A Congestion Tax: Is this really about congestion or just another way to fund a freeway?

A CONGESTION tax to discourage motorists from driving at peak times could be introduced under a controversial plan flagged by the federal government’s chief infrastructure adviser.

Infrastructure Australia chairman Sir Rod Eddington said it was time for ”mature and dispassionate” discussion over a new system of road charges to cut congestion and help pay for major transport projects…

‘Transurban chief executive Scott Charlton backed the proposal, saying the introduction of road network pricing was ”inevitable”. Mr Charlton urged governments to ”use every lever possible”, including road user charges, tolled express lanes and time-of-day pricing. He said that although the public was accustomed to peak and off-peak pricing for utilities, road pricing remained a political sensitive issue…

Mr Baillieu also stepped up demands for federal cash, saying he wanted money for six big projects, including an east-west freeway, a rail tunnel between South Kensington and South Yarra, the expansion of the Port of Hastings and an upgrade of the M80…

State opposition infrastructure spokesman Tim Pallas said the government was spending $100 million planning for projects, with no sign they would be built. ”Planning is important … not confusing pipelines for pipe dreams, is critically important,” he said.

To read more go to: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/city-road-tolls-flagged-20120907-25k36.html#ixzz26JJgX5fm