Road charges could ease Melbourne’s gridlock, research shows

Charging drivers at peak times could be the best way to help ease Melbourne's traffic woes, according to new research by the University of Melbourne. In a working paper,  Can Road Changes Alleviate Congestion , researchers Dr Leslie Martin and Mr Sam Thornton, from the Faculty of Business and Economics, analysed the economic and social impact of different charges levied on road use in Victoria. "If designed well, road use charges could help reduce traffic congestion by encouraging people to drive at different times, take alternative routes or use other modes of transport," Dr Martin says. The researchers evaluated the results of Transurban's 2015-2016 Melbourne Road Usage Study that looked at the travel behavior of 1,400 motorists over an eight-to-10-month period. Using a system of credit accounts, drivers were subject to three different road charge options: ' Distance-based charges: motorists were charged a constant 10 cents per kilometre fee. ' Distance plus cordon charges: motorists were charged a constant rate of eight cents per kilometre, plus an additional $8 fee if they travelled into the central CBD zone, an area bounded by Alexandra Parade and Elliot Avenue to the north, CityLink to the west and south, and Hoddle Street to the east. ' Time-of-day charges: motorists were charged 15 cents per kilometre at peak times during weekdays and eight cents per kilometre at all other times.