This paper outlines several current initiatives being undertaken jointly by governments to improve Australia's response to rising urban congestion pressures. The central issue of this paper covers cooperative efforts to improve the planning and decision making framework for managing urban congestion and generally to lift Australia's congestion management capabilities, rather than commenting on specific investments being implemented by individual jurisdictions. This approach allows the paper to focus on the advances being made collectively by governments and their agencies, and emphasises the strong shared interest Australian governments have in ensuring the planning framework is up to the tasks ahead and that awareness of innovative solutions to urban congestion is improved. Although this is generally back room work of low profile compared to expensive investments in urban infrastructure, it will make a significant contribution to ensuring that congestion-related decision making delivers better use of every dollar invested in urban transport, irrespective of who does the investing. (a) For the covering entry of this conference, please see ITRD abstract no. E216297.
Samenvatting