Investing in better public transport and other
sustainable means of transport means less cars on our roads, less congestion
and a smaller carbon footprint for our city. Another freeway will create more
carbon pollution, increase traffic congestion, and destroy local amenity for
the communities that will be affected by the tunnel’s construction.
The
Doncaster Rail project would carry an estimated 100,000 passengers per day
and take 800 cars per train off congested roads. This equates to each train removing
a 3.7 km lane of traffic. Doncaster Rail could be built at a fraction of the cost
of the Tunnel. This estimation of 100,000 passengers per day would not only enable
a 20 minute journey to the CBD, but substantially ease vehicle congestion on the
Eastern Freeway, Hoddle Street and other arterials north and east of the CBD.
One of the greatest challenges facing the 21st century is the challenge of climate change. We cannot tackle climate change by building more roads. By all means let us build transport infrastructure- let’s be a nation of builders- but let it be public transport infrastructure. We cannot build our way out of congestion. We have been trying it for years and it does not work.
For years we have been told that one more freeway would
solve Melbourne’s traffic congestion problems. I supported City Link, I
supported East Link, I supported the Metropolitan Ring Road, I supported the
Craigieburn By-pass. But it never works. As many studies around the world have
shown, freeways generate new traffic and new trips.
So it would be better
to put public money into public transport. This will do more to help traffic
congestion, more to contain carbon emissions, and more to help people who don’t
drive cars, for example younger people, older people and people with
disabilities.
So what is the justification for this tunnel? Where is the complete business plan? Or the full costing and not simply the initial $8 billion, as it will cost much more. How will it benefit the western and northern suburbs or is it yet another example of the state government's bias to Liberal seats and class warfare? We need better public transport but the state government has other priorities although between Messrs Napthine and Abbott they have not agreed on said priorities
ReplyDeleteThe business plan is to increase road traffic for business supply chains and make Melbourne a big hub for exported and imported goods. More likely it will be for all the imported goods, from Asia! Melbourne Airport CEO says that over the next 20 years they will be investing billions of dollars transforming the airport and creating jobs and supporting the State's road strategy. This means more rail and road links all over Melbourne. Trading along Australia's coast to be crewed by Australian citizens, permanent residents or workers with appropriate work visas, making it is cheaper for some states to import goods rather than ship them from other Australian states. The main reason for the East West link is not public commuters, who would prefer public transport, but business corporations who want better services, and a bigger customer base. This big economic growth plan must be paid for, by the tax-payers of Victoria.
ReplyDeleteAs a tax payer and road user I support the building of the tunnel. It is a logical extension of the EastLink system and will improve access to the west and whilst reducing local road congestion.
ReplyDeleteI may be a lone voice but at least I'm not being one of the silent majority