Infrastructure Victoria releases transport network pricing paper

Transport network pricing paperInfrastructure Victoria has released a paper on the challenges and opportunities for transport network pricing in Victoria.The paper presents a preliminary discussion of the key issues for designing a road pricing regime, and proposes an evaluation framework for assessing the impact of different models. It also presents four possible road pricing models. Infrastructure Victoria has indicated that road pricing is the first step towards developing a transport network pricing regime that includes public transport and roads, since it offers the greatest potential for relieving congestion on Melbourne’s roads.The Property Council recognises that congestion is now a serious threat to our city’s economic productivity and liveability. In our feedback to Infrastructure Victoria’s draft 30-year strategy, we expressed support for congestion pricing. However, we believe that its success will depend on giving commuters viable alternatives and that all current charges relating to congestion (such as the CBD Congestion Levy) and their efficacy must be considered.The Property Council will provide its feedback to Infrastructure Victoria on the policy paper in the new year. Consultation on the paper is open until 15 February 2017.