads and Ports, Dr Mehreen Faruqi MLC, has strengthened calls on the Baird Government to overhaul transport planning in NSW by scrapping traffic inducing private toll roads and instead investing in integrated public transport solutions, as further evidence of the failure of toll roads and the mounting costs to motorists as queried in today’s Sun-Herald (http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/how-much-is-too-much-for-sydney-toll-roads-20150411-1mif9l.html).
Dr Faruqi said:
“Premier Baird and his government need to get over their addiction to toll roads.
“It’s time to end the era of unsustainable and failed toll roads once and for all. Any investment in wasteful toll roads is completely misplaced and a drain on funding that should be going to integrated transport solutions.
“Rather than planning that only benefits toll road operators, banks and financiers, the Baird Government must build an integrated transport system that makes peoples lives easier, that is inclusive and accessible for all of us, and is affordable and smart.
“Large cities in the world have a high share of journeys made by public transport, cycling and walking, while Sydney is still overwhelmingly dominated by car trips.
“It’s clear that toll roads will not solve Sydney’s traffic congestion problems. In fact, the Government’s own numbers predict increased congestion on surrounding roads such as Parramatta Road and Victoria Road once the M4 is widened and re-tolled.
“Western Sydney drivers currently sitting in a six-lane M4 parking lot will from 2017 be sitting in an eight-lane one and paying a toll for this privilege.
“Greens financial analysis of the Westconnex project has shown that motorists could be paying up to $26 – almost 3 times what the Government has said will be the maximum toll.
“The Greens Transport Infrastructure Plan redirects over $4.5 billion to be spent on toll roads such as WestConnex and Northconnex , towards integrated and expanded public transport solutions including active transport,” she concluded
More information:
The Greens Transport Vision and 2020 Infrastructure Plan for NSW http://nsw.greens.org.au/news/nsw/greens-launch-transport-plan-liveable-communities