Skip to main content

Australia to develop national smart managed motorways trial

Australia's 2011 federal government budget, announced yesterday, will provide AU$61.4 million over three years for the development of a national smart managed motorways trial to improve congestion, lower urban emissions, and expand the capacity of existing outer city road infrastructure networks.
May 17, 2012 Read time: 2 mins
Australia’s 2011 federal government budget, announced yesterday, will provide AU$61.4 million over three years for the development of a national smart managed motorways trial to improve congestion, lower urban emissions, and expand the capacity of existing outer city road infrastructure networks.

The programme will fund smart infrastructure road projects identified by Infrastructure Australia, a statutory body established under the Infrastructure Australia Act 2008, as demonstrating high benefit-cost ratios and improving traffic demand management and the overall efficiency of the transport flows in major cities. A range of ITS solutions, including ramp metering and signalling, variable message signs, traveller information systems, managed motorways and freight prioritisation, will be used, while Infrastructure Australia has had its funding increased by $36 million over the next four years. This is to enable it to develop long-term strategies to tackle infrastructure bottlenecks, improve freight networks, and promote private funding of domestic infrastructure by investors.

Outlining the government’s infrastructure vision and plans in a budget statement, Anthony Albanese, Australia’s minister for infrastructure and transport, said the managed motorway scheme would secure a higher and more consistent level of motorway performance resulting in travel time savings and improved reliability, improved road safety and lower greenhouse gases emissions.

His full, 42-page budget statement, which contains the principal elements of Australia's national policy (Our Cities, Our Future: A national urban policy for a productive, sustainable and liveable future) released yesterday.

Related Content

  • ITS Australia 2025 Awards: the winners
    February 14, 2025
    CEO Susan Harris praises 'collaborative spirit' to deliver data-led solutions
  • Australian tolling industry debates tag replacement
    June 11, 2014
    Australia’s 2014 National Electronic Tolling Conference (NeTC) inspired lively debate among the 130 delegates about tackling the need to replace seven-plus million tolling tags that are reaching the end of their life. In his opening address, Australian Toll Road Users’ Group Chair Rex Wright said the industry was potentially facing a US$94 million bill over the next five years to replace old tags. As Australian tolling authorities operate a harmonious national tag system, all toll operators are committed
  • New South Wales budget ‘builds for the future’
    June 22, 2017
    Australia’s New South Wales Government has committed US$55 billion (A$72.7 billion) over the next four years to infrastructure investments, including US$31 billion (A$41.4 billion) for roads and transport.
  • Singapore's LTA unveils ITS master plan
    August 7, 2014
    Singapore’s Land Transport Authority (LTA) and the Intelligent Transportation Society Singapore (ITSS) have jointly launched Smart Mobility 2030, the country’s master plan outlining how its intelligent transport systems (ITS) will develop over the next 15 years. Its goal is to optimise transport systems and to enhance commuter travel experience across Singapore with the latest ITS initiatives and advancements in transport technologies. To address Singapore’s current and future transportation needs, Smart M