O'Farrell transport plan on road map to nowhere
Posted: Tuesday, 4 September 2012 | By: John Robertson ,Penny Sharpe,Robert Furolo
The O'Farrell Government has let down the people of NSW with its transport masterplan - which confirms the Premier is introducing distance based tolling and jacking up car rego and parking fees, but has no delivery timetable and no costings for any major projects.
The Premier has confirmed distance based tolling is on the agenda for Sydney roads:
"We will investigate a consistent distance-based tolling regime for the Sydney motorway network… [so] those who use the roads more pay more."
(2012 Transport Masterplan, p329)
At the same time, Barry O'Farrell has failed to confirm how he will pay for and when he will deliver any new motorways, the second harbour crossing or the North West Rail Link.
"It is an insult to the motorists who will be stuck in traffic on the way home tonight that Barry O'Farrell can't even tell them what road he will build first or how he will fund it," Opposition Leader John Robertson said.
"Everyone wants to see transport in Sydney fixed, but the question people want answered today is – what is Barry O'Farrell going to build now, how will he pay for it and how is that going to help my daily commute?
"This plan is a road map to nowhere. There is no delivery timetable, no new money and no relief for commuters.
"Instead of building rail links and new motorways like he promised, Barry O'Farrell wants to make people pay for roads they are currently using for free."
"The people of western and south western Sydney will be hit hardest by distance based tolling, because they have the furthest to travel," Shadow Roads Minister, Robert Furolo said.
"Modelling undertaken by the NSW Opposition shows the average motorist driving from Campbelltown or the Blue Mountains would be forced to pay between an extra $15 and $20 to get into the CBD, while drivers from Smithfield would be slugged up to $25 just to get into town."
Shadow Minister for Transport, Penny Sharpe said: "Even on the Premier's most iconic election promise, the North West Rail Link, there is still no start date for construction, no costings and no timeframe for delivery."
"The people of NSW had high expectations of Barry O'Farrell - but this plan is just another series of lines on a map that will never be built."
Tags: Barry O'Farrell, John Robertson, North West Rail Link, Penny Sharpe, public transport, rail, roads, Robert Furolo, tolls, trains, transport