[Greens-Media] Secret transport documents: time to scrap city motorway plans

[Lee Rhiannon]

MEDIA RELEASE
25 May 2010


Secret transport documents: time to scrap city motorway plans

Commenting on secret government documents released through the NSW Upper House Greens MP and transport spokesperson Lee Rhiannon has called on the NSW government to scrap city motorway upgrade plans and fast track public transport projects. (Daily Telegraph, page 1, http://bit.ly/9xdcEj)

Documents reveal that the M4 East, the F3 to M2 extension and the M2 to M4 East tunnel are all delayed for more than a decade. 

"The Labor government and the opposition should agree to take these projects off the drawing board and put all their energies into public transport solutions to tackle Sydney traffic crisis," Ms Rhiannon said. 

"Rather than be embarrassed by the delay in delivering these projects that has been revealed in these secret documents Premier Kristina Keneally should make a clean break with the failed 'motorway solution' and back top class public transport, cycling and pedestrian facilities. 

"The Metropolitan Transport Plan needs to become a Metro Public Transport Plan. 

"The failed Cross City and Lane Cove Tunnel projects underline the need for this shift in policy. 

"For more than a decade the NSW government has spent billions of dollars on motorways and there is every indication that an O'Farrell government would do the same thing. 

"The Coalition and Labor both receive hefty regular political donations from road construction companies. Thiess, Leighton, John Holland and Macquarie Bank build and finance motorway and are generous donors to the conservative parties. 

"Today the Premier will need to respond to the embarrassing revelation that her government's city motorway plans will not get off the drawing board for over a decade. 

"This is the time for the government to put their failed and delayed motorway plans in the dustbin, and announce that the Metro Transport Plan is now a Metro Public Transport Plan with fully funded projects that give priority to heavy and light rail projects and a series of bike networks.

"If Sydney is ever to beat traffic congestion this is the way to go and Premier Keneally and Barry O'Farrell should get on board," Ms Rhiannon said. 


For more information: Lee Rhiannon 9230 3551, 0427 861 568.