Solving Road Congestion
Enough travellers to fill a carriage or two of a commuter train. (Image: Wikipedia) |
Despite massive road spending Australia's urban roads are choked with more traffic then ever.
We suggest the following solutions:
- Get as many car-drivers as possible out of their cars and on to public transport, bicycles, the Internet or the footpath.
- Add public transport to existing freeway-grade roads. See Rubber-Tyred Metro page.
- Get as may people as possible to car-pool. This can be done by introducing car pool lanes in inner city areas including inner city motorway on ramps. Car - pooling could cut inner city traffic in half with virtually no investment. New car - pool web sites would be needed for female and male passengers and drivers but this could be funded purely from the advertising.
- Get as much road freight as possible on to the rail system.
- Replace level - crossings with road bridges.
As petrol heads up to $8 / litre more road building is not an option. Over the next decade we need to ensure that every Australian suburb or town that we still want has a sustainable public transport and freight option.
Other Initiatives
- No fixed vehicle registration or licence fees: This could be replaced by a slightly higher fuel tax - so the more fuel you use the more you pay.
- National drivers licences and vehicle registration: Finally an Australian Drivers Licence and no need to change plates when you move interstate.
- A national 'no fault' vehicle injury compensation scheme: Ending the complex mix of schemes in each State. Possibly modelled on the TAC scheme in Victoria
- Green Cars: Support for Green Cars such as the Chevy Volt. For more see Energy - Transport page.
The 23 km/h crawl
12th July 2008:
'Traffic could grind to a halt on the freeway to Melbourne Airport in the next two decades unless dramatic action is taken, modelling commissioned by the government shows.
Despite this, Public Transport Minister Martin Pakula has said the state government will not resurrect Labor's ditched 1999 promise to build a rail line to the airport.' more...
The 23 km/h crawl
12th July 2008:
80% of cars on Melbourne's roads have only one occupant: the driver. more...