The heavy vehicle industry is invited to submit proposals on how best to trial a user-pays system for delivering the road infrastructure needed to improve freight networks.
The Business Case Program for Location-Specific Heavy Vehicle Charging Trials has opened and is seeking industry-driven proposals on how best to trial a system designed to fund upgrades to the road freight network and elimate pinch points.
Minister for Urban Infrastructure and Cities Paul Fletcher said road freight is the engine of our economy and roads are our most valuable infrastructure asset.
“Australia has 874,000 kilometres of roads and our exports, imports, domestic deliveries, e-commerce and many jobs, rely on ensuring that this vast network runs as efficiently as possible,” Minister Fletcher said.
“We are inviting heavy vehicle operators to explore how they can help improve a particular route or network by paying a fair and equitable user charge. We would like to work with them to develop a business case to test the value proposition for all stakeholders.
“Work is also progressing with industry on designing options to trial the possible replacement of heavy vehicle registration fees and fuel charges at the national level, through a related initiative – the National Heavy Vehicle Charging Pilot.”
A range of stakeholders connected to the road freight sector are eligible to submit a proposal to develop a business case by 21 September 2018.
Local councils are also encouraged to take the opportunity to identify where, how and why a heavy vehicle charge could improve supply chain productivity by submitting a proposal to develop a business case.
For further guidance on how to submit a proposal visit: https://infrastructure.gov.au/roads/heavy/charging-trials/business-case.aspx