The debate around the CityLink rate hike in Melbourne has gone into the next round, with Linfox publishing statistics that indicate a 20 per cent slowdown in freight travel times.
Earlier this week, Linfox founder Lindsay Fox had announced he would consider legal action over CityLink’s recent toll fee increases, which saw the price for a heavy vehicle day pass rise from $11.85 to $26.70.
Now the transport company has published a position paper stating data comparing travel times in February 2016 to December 2016 on the Tullamarine freeway showed traffic has slowed by as much as 20 per cent.
Widely reduced sign-posted speeds from 80km/h to 100km/h, traffic interruptions and diversions have increased Linfox/ running costs, the company said.
“Previous Linfox analysis shared with Transurban (Citylink operator, ed.) has showed that speeds on Citylink have diminished over time,” the company said.
“The current state of Citylink … has further reduced traffic flow and road amenity, impacting Linfox through lower value and higher operational costs.”
In response to the rate increase, Fox had already indicated his company would review the use of alternative arterial roads “to ensure we can deliver value and reliability for our customers”, but added this was a last resort as “residential streets should remain residential”.
He summarised, “If the roads are working properly and the infrastructure is right, then you shouldn’t have trucks in residential areas.”
Background: On 1 April, the cost of a CityLink heavy vehicle day pass increased from $11.85 to $26.70, and night-time tolls doubled from $8.90 to $17.80. The 125 per cent increase in the cost of a Citylink heavy vehicle day pass is attributed to the cost of the $1.28 billion CityLink/Tulla widening project, which is due for completion on an undisclosed date in 2018.