Now in its tenth year, CEDA NSW's Transport Infrastructure Series will explore the business case for reform of the current road infrastructure pricing model; maximising productivity of transport infrastructure through smart motorway investments and what might first generation 'user pays' models look like.
Event overview
Sydney motorists confront seven of the eight worst road corridors in Australia with the estimated cost of congestion on Sydney roads to around $5 billion per year, set to grow to $8 billion by 2030.
Australia’s current road funding model, largely based on collecting revenue from petrol excise, vehicle registrations and licence fees, no longer generates sufficient revenue to meet expenditure requirements, let along future expenditure needed to service the growth in Australia’s cities. In 2012-13, spending by governments and the private sector on roads outstripped revenues from road-related taxes, charges and tolls by $6.6 billion.
Many argue that road pricing as the most likely solution to address the shortfalls of the current funding system. However, significant barriers remain for policy makers to embrace the ‘user-pays’ model. As the challenges of current funding models continue and are exacerbated by the increasing costs of congestion together with the perception of pricing inequality; the case for reform will remain.
The first event of the 2016 NSW Transport Infrastructure Series lunch will explore:
- The business case for reform of the current road infrastructure pricing model;
- Maximising productivity of transport infrastructure through smart motorway investments; and
- What might first generation ‘user pays’ models look like.