ARA Media release: Buses and Trains, not congestion pains

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http://www.ara.net.au/UserFiles/file/Media%20Releases/12-12-13-Buses-and-Trains-not-congestion-pains.pdf

13 December 2012

Buses and Trains, not congestion pains

Building more freeways doesn't solve congestion, it makes it worse.

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) and the Bus Industry Confederation (BIC) call on the Federal Opposition to declare which if any public transport projects they would fund, should they be elected in 2013.

This follows commitments of $6 billion from the Federal Opposition for 4 major road projects, without any corresponding funding for public transport.

The Coalition's 'Plan to Reduce Traffic Congestion' as it stands would actually make congestion worse in the long term.

"Trying to cure traffic congestion by adding more road capacity is like trying to cure obesity by loosening your belt" ARA CEO Mr Bryan Nye said.

Whilst freeways can potentially alleviate through-traffic from residential streets and cater for trips not easily covered by public transport, they are not a solution to overall congestion. Generations of planners, engineers and politicians since the 1940s have noted that building more highways only creates more traffic congestion in the long term through resultant increases in latent demand

"In contrast, an investment in public transport has advantages in almost every aspect of our lives.
Public transport is healthier for us, it reduces carbon emissions, it is safer and above all it creates communities we would rather live in", Mr Nye continued.

"The Coalition continues to put their head in the sand when it comes to 'moving people' policies and investment in public transport. Building more roads for more cars is not the solution to address the challenges that our cites face and social exclusion in the country" BIC Executive Director Michael Apps said.

One single rail line operating at peak efficiency can carry the same number of people as a ten lane freeway, and one bus can take up to 40 cars off the road.

International and Australian research shows that the overall automobile distance driven per capita is starting to level off and even decline, in contrast to a dramatic increase in public transport patronage over the last two decades. Underfunding public transport at this crucial time would set our capital cities back 20 years.

Whilst the current Federal Government has invested more in public transport than all previous governments combined, there is still more funding needed to ensure the future economic, social and environmental viability of our cities and regions.

ARA and BIC call on the Federal Opposition to outline what exactly their plans are for public transport, and declare which projects they will fund.

-ENDS-