Technology of the future, page-5

THE driving habits of Melburnians will be tracked by CityLink’s builders as part of a push to overhaul road tolls.
Transurban is calling for the overhaul of the transport funding model, saying the present system is “outdated, unfair and unsustainable”.
Its year-long study will test how motorists react to various user-pays models and if it alters their driving decisions.
To be conducted across Melbourne’s entire road network, it will probe the wisdom of charging motorists for each kilometre travelled, a charge to access roads, annual fixed costs per kilometre on expected usage and price per trip.
It will also look at the effect of charging people to come into the city.
Transurban chief executive officer Scott Charlton said Melbourne’s population was expected to hit 8 million by 2050, which would drastically increase congestion and have drivers sitting in traffic for more than 120 hours a year — an increase of 50 per cent on the time spent in the car now.
He said politicians could no longer just rely on registration fees, licence fees and fuel excise to fund road projects.
“We can stay with the existing system but that’s really going to damage Melbourne’s liveability in the long term,” Mr Charlton said.
“Part of the conversation we need to have is: What sort of city do we want to be in 2050? Choked in congestion or one that’s more productive?
“Australia needs a funding model that is built on a principle of those who benefit pay, while ensuring fairness across the community.”
He said under a user-pays model, not everyone would be slugged more. Pensioners who did not drive often, for instance, would have a fairer deal.
Mr Charlton acknowledged any reform would be difficult. “We have to bring the community with us,” he said.
The results from the research will be used to gain a better understanding of what user-pays model drivers prefer, to inform future discussions.
[email protected]