The state government is considering spending billions of dollars on a road tunnel and underground railway. These are two of the major proposals in the Eddington report commissioned by the state government to look at solutions for east west transport. Both these proposals are absurd considering that Eddington’s own figures show that the costs far outweigh the benefits. The road tunnel is estimated to cost $7 billion and the benefits to the economy are estimated to be $3 billion. Experience has shown that more roads lead to more congestion. Traffic bottlenecks are moved from one suburb to another.
The rail tunnel from Footscray to Caulfield does not address the central problems with our public transport system. It will not solve the overcrowding, late services and cancellations. More frequent services are required.
The impact of these proposals on local residents will be disastrous. Parks will be destroyed. Hundreds of homes will be forcibly acquired and residents will be forced to move. What compensation will guarantee a home of the quality that residents currently enjoy?
Those that remain will face a future living in the shadow of another noisy and unsightly overpass carving through our suburbs - the only by product of which will be greater pollution levels.
The Truck Action Plan sets out new and upgraded north-south freight route along residential Ashley St in West Footscray and Dempster St / Paramount Rd in Tottenham. This route would link the Geelong Road, Sunshine Road and the Western Highway (Ballarat Road). It is a Band Aid solution that simply shifts the current problem a few kilometres west. Truckies in B doubles and triples will be taking 'rat runs' through West Footscray, Tottenham, Braybrook and Sunshine streets to beat traffic snarls and long delays on the narrow north-south route.
Never before have there been better reasons for improving the public transport system. With the rising cost of petrol and the future of our planet threatened by greenhouse gasses it is clear the government needs an entirely different approach to meeting Melbourne’s transport needs. If the government commits to these projects we are doomed to decades more of intolerable conditions on our public transport system. By the time these projects are completed they will be outdated and the transport crisis in Melbourne will be significantly greater.
With a lot less money the state government could upgrade our public transport system immediately. More trains, improved timetables, upgrades to existing railway corridors, supplementary bus services, bike tracks and better urban planning will have a huge impact on the transport crisis, pollution levels, and as a by product create more jobs.
The big winners with the tunnels will be the motor vehicle lobby and investment bankers who will use our superannuation funds to build these white elephants.
BRIMBANK TRANSPORT ACTION GROUP
No Tunnels - No Tollways - Better Public Transport
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