In the 2011-12 Budget, the Australian Government committed $61.4 million over three years to fund smart infrastructure technologies to reduce congestion and improve traffic demand management and the overall efficiency of the transport network in major cities.
Managed motorways use system control through integrating data collection sensors and control tools to improve real time management of motorways to secure a higher and more consistent level of motorway performance. This results in travel time savings, improved reliability and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
An initial set of projects that would be eligible for funding have been identified by Infrastructure Australia and include the M1 West Gate Freeway (Western Ring Road to Williamstown Road) In Victoria, the M4 (Western Motorway) in Sydney and the Gateway Motorway (Nudgee to Bruce Highway) in Queensland.
All projects will be jointly funded by the Commonwealth and the relevant state and territory government. Funding will be subject to state and territory governments signing national partnership agreements on the establishment of single national jurisdictions for heavy vehicles, interstate rail operations and maritime regulation.
