Labor is calling for toll signs to be installed to inform motorists of how much they will pay and how much time they will save, when using a specific toll road.
The proposal comes ahead of another hearing of a parliamentary inquiry into the NSW Government’s tolling regime.
NSW Labor is prepared to introduce legislation that would require the installation of signs at toll tunnel entrances – known as decision point signage.
The practice of decision point signage would allow motorists to make an informed decision on whether they actually need to use the tolled road.
A trial of decision point signage has been conducted on Melbourne’s Citilink toll road. Those electronic signs feature travel times, but the Opposition would like to see the signs include toll prices as drivers approach toll road entrances.
Tolling company Transurban in its submission to the Parliamentary Toll inquiry indicated it was open to introducing decision point signage to NSW toll roads, saying “Transurban would be open to a discussion with NSW Government to adopt a similar approach in NSW to provide customers with more data to inform their travel choices when using the motorway network.”
The Melbourne trial was well received by drivers according to Transurban customer feedback, which found “almost 70 per cent of people said they would use the sign to inform future travel choices, and about 40 per cent said the signs helped inform their travel choice on the spot.”
Labor MLCs will pursue the matter in its questioning at the tolls inquiry hearing on Monday.
The NSW Government’s revenue from tolls have surged as drivers are taking one million toll trips a day. Drivers are paying more than $2 billion a year in tolls – with Western Sydney household budgets impacted the hardest.
NSW Labor is calling on the NSW Government to support the introduction of decision point signage.
Chris Minns said:
“This is a common sense measure which helps drivers.
“This should have happened earlier, as Sydney becomes the most tolled city in the world. We are calling on the Government to put these signs in place now.
“This is about being honest with drivers. We want to be upfront about the costs and travel time savings of toll roads, so that people can make the right choice for them.”
John Graham said:
“If you go shopping at any store in the city, the price of the goods will be displayed on a sticker. We believe the same should apply to toll roads.
“Toll prices change so often. This is one way drivers could make an informed choice about how they travel around Sydney.
“I know the Government would prefer to keep toll prices a state secret, but we think it is time to be honest about the costs, along with the benefits.”