Despite the government presiding over a $100 billion infrastructure pipeline,the report warns that NSW can not “build our way out of congestion”,and instead suggested introducing new fees.
“There is an opportunity to reduce congestion and improve travel choices by exploring charges that are clearer,fairer,more efficient and more sustainable,” the report said.
“The development of a road map for long-term reform of user contributions across the road and public transport networks provides an opportunity to explore how we can influence travel behaviour to tailor demand to the capacity of our existing networks.”
Premier Dominic Perrottet said widespread road user charging was a key element of the state’s electric vehicle transition policy,with the new tax set to slowly replace the fuel excise charge as fossil-fuelled vehicles decline over coming years.
“[A road user charge] is clearly the future,and ultimately,you pay a tax today – stamp duties,fuel excise – that’s the position today as we move forward to an EV future,” he said.
“We know with electric vehicles being the future of road transport in Sydney,around the country and around the world that these new systems need to keep up with that choice.”
Despite the report flagging a charge to reduce Sydney traffic,Perrottet was adamant his government had ruled out a congestion tax.