End of e-tolling guarantees more Sydney congestion

Beverley Head
Tuesday, 10 November 2009 01:27

IT Industry - Market

The company has also supplied the congestion management system used on the taxi ranks at Sydney Airport while its system is one of a series of technologies being considered for congestion management by Sydney Ports.

While the effects of congestion management systems were significant, the decision to install such systems often required political bravery according to Isaksen.

“This is a really political issue – but there is no way around it. If you do not add in some sort of charging then the roads will be congested.

“Why this is not happening quicker is because it is a politically very brave decision to take that step,” he said.

One of the leading international suppliers of intelligent transportation systems, Q-Free has seen significant growth in demand for its systems as countries grapple with rising traffic levels and a pressing need to reduce carbon emissions. According to Isaksen consensus estimates predict that the company’s revenues will rise 50 per cent this year to 750 million Norwegian Krone ($144 million).

It supplies systems to 17 different countries including Australia. Isaksen said that Norway’s geography - “we have lots of fjords”- made the country a logical cradle for a company which develops intelligent information systems for transportation.

One of its newer systems that the company is rolling out is a truck tolling system. Slovakia is one of the pioneers, with a Q-Free and Siemens designed system scheduled to go live in January 2010.

Craig Lennard, Australian manager for Q-Free suggested a similar system could be in the wings in Australia.

In July the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) announced that a single regulator would be established to oversee the operation of all vehicles over 4.5 tonnes which Lennard believed could prompt serious consideration of a user charge system for trucks in Australia.

Lennard’s argument as to why truck tolling should be considered was simply put: “They are big, they make money and they do damage – so they should pay.”