Media Release No 4
24 February 2017
Hobart CBD traffic congestion requires urgent attention: RACT
The RACT has called on the Tasmanian Government to urgently implement all shortterm recommendations in the Hobart Congestion Traffic Analysis prepared last year
by the Department of State Growth.
Little has been done since the analysis was prepared following major disruptions for
Hobart commuters and businesses, RACT chief executive officer Harvey Lennon
said.
“If the department believes its recommendations will improve traffic flow, they
should be implemented as soon as practical,” he said.
“The short-term recommendations contained in the analysis were to be considered
within a five-year timeframe, but that is simply too long given recent ongoing
congestion issues.
“Action needs to be taken now as traffic congestion issues are simply worsening.
“While traffic flows through the CBD during peak periods are affected most
mornings and evenings, Macquarie and Davey Streets are particularly problematic.
“It is extremely disappointing that it takes just one minor traffic incident for the
whole city to become virtually gridlocked.”
Mr Lennon said the TomTom Traffic Index, which measured traffic congestion
worldwide, recently found Hobart was the third most congested Australian city
behind only Sydney and Melbourne.
“For a city with a population of only 300,000 people, this is unacceptable,” he said.
“Congestion problems will continue to worsen unless a long-term plan is developed
and implemented as soon as possible, particularly as the Tasmanian Government is
aiming to increase the state’s population to 650,000 people by 2050.
While the RACT says immediate solutions are urgently required, longer-term
strategies to deal with congestion in Hobart and Launceston are also needed.
The RACT’s 2017/18 State Budget submission recently provided to the Tasmanian
Government says congestion continues to cause concerns for commuters, both in
Hobart and Launceston.
In Launceston, the relocation of the University of Tasmania campus from Newnham
to Inveresk will place significant pressure on traffic movements in the Launceston
CBD, the submission says.
Further compounding this is City of Launceston’s efforts to move vehicles outside
the city centre and onto the surrounding connectors. Reconfiguring one way streets
to travel in both directions could also slow traffic movements.
The RACT again called for greater investment in key tourist roads, identifying the
Hastings Cave Road, the Richmond Road between Cambridge and Richmond, the
Arthur Highway at Eagle Hawk Neck and the Wielangta Road requiring the most
urgent attention.
The submission said RACT Destinations’ properties, and the RACT / RACV Hobart
Apartment Hotel, had installed charging stations for electric vehicle owners.
“The technology associated with electric and hydrogen cells is improving and there
is a high likelihood that the prevalence of these vehicles in Tasmania will increase,”
the submission said.
The RACT said the Tasmanian Government should look at options to work with
private operators to:
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Create a vision for electric vehicle use in Tasmania.
Expand the network to ensure adequate, statewide coverage.
Encourage Tasmanians to utilise electric vehicle technology.
Mr Lennon said road safety continued to be a high priority for the RACT.
“Under road infrastructure investment, the RACT believes urgent attention is
required on the Bass Highway at Wynyard, the Channel Highway at Howden and the
West Tamar Highway,” he said.
“Securing funding for the remainder of the Midland Highway 10-year action plan
was also critically important.”
Released by: Nicolas Turner Tel: 6210 5206 or 0418 538 865