You are here

NSW’s future transport network needs a high productivity vehicle network

30 November 2017

The NSW long term transport plan needs to enable greater road freight productivity to boost jobs, living standards and economic growth. Improving truck productivity will improve safety outcomes, reduce fuel use and lower environmental impacts. It also reduces the number of trucks, reducing congestion, noise, and lowering impacts and damage to road pavements.

NSW future transport 2056 should develop a modern high productivity vehicle (HPV) road network. The HPV network should provide gazetted road access for A-double combinations, similar to current access for B-double combinations.

The strategy should also deliver long term structural reform to road investment, focusing on independent management and selection of road funding decisions.

NSW and Sydney are critical links for the Australian economy. Sydney provides the annual international gateway for over $120 billion in value of international trade, representing the highest value of international trade through Australian sea and airports. But despite the economic importance of these supply chains, recent toll road and landside port charges have been increased dramatically on trucking operators without any consideration on how the increased charges effect the competitiveness of NSW supply chains.

Future transport 2056 should seek independent regulation of toll road and landside port charges to ensure the efficiency and global competitiveness of NSW supply chains is prioritised.  

Attachments: