Transport planning and implications for governments - the benefits of imposing a discipline

This paper has presented an historical outline of Federal legislation in the US and in Australia as it directly affects the funding of road based transport, vehicle emissions and road safety. This review indicates a trend by the Federal Government in Australia towards more involvement in this area and in the application of fuel levies for specific purposes. It also indicates from the US experience the problems of a plethora of legislation without a clear vision of the goals, which has been avoided so far in Australia. It is then argued that there are likely to be significant long term benefits to the community through road safety and environmental improvements including reductions in private vehicle travel which reach towards a sustainable society in our cities by integrating the motor car, public mass transit and land use arrangements into a truly efficient and attractive system in which future environmental costs and benefits are accounted for. The improved quality of life which could be achieved for future generations will require fundamental shifts in the cost and use of fuels and selected road space especially for private vehicles. At the same time we need to research, plan and provide for a properly planned and integrated transport system in which the car, para-transport, community transport and public mass transport complement rather than compete with each other. With imposed discipline, hopefully accepted by an informed and supportive public we can achieve these objectives in a much shorter time, and with less pain and suffering than waiting for the quality of life in our cities to decline to the point where widespread community protest for action will turn the political process in the right direction.