AROUND 500 MORE cars each hour are expected to travel on Sydney’s M4 motorway when the current tolls are removed on February 15. By 2011, that number will have risen to an additional 2000 cars per hour over current trip numbers.
According to NSW Auditor-General Peter Achterstraat, average travel time during the morning peak period will increase by 27 percent - about 6.5 minutes.
For many motorists, the M4 is the main link between Penrith and the Sydney CBD.
“More motorists will want to use the M4 than can fit on it,” Mr Achterstraat said.
“There”ll be more cars, more congestion and it will take more time for people to get to work.”
Mr Achterstraat said that of the expected increase, his office’s audit showed that around 1500 will be from natural growth over the next 18 months, and an additional 500 as a direct result of the toll’s removal.
According to the audit, RTA statistics show that the the M4 is near capacity during peak periods with the toll in place, leaving little room for extra vehicles.
To soften the impact of the toll removal, the RTA plans to make changes to lane configurations and key intersections, also adding additional capacity on some off-ramps.
Since the tollroad was opened in 1992, over $970 million has been paid by motorists using the M4.
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I’d gladly pay if they finish the M4 all the way to the CBD and use some of the toll money to fix disgraceful Parramatta Rd.
Quote “AROUND 500 MORE cars each hour are expected to travel on Sydney’s M4 motorway when the current tolls are removed on February 15″
So what does that tell you about this over tolled city?
Many people living in back streets “read rat runs” will be very happy.
Quote “To soften the impact of the toll removal, the RTA plans”
I am speechless, this suggests they care.
ROFL
Since the toll-road was opened in 1992, over $970 million has been paid by motorists using the M4.
.
Yet how much did it cost to build the 10Km extension between Blacktown and Parramatta back in 1992 - I doubt it would be more than 5% of that.
Infact I remember an Article in the SMH about 8 or so years ago which said the M4 had been paid for - so why weren’t the toll gates removed back then?
The M4 already blows as it is, this will just make it that much harder for battlers to get to/from work every day. Increased fuel consumption, lost time/income/productivity at work, increased stress, increased wear on vehicles.
It would be a cold day in hell, but can you imagine if the M2 toll was dropped? The road would become a 20km carpark. Oh wait, it already is.
Just like everybody’s always been saying, both Toll and Speed Camera Revenue needs to, nay, must, go back into road maintenance and improved public transport. Not some “miscellaneous” subsector of consolidated revenue.
And stop making 2 lane roads in NSW. We need 3-4 minimum in newly developed areas to cope with the population growth.