Article: New freeways make cities livable: Abbott

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

New freeways make cities livable: Abbott

New freeways make cities livable: Abbott
From: AAP October 04, 2012 12:41PM

MASSIVE new freeways across Sydney and Melbourne will help keep them livable, says Opposition Leader Tony Abbott.

Mr Abbott used Wednesday's traffic chaos in Melbourne to call for more federal funding to such large transport infrastructure projects.

"Melbourne suffered traffic gridlock," Mr Abbott told reporters in the city on Thursday.

"It's very important the national government fund nationally important infrastructure."

He said the coalition government had already committed to $1.5 billion for Melbourne's proposed East-West link and the same amount for a M4 East motorway extension, connecting western Sydney to the city and airport.

"These are vital pieces of national infrastructure," he said.

"They are very important if we are to have livable cities in the 21st century."

The Burnley and Domain tunnels, which run under the Yarra River to bypass the CBD, were closed for 12 hours from 4.30am (AEST) on Wednesday after a computer glitch.

Tollway operator CityLink promised not to charge motorists a toll until the tunnels were operating again.

The incident reignited calls for a 18km East-West link, which would connect the Eastern Freeway to CityLink, the Port of Melbourne and to the M80 Ring Road.

Federal Labor has said the project is not a funding priority, while the state government has committed $15 million towards developing a business case.

[ozbob]

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/tunnel-visions-20121003-26zt0.html

...
RAIL SOLUTION

THE world's leading cities are no longer building new roads to solve commuter congestion; they are building public-transport networks, Melbourne University transport expert Chris Hale said yesterday.

''Major cities these days have made a big turn away from seeing major roads and tollways as being any sort of solution ... roads are primarily for commercial use, and freight and public transport is, hopefully, the primary mover of people,'' he said.

Instead of going ahead with the east-west link, the Baillieu government should prioritise its ''short list of really good rail projects'': the Melbourne Metro tunnel, and railway lines to Doncaster, Rowville and Melbourne Airport.

''What we need is a sense now of what is the formula that is going to deliver that suite of projects in a 10 to 12-year horizon,'' Dr Hale said.

He said Los Angeles, one of the world's most notoriously car-dependent cities, was now using innovative funding methods to make a huge investment in public transport and realise its 30-year transport plan in 10 years.

''Local councils like Manningham and Banyule, as much as it might be difficult for them, they need to start talking about where are they going to get 10 per cent of the funds for their Doncaster project from so that they can push that project along.''
....

[Gazza]

Pollie Logic:

One 12 hour traffic shutdown: We need billion dollar freeways.

Multiple rail disruptions per year, totalling many more lost hours: We'll look into increasing maintenance a bit.

[Stillwater]

Electoral reality:

Almost everyone who drives a car votes.  Far fewer drive trains, or catch them,  and vote.  Like moths to a flame, pollies chase the most votes.

[ozbob]

Twitter

13m Daniel Bowen Daniel Bowen ‏@danielbowen

Welcome to 1950, Tony. AAP: "New freeways make cities livable: Abbott" http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/breaking-news/new-freeways-make-cities-livable-abbott/story-e6freono-1226487994277 ... #MoreRoadsBringsMoreTraffic

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[Golliwog]

[Jonno]

Electoral reality:

Almost everyone who drives a car votes.  Far fewer drive trains, or catch them,  and vote.  Like moths to a flame, pollies chase the most votes.

Agh??? Every transpory survey I have seen recently has public sitting around 70-80 for PT and less than 10% saying more roads.

Tony Abbott is simply stuck in the 1960's!!!

[#Metro]

I agree with stillwater.

Have to say, PTUA is still stuck in the 60s with complete waste of money projects like Rowville Rail, Doncaster Rail, Rail to Avalon Airport and High Speed Rail. Some from the 1969 Melbourne Transport Plan. Are you SERIOUS?! I have to say, despite their best intentions, a lot of damage can be done when money is spent on expensive cr*p.

Spend money on services!

[Jonno]

Twitter

@jonnorbot: .@TonyAbbottMHR "New freeways make cities livable" right up there with "Smoking is good for you" http://t.co/9QKVaCkC http://t.co/wUhizi9J