The independent review of Sydney's toll road network aims to explore small adjustments to toll charges, relief measures, and potential means testing.
The independent review of Sydney’s toll road network has commenced, with Allan Fels and David Cousins leading the effort to examine ways to alleviate traffic congestion and create a fairer road fee charging system for heavy vehicle operators.
Speaking before the review’s first hearing yesterday, Fels says there’ll be no revolutionary changes made due to long-term toll contracts, but a range of small options are possible.
“I’m not suggesting that there’s going to be a revolution in toll prices and that we’re going to travel free on roads,” Fels says.
“There is scope to negotiate some win-win outcomes.”
Fels confirmed the review won’t recommend ways to override long-term contracts to toll companies like Transurban.
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Instead, the review will include simplifying toll charges, looking at government relief measures and introducing distance-based and time-of-day charges.
At the opening hearing, the review chairs discussed the network issue with a range of associations representing truck drivers and local councils that painted a picture of severe community impact caused by the toll road pricing.
This included National Road Transport Association (NatRoad) chief executive Warren Clark, who spoke about the impact the high cost of tolls has on drivers choosing not to use the toll roads.
Fels also says means testing of drivers could be on the cards for government toll subsidies, with NSW Premier Chris Minns saying he is sticking by the $60 weekly toll cap to reduce toll costs for trucks.