Chamber calls for Transport Tsar to take charge of Sydney traffic

18 May 2010

NSW’s largest business organisation, NSW Business Chamber, said that an NRMA survey that shows businesses are paying up to $10,000 in extra wages and fuel costs as a result of traffic congestion reinforced the need for a Transport Tsar to implement a traffic demand strategy for Sydney’s transport network.

NSW Business Chamber outlined the need for a Transport Tsar as part of its 10 Big Ideas to Grow NSW campaign (www.10bigideas.com.au). The 10 Big Ideas also highlighted the importance of encouraging regional location for major government agencies.

“This survey tells us what business already knows – it is becoming more expensive to do business in the metropolitan area because of the costs of congestion,” said Stephen Cartwright, CEO of NSW Business Chamber.

“Transport is the number one issue for businesses in Sydney. Businesses are paying for congestion through lost productivity, increased fuel costs, and lost business opportunities.

“We need a Transport Tsar to take control of Sydney’s 15 transport agencies and get them working together to deliver better transport outcomes for Sydney’s business owners and commuters.

“We want a Transport Tsar that is charged with putting in place a demand strategy for our transport network – a strategy that will use what we already have in transport infrastructure more effectively.”

Mr Cartwright said that a Transport Tsar could introduce a range of measures to spread the peak including:

• Trialling 10am starting school hours for high school students;
• Variable tolling – implementing of peak, shoulder and off-peak pricing;
• Peak, shoulder and off-peak pricing of public transport;
• Public sector employees encouraged to start work during non-peak periods;
• Private sector incentives to shift hours away from traditional working hours;
• Incentives to encourage car pooling;
• Greater use of GPS, web and app technology to assist in trip planning; and
• Encourage greater housing density close to employment areas.

“A ‘business as usual’ approach to transport will only increase the costs of congestion on business and the community in general. It’s time to start thinking outside the gridlock and put in place a demand strategy for our transport network.”