RAC has welcomed funding in today’s State Budget for key road and rail infrastructure projects across Western Australia, but the long-term level of investment for the Regional Road Safety Improvement Program remains uncertain.
RAC General Manager Corporate Affairs Will Golsby said it is pleasing to see the State Budget will deliver $27 billion for infrastructure projects across metropolitan Perth and regional WA over the next four years.
"We strongly welcome the funding investment which will assist to fast-track important road and rail projects across WA,” Mr Golsby said.
"A new Smart Freeway for Perth's northern suburbs will be a significant boost to relieve congestion on our network, with traffic volumes on Perth’s main roads now up to 16 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels.”
RAC has continually called for low cost safety treatments to be funded at metropolitan intersections – where almost 50 per cent of crashes in Perth occur.
“We welcome the funding allocated via the Metropolitan Intersection Crash Program and believe it’s an important step to establishing a long term and fully funded program to target high risk intersections in our metropolitan areas.
“Keeping our communities connected via active transport options including cycling and walking has also received support, including funding allocated for the Causeway Cyclist and Pedestrian Bridge."
Mr Golsby said the budget has also confirmed the first year of state funding for the Regional Road Safety Improvement Program but the delivery and timing of the full project remains uncertain.
“The Regional Road Safety Improvement Program is a critical life-saving, job creating, stimulus package our State urgently needs."
State Government modelling has demonstrated that, if fully funded, the Program is expected to:
- Save more than 2,100 people from being killed or seriously injured;
- Reduce regional road trauma by 60 per cent;
- Create more than 4,500 jobs;
- Upgrade more than 17,000 kilometres of WA’s regional road network; and
- Reduce the financial cost of road trauma currently estimated to be as much as $2 billion per annum in WA.
The Budget also confirmed that the Perth Parking Levy will have a closing balance of $153 million up from $131 million last year, signalling that there needs to be an increased focus on improving and activating transport and pedestrian access to the Perth city area.
To read RAC’s State Budget Submission, or for more information on the Regional Road Safety Improvement Program, please visit our website.
< ENDS >
