AITPM national newsletter President's report May 2010

Abstract

We’ve had a bit of sticker shock in these
parts. Well, apparently. Since my last missive,
Brisbane’s Clem Jones Tunnel which was
initially free now has a toll, at least partially, at the
introductory rate of $2.95 for a one-way car ride
between 5a.m. and midnight – free overnight.
From 9 May 2010 the toll will be $4.28. Since
the introductory toll was introduced, use of the
tunnel appears to have declined somewhat – no
surprise to transport professionals I suppose.
An additional factor may have been that the
“novelty value” of driving through the tunnel for
free had worn off. This demonstrates to me
that much of the community may still see the
use of road infrastructure as a rite of passage,
with only some actually weighing up the true
value of their travel time and vehicle wear and
tear against their out of pocket (or onto credit
card) cost. Thus, we’re in pioneering times and
the role of transport economics in the overall
transport infrastructure planning realm is of
considerable importance – especially as much
of the new big ticket infrastructure is likely to be
tolled into the future. The Queensland Premier,
Anna Bligh, made poignant commentary about
Brisbane City Council’s tunnel use in that such
infrastructure is built for future times and not just
as a quick fix for current traffic problems. My
expectation is that once Airport Link, which is
really the northern half of the corridor, opens in
2012, there will be a significant spike in Clem7
usage.