Congestion could cost Australian cities $40bn by 2030, says minister

Australian state capitals are paying $25 billion per year on avoidable congestion - and could end up paying $40bn by 2030 unless there is a policy change. That is the stark warning from Alan Tudge, federal minister of population, cities and urban infrastructure, who spoke at Australia’s seventh ITS Summit. Discussing how ITS technologies can help solve gridlock, he described some of the projects which fall under the Australian government’s $100bn programme of transport infrastructure expenditure – suc
September 11, 2019 Read time: 2 mins

Australian state capitals are paying $25 billion per year on avoidable congestion - and could end up paying $40bn by 2030 unless there is a policy change.

That is the stark warning from Alan Tudge, federal minister of population, cities and urban infrastructure, who spoke at Australia’s seventh ITS Summit.

Discussing how ITS technologies can help solve gridlock, he described some of the projects which fall under the Australian government’s $100bn programme of transport infrastructure expenditure – such as ramp metering, dynamic speed limits, reversible lanes, variable signage and traffic signal priority for emergency and freight vehicles – which “can massively increase road utilisation and hence, effective capacity”.

The summit at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, organised by 858 ITS Australia, was attended by more than 500 stakeholders. Key topics included sustainable transport solutions, connected and autonomous vehicles and Mobility as a Service.

Keynote speaker Kirk Steudle, senior vice president of 1763 Econolite Systems, emphasised how mobility technologies must evolve with the values of the communities they are intended to serve.

“The fusing of technology into our daily lives shows no signs of slowing down,” he continued. “Integration of technology into the transport network is needed for greater economic efficiency and expansion.”

A panel discussion facilitated by Dennis Walsh, chief engineer at the Queensland 7026 Department of Transport and Main Roads, explored how diversity and inclusivity are key to productivity. The panel also included Zoe Eather of 7942 Arup on the integration of smart mobility to enable more liveable Australian communities, and Susan Proctor from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation on reskilling older Americans into new roles in smart transport. 81 Kapsch’s David Bolt asked how the industry should engage with younger generations to achieve a wider diversity and how to challenge ‘what an engineer looks like’.

UTC

Related Content

  • September 8, 2016
    Welcome to the world's most liveable city, Melbourne
    It would be hard to imagine a more appropriate venue for the 23rd ITS World Congress which runs from 10-14 October. For the 6th successive year, Melbourne has won the title of the World’s Most Liveable City, helped by its perfect 100 out of 100 score for infrastructure.
    Read More
  • September 8, 2016
    ITS World Congress Hall of Fame winners
    The ITS World Congress 2016 Hall of Fame winners have been announced and will be inducted into the Hall of Fame at the 23rd ITS World Congress on Intelligent Transport Systems, 10-14 October, Melbourne, Australia. The Awards recognise individuals, industries and local governments striving to set the bar higher and enhance the end user experience. Local solutions often have wider applications, ensuring international transport, safety and technology improvements, enhancing liveability in cities and communitie
    Read More
  • May 24, 2018
    ITSA Detroit 2018: a must-attend transportation event!
    The 2018 ITS America Annual Meeting Detroit, from 4-7 June, is the must-attend transportation technology event in North America this year. The theme of the meeting, “Transportation 2.0,” will be weaved throughout the three days of plenary sessions, demonstrations, and exhibits. Discussions will centre around the future of transportation, intelligent mobility, and managing risk. “Changes happening today will fundamentally affect how people interact with transportation in the months and years ahead,” said Sh
    Read More
  • October 3, 2018
    Carrots are proving cost-effective in Netherlands
    There are lessons to be learned from congestion avoidance schemes in the Netherlands. David Crawford welcomes some new thinking in road pricing. Highway operators worldwide are being urged to learn from Dutch experience in using financial carrots rather than sticks to encourage drivers to avoid contributing to congestion. A Netherlands/UK group makes a convincing cost/benefit case in a new global survey of road pricing technologies, economics and acceptability. Representing the Rijkswaterstaat section of
    Read More

Highlighted Content