The ABC has the alarming news that Infrastructure Australia is proposing the Majura Parkway be a toll road.
Infrastructure Australia’s annual report to the Council of Australian Governments says the Majura Parkway is a nationally significant project, and should be tolled to ensure a reasonable proportion of building and maintenance costs are recovered.
Michael Deegan from Infrastructure Australia says the road could also accommodate bigger trucks.
“On a new, modern Majura Parkway we’d recommend moving to bigger trucks because they’re more efficient,” he said.
Mr Deegan acknowledges it is a controversial issue, but he says a per kilometre toll is necessary.
Should we have toll roads in the ACT?
UPDATE: The Greens’ Amanda Bresnan has expressed dissatisfaction at this announcement:
Greens transport spokesperson, Amanda Bresnan, said that this potential toll was one of many issues about the road that the Government had failed to tell the public.
“I’d like to see the Government be frank with the public about a whole range of issues surrounding the proposed Majura freeway, including whether it proposes to impose a toll on the road,” said Ms Bresnan.
“We have already seen the Government ignore a number of serious questions such as the impacts the proposed freeway would have on future congestion and transport options. The Government and the Liberals recently denied a Greens’ Assembly motion to ensure scrutiny of these issues. ”
“It is interesting to see a body like Infrastructure Australia suggesting that we can’t keep relying on major road building; today its spokesperson said we need to increase the capacity of our public transport, otherwise be prepared to pay more tolls and taxes for roads”.
“The ACT Government should examine the issue of whether high speed public transport will bring better solutions for commuters than a new Majura Freeway, as well as if the public would prefer public transport over a tolled freeway”.
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