Measures to target traffic congestion a welcome start

Perth has a traffic congestion problem. And anybody who travels on our roads will know that it is getting worse.

The impacts go beyond just infuriating road users.

There have been numerous reports in recent years which have pointed to wider problems.

Last year the Committee for Perth found the city’s congestion was having an impact on the health and home life of motorists.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA warned in March that infrastructure constraints, including congestion on the roads, were key limiters to economic growth.

Last month a report by GPS company TomTom said Perth drivers spent 72 hours stuck in peak-hour traffic every year.

It said Perth had become the third-most congested city in Australia behind Sydney and Melbourne.

While traffic-busting measures such as more trains, light rail, bus lanes, car-pooling, better bike lanes and even social change such as staggered working hours could help ease the pressure, it is clear road congestion will remain in need of urgent attention in at least the short term.

Population growth will see to that.

Earlier this month the State’s new draft planning strategy warned that Perth and the Peel region would need to accommodate 800,000 new homes over the next 35 years as Perth grew towards a population of 3.5 million.

The report noted that 15 per cent of jobs in the Perth-Peel region were in central Perth, West Perth, East Perth and Northbridge, but just 2 per cent of the population lived in those suburbs, while 40 per cent of people who worked in central Perth lived in the outer suburbs.

Inevitably this will mean more cars.

In March, Auditor-General Colin Murphy was critical of Main Roads’ infrastructure and traffic management projects.

But there is welcome news today with the announcement that Main Roads is to roll out a $40 million package of measures to target congestion hotspots across Perth.

The Graham Farmer Freeway, Marmion Avenue, Tonkin Highway and Mitchell Freeway are among the problem areas set to benefit.

There will also be cash to change lane markings on freeway on-ramps to help drivers merge better, and also money to improve driver information signs.

The aim is to make the existing road networks more efficient with cost-effective measures.

And for that Transport Minister Dean Nalder and Main Roads are to be congratulated.

In tightened economic circumstances all possible ways to help ease the pressure should be welcomed.

Of course, it does not mean the congestion problem is fixed.

To be fully effective, the package needs to be part of a well-prepared, longer-term, co-ordinated transport strategy.