Sydney Harbour Bridge - A Congestion Tax That Doesn't Reduce Congestion

The Sydney Harbour Bridge congestion tax has done nothing to reduce congestion according to the RTA’s own statistics and is simply a slug on Northern Beaches motorists, Manly MP Mike Baird says.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge congestion tax has done nothing to reduce congestion according to the RTA’s own statistics and is simply a slug on Northern Beaches motorists, Manly MP Mike Baird says. “These latest statistics from the RTA prove what we all suspected – the Government’s ‘time of day tolling’ for Harbour Bridge motorists is a sham,” Mr Baird said.

“The NSW Government introduced this new tax in the Mini Budget claiming it was the key to ‘unclog the city’, but now we know it’s nothing more than highway robbery.

“The RTA’s own figures reveal no noticeable decline in motorists crossing the bridge on weekday mornings since the tax was introduced.”

According to the RTA’s website, the number of motorists crossing the Harb our Bridge between 5:30am to 10:30am was 44,700 in 2008 (before the congestion tax was introduced) and 44,618 in 2009 (when the congestion tax was in place)*.

“The increased toll has done nothing to reduce congestion and Northern Beaches motorists are right to be white with rage that they are paying for another botched plan.

“The NSW Government simply hiked up tolls and dressed up the rationale for a new tax by saying it would unclog the roads – well, like their multiple transport plans, this just hasn’t happened.

“Many Northern Beaches motorists have no option but to drive because of woeful access to public transport and until the NSW Government admits public transport is the key, Sydney’s chronic traffic congestion will remain.

“The Transport Minister has said the many extra millions raised from the increased toll would go towards buses, so where are they?

“With this in mind we renew our calls for the Government to investi gate a Bus Rapid Transit system for the Northern Beaches as a matter of priority, with research showing it would likely convert 15-20% of car users to public transport.”

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Mike Baird MP for Manly Sydney

Mike is Member for Manly and Shadow Treasurer of NSW. Mike has lived in the Manly community for more than 15 years. He is a keen surfer at local beaches and a strong supporter of rugby. Mike had a 18-year career in banking before being elected to Parliament in 2007.