A range of public transport solutions that would no doubt impact on road planning and management in Sydney made for interesting reading in the past fortnight.
The Sydney Morning Herald carried an exclusive report on plans for an east-west underground rail line under Victoria Road and a western Sydney fast train.
But the report cast doubt on the timetable for a CBD rail link and second harbour rail crossing - a project that has been seen as crucial in alleviating capacity constraints on the rail network.
In Melbourne, the Herald Sun claimed commuters were taking 165,000 more trips a day on public transport than they were three years ago, with the biggest increases in morning peak hours - particularly 7am to 8am.
The Herald Sun also reported that in a bid to ease the peak hour crush, a trial would be held next month offering commuters on the Frankston and Sydenham lines free travel on trains arriving in the city before 7am. If successful, the trial would lead to the scheme being extended across Melbourne next year, the Herald Sun said.
In the Age, VicRoad’s chief executive Gary Liddle was reported as saying he believed Melbourne needed another east-west corridor crossing.
Queensland’s new Premier, Anna Bligh, has set up an Infrastructure Cabinet Committee to drive the delivery of key infrastructure projects including roads, rail and ports.
Premier Bligh will chair the new Committee.
Paul Lucas, Minister for Transport and Mains Road in the last Beattie ministry, has been elevated to the position of Deputy Premier. He also holds the portfolio of Infrastructure and Planning.
Mr Lucas’ former portfolio responsibilities have been split, with Transport going to John Mickel and Main Roads to Warren Pitt.
Mr Pitt formerly held the portfolios of Communities, Disability Services, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, and Seniors and Youth. He was elected to Parliament in 1989 and holds a Bachelor of Education and a Bachelor of Arts.
Mr Mickel was formerly the Minister for State Development, Employment and Industrial Relations. He was elected in 1998 and holds a Master of Literary Studies, a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Education Studies and a Diploma of Teaching.
The RACQ has expressed concern about the possible dilution of road safety efforts with road-related responsibilities now split over multiple ministries.
The Federal Government has released the report on the Review of the F3 to M7 Corridor Selection, saying it provides a clear way forward.
The report, undertaken by the Hon Mahla Pearlman AO, a former Chief Judge of the NSW Land and Environment Court, has confirmed the original decision by the Government to provide a link between the F3 and M2, broadly along the alignment of Pennant Hills Road.
It recommends that:
In releasing the report this week, Minister for Local Government, Territories and Roads, Jim Lloyd, said a small number of issues had been identified that would require consideration in the preparation of an environmental impact statement, and that further public consultation would be a key element in taking the project forward and determining the precise route for the link.
Mr Lloyd said the Federal Government would work with the NSW Government to deliver this important link.
The report can be downloaded at www.dotars.gov.au/roads/F3toM7Review/index.aspx
The NRMA says its very pleased with the recommendation to come out of the Pearlman Review, saying it will reduce traffic congestion in Sydney's north-west and on the Central Coast.
The NRMA has released the findings of a survey that shows travel times around Sydney are greatly improved by using motorways.
The survey found that motorists who use motorways in Sydney are getting to work and home on average 75 per cent quicker than those who use the free alternative routes, and using up to 40 per cent less fuel.
The travel difference was found to be greatest on Saturday, when those using free routes took over 100 per cent per cent longer and used 45 per cent more fuel.
NRMA director Gary Punch says the survey should provide the Federal and NSW governments with all the inspiration they needed to complete Sydney’s missing links.
"The NRMA has been working hard to highlight the problems motorists experience due to the missing major road links such as the link from the F3 to M2, the M4 and F6 extensions, as well as the need for widening the M5 and a long term solution for the northern beaches."
"We hope these results will make these critical projects a reality and that Sydney gets the road network it deserves."
For more information on the results of the NRMA survey, visit the NRMA website and follow the links under Media to the latest media releases.
The Australian Automobile Association (AAA) has released its election dossier – Motoring Matters – ahead of the forthcoming Federal election.
AAA and its member motoring clubs are seeking the following commitments from political parties contesting the next Federal election:
For more information, go to the AAA website.
Leighton Contractors has been awarded a $200 million contract for the Northern Access Road project by the Brisbane Airport Corporation.
The project includes six kilometres of multi-lane motorway with four bridges, a new roundabout and the upgrade of the existing roundabout at the international terminal and Lomandra Drive Interchange.
Darren Weir, General Manager of Leighton Contractors Northern Region, said the project would provide additional transport capacity to Brisbane Airport terminals and surrounding businesses, taking pressure off the existing Airport Drive link.
“The Northern Access Road project will include an access road from the new Gateway Motorway to the Domestic and International terminals,” Mr Weir said.
Geotechnical engineering will begin this month and the project is expected to conclude by mid 2009.
Other Leighton Contractors projects in south east Queensland include the Inner Northern Busway, Ipswich/Logan Motorway Interchange Upgrade, and Caboolture Bypass.
The Australian Road Forum welcomes the Federal Government’s decision to fund an additional 560 university placements for engineering students.
Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Julie Bishop, announced last week that the Government was providing new engineering places as part of the Skills for the Future package and other places as part of the Our Universities: Backing Australia’s Future package.
The majority of these places will commence in 2008, the minister said.
ARF president, Ray Fisher, said the Government’s announcement was a welcome step in the right direction.
“While the road industry is not alone in feeling the impact of the critical shortage of engineers, we have a particular concern given the level of construction activity on the horizon,” Mr Fisher said.
“This shortage threatens to railroad the ambitious road construction program that is planned by Federal and state governments over the coming decade.”
Mr Fisher said having adequate numbers of university places was only part of the solution.
“The ongoing challenge is to attract young people into the profession,” he said.
“To that end, ARF would like to see a greater focus on maths and science subjects in the school curriculum to create a platform that attracts young people to engineering.”
Transfield Services has announced its further expansion into the world’s largest outsourced market with the acquisition of US company VMS Inc. for US$29.5 million.
VMS is a leading provider of operations and maintenance services for road transport infrastructure and associated facilities for the State Departments of Transportation in Virginia, Florida, Texas, Alaska, Maryland and in Washington DC.
VMS has more than 380 highly experienced employees, annual revenues of more than US$90 million and manages more than 5,000 lane kilometres.
Transfield Services’ Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Peter Watson, said the company would use this strategic acquisition to build market share in the transport infrastructure market in the United States, following its successful bid to operate and maintain the Port of Miami Tunnel.
The acquisition is subject to customary conditions precedent including US regulatory approvals. It is anticipated that completion will occur during October 2007.
The International Road Federation (IRF) is currently seeking submissions for the 2007 Road Safety Award.
The annual Award recognises the best initiative, innovation and/or research work in international road safety during 2006/07.
Eligible projects should be complete and the results measurable. The IRF is particularly keen to encourage projects related to road infrastructure.
Deadline for submissions is October 15, 2007. An application form and copy of the call for submissions can be downloaded from the IRF website. (Scroll down to Announcements and click on the links under 2007 IRF Road Safety Award Call for Submission.)
Submitted by Mark Bowmer on Friday September 21st 2007 12:32pm
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