Speed limits on inner-city suburban streets could also be cut to 30km/h in some areas to make roads more appealing to cyclists and pedestrians,while country speed limits are also being reconsidered.
The confidential draft strategy outlining the future of the state’s transport system — which is yet to go before cabinet — recommends a price signal that “nudges” motorists to “weigh up the cost of taking a trip against other options” such as public transport or cycling.
“Through effective system-wide pricing reform,travel patterns can be better tailored to the existing capacity of networks. Our roads are congested in part because we do not price road use appropriately,” theFuture Transport Strategy:Towards 2061 says.
“Charging for road use at certain locations or times can encourage customers who have flexibility to choose other options.”
A congestion tax would charge motorists a set fee to enter a designated area of inner Sydney. The method was adopted in London in 2003 to reduce congestion,and drivers pay about $25 to enter a 20-square-kilometre section of the city.
Infrastructure,Cities and Active Transport Minister Rob Stokes insisted the document was a draft yet to be endorsed by the NSW government.
“The government has certainly not endorsed or considered proposals of this nature,” he said.