Maribyrnong council is calling for subsidies to encourage freight trucks off inner-west residential streets and on to existing and future toll roads.
The council will write to the state Treasurer, the Roads Minister, VicRoads and Transurban seeking consideration for subsidies along the current CityLink Bolte Bridge route and any future Western Distributor truck routes.
Truck drivers currently pay $10.87 to cross the Bolte Bridge one-way, or $5.37 for CityLink account holders.
A motion by mayor Nam Quach to the recent council meeting noted a massive spike in truck traffic on residential streets in Yarraville and Footscray during existing overnight truck curfews, which don’t apply to local traffic.
Cr Quach cited VicRoads traffic counts from March showing a rise of up to 339 per cent from 2013 levels on Francis Street during curfew hours, with traffic heaviest between 5am and 6am.
He said tolls had caused the failure of VicRoads’ ‘Take the easy way, take the Freeway campaign’.
“Encouraging greater off-peak freight movements on toll roads can effectively take pressure off local roads and reduce congestion during peak times,” he said.
Transurban, which operates the Bolte Bridge tollway, has proposed a new $5.5 billion freeway connecting the West Gate Freeway with the port, CBD and CityLink.
The Victorian Transport Association last year put a proposal to the company seeking the cutting of tolls on trucks using the Bolte Bridge overnight.
Night discount
The proposal was backed by the Maribyrnong Truck Action Group but rejected by Transurban on the grounds it could cost the company up to $1.5 million.
CityLink spokeswoman Bridget Brady said the company currently offered a night discount of up to 25 per cent for trucks.
She said tolling of the proposed Western Distributor and Hyde Street ramps would be designed to encourage their use.
“The Western Distributor will offer improved travel times to the port and bypass up to 14 sets of traffic lights, reducing wear and tear of vehicles,” she said. “Enhanced productivity and vehicle maintenance cost savings will act as an incentive for the freight industry to use the Western Distributor.”
Transurban is reviewing feedback on its redesigned proposal, with the state government expected to announce its decision on the proposal by the end of next month.
