Toll roads ‘inevitable’ in Perth, says expert - The West Australian

source: the west australian

Toll roads ‘inevitable’ in Perth, says expert

University of Leeds traffic expert Robert Bain. Picture: Michael O’Brien/The West Australian

More toll roads are inevitable for Perth — it is only a matter of when.

That is the opinion of visiting British traffic consultant Robert Bain, who said road pricing was one of the obvious solutions to funding important transport infrastructure.

Perth could learn a lot from other cities around the world who were using the latest technology to ensure road pricing was used cleverly strategically. Dr Bain said that in addition to raising funds, pricing could also be used to manipulate traffic and improve traffic flow.

For example, pricing could be restricted to peak periods to encourage motorists to use other times of the day. Perth will have its first toll road when the Perth Freight Link is completed, though the toll will apply only to big vehicles.

The Barnett Government has consistently ruled out any other form of road pricing.

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