Tag Archives: harbour tunnel

E-tags and cashless motorways

Posted on by
290

After more than six months of a cashless Harbour crossing, we want to know what you think of toll roads becoming cashless and having to use e-tags.

In January this year, we reported the news that the Sydney Harbour Bridge was going cashless. As of mid-January, an e-tag or similar is needed to use either the Harbour Bridge or the Harbour Tunnel.

They are not the only motorways in Sydney that are cashless. According to the RTA-run website, Sydney Motorways, cash can still be used on the Eastern Distributor, M4, M5 and M2 – less than half of Sydney’s Motorways. With the RTA’s plans to eventually make all motorways cashless, the number of roads you can use cash on will continue to shrink.

It is clear that to drive in Sydney motorists must have an e-tag – or carefully choose their routes if they don’t. This also presents a challenge for visitors to Sydney or people who do not regularly use cashless toll roads.

Is the e-tag a help or a hindrance? Does making roads cashless speed things up and ease congestion?

For anybody who does not have an e-tag but wants to make the journey south across the Harbour Bridge, you will need to arrange a temporary pass within 48 hours of your trip by visiting myE-Toll or by phoning the RTA on 131 865.

Will raising the toll to cross Sydney Harbour reduce congestion?

Posted on by
13

Just over a fortnight after the Sydney Harbour Bridge went cashless, tolls for vehicles crossing Sydney Harbour by either the Harbour Bridge or the Harbour Tunnel have changed to time-of-day tolling, with the amount charged dependent on the time of day.

The NSW Government has raised the toll to help reduce congestion in the city during peak times and to create enough revenue – $12 million – to supply 300 new buses.

From Tuesday 27 January 2009 the fee for crossing the Harbour from north to south will be $4 during peak periods – between 6.30-9.30am and 4.00-7.30pm Monday to Friday.

It will stay at $3 during the period of 9.30am-4.00pm Monday to Friday. In off-peak periods – midnight-6.30am and 7pm-midnight Monday to Friday, and 8.00am-8.00pm on weekends and public holidays – the toll will decrease to $2.50. Visit the RTA website for more information

The plan sounds good in theory but…

Experts are saying the congestion forecasts won’t change – unsurprising given that turning the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Tunnel cashless is also supposed to ease congestion and make the trip easier and quicker.

It has also been revealed that no extra bus or train services have been put in place to cater for the increase in the number of commuters expected to use public transport to avoid paying the increased toll price.

Will a higher toll encourage you to take public transport during peak times when crossing the Harbour? We’d especially like to hear from those who regularly make the trip.