1307.8 - Australian Capital Territory in Focus, 2006  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 12/09/2006   
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Contents >> Transport

TRANSPORT


ROADS AND LICENCES

Roads

Management of the planning, creation, operation, maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement of roads and road related infrastructure within the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is the responsibility of Roads ACT, a section of the Department of Urban Services. From 1 July 2006, the Department of Urban Services became the Department of Territory and Municipal Services.


In March 2004, there were 2,645 km of roads in the ACT, 15 km more than in May 2003. The majority of roads are classed as municipal roads, with 71% (1880 km) in this category.

14.1 CATEGORIES OF ROAD, ACT - March 2004(a)

Aggregate road length
Aggregate lane length
Aggregate road surface area
Road types
km
km
m2

National highways
20
75
276 875
Territorial roads
745
2 000
7 331 200
Municipal roads
1 880
3 800
13 292 500
Total
2 645
5 875
20 900 575

(a) Data after March 2004 will be available when the new Integrated Asset Management System (IAMS) has been implemented by Roads ACT.
Source: Roads ACT, Department of Urban Services, 2006.


Roundabouts and traffic signals

In March 2006, there were 232 roundabouts in the ACT, and 226 traffic signals. The majority of these signals were at road intersections (199 or 88%) and the remainder were at mid-block pedestrian crossings (26 or 12%). There was also one part-time traffic signal installed at the Drakeford Drive/Athllon Drive roundabout during 2005-06 to relieve peak afternoon congestion.


Gungahlin Drive Extension

Construction is currently underway on the first section (Package A) of the Gungahlin Drive Extension from the Barton Highway to Aranda. Valued at $59 million, it is the largest road works contract yet awarded in the ACT and is expected to be completed mid-2007.


When all construction packages are complete, the Gungahlin Drive Extension will be a nine kilometre arterial road linking the Barton Highway to the Tuggeranong Parkway at Glenloch Interchange. It will include five bridges and five underpass structures.


Licences

As at 2 January 2006, there were 282,363 current and active licences in the ACT, and 5,868 suspended licences. The majority of active licences (237,301 or 84%) were classified as ‘full’ licences. A further 18,155 (6%) were ‘provisional’ licences, 14,220 (5%) were ‘national heavy vehicle’ licences and 11,499 (4%) were classified as ‘learner’ licences. ‘Probationary’ and ‘restricted’ licences accounted for 1,188 (less than 1%) of total current licences.


Of the 11,499 Learner licences, the majority (9,165 or 80%) were for cars and the remainder were for motorcycle licences (2,334 or 20%).

14.2 ACT LICENCE DISTRIBUTION

2005
2006
no.
no.

Learner licences
11 856
11 499
Provisional licences
17 686
18 155
Full licences
232 927
237 301
National heavy vehicle licences
14 364
14 220
Probationary licences
1 158
1 041
Restricted licences
192
147
Total
278 183
282 363

Source: Rego.act computer report, dated 2 January 2005 and 2 January 2006, Road Transport, ACT Department of Urban Services.



TRANSPORT FINANCE

Motor vehicle tax

Motor vehicle taxes cover the taxes levied on the operation of motor vehicles whether paid for by households or corporations. Taxes on third party insurance are excluded.


ACT Government taxation revenue from motor vehicle taxes increased by 2% between 2003-04 and 2004-05 to $85m. In comparison, total motor vehicle taxation revenue across all levels of government in Australia increased by 6% over the same period to $5,415m.


In the ACT, stamp duty on vehicle registration represented 28% of total motor vehicle taxation revenue in 2004-05, down from 29% in 2003-04. Nationally, 35% of total motor vehicle taxation revenue was from stamp duty on vehicle registration in 2004-05.

14.3 MOTOR VEHICLE TAXES

ACT
Australia
Stamp duty on vehicle registration
Other
Total
Stamp duty on vehicle registration
Other
Total
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m

2002-03
24
54
78
1 695
2 990
4 685
2003-04
24
59
83
1 886
3 240
5 126
2004-05
24
61
85
1 918
3 497
5 415

Source: Data available on request, Taxation Revenue; and Taxation Revenue, 2004-05 (cat. no. 5506.0).


Government transport expenses

ACT Government operating expenses on Transport and communications totalled $161m in 2004-05, $149m of which was spent on road transport.


Nationally, across all levels of government (Commonwealth, State/Territory, Local and Multi-jurisdictional), operating expenses on road transport totalled $9,976m in 2004-05 out of a total operating expenditure on Transport and communications of $16,572m.

14.4 GENERAL GOVERNMENT OPERATING EXPENSES ON TRANSPORT AND COMMUNICATION

ACT
Australia(a)
2002-02
2003-04
2004-05
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m

Road transport
146
155
149
9 423
9 352
9 976
Water transport
-
-
-
407
359
413
Rail transport
-
-
-
3 154
4 318
3 532
Air transport
-
-
-
124
186
150
Communications and other transport
7
5
12
1 893
2 104
2 502
Total
153
161
161
15 001
16 319
16 572

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Across all levels of government (i.e. Commonwealth, State/Territory, Local and Multi-jurisdictional).
Source: Government Finance Statistics, Australia, 2004-05 (cat. no. 5512.0), Time Series Spreadsheets.


Estimated road construction expenditure

Road authorities of each state and territory are required to provide the National Road Transport Commission with road construction estimates each year. This data helps to identify the share of bridge and road costs that are attributed to heavy vehicles. It is also used in the application of the annual adjustment procedure for heavy vehicle registration charges.


The total estimated expenditure on road construction and maintenance in the ACT decreased between 2003-04 and 2004-05 by almost one third (down 32% or $28m). Of the ACT total expenditure for 2004-05 ($60m), 42% was on pavement improvements ($25m). Expenditure on pavement improvements in 2004-05 was around half (51%) that in 2003-04 ($49m).


A further $10m was expended on servicing and operating costs in 2004-05. This was a similar amount to that expended in 2003-04, however the proportion of total expenditure for this category increased from 11% to 17% between the periods.


Nationally, the total estimated expenditure on road construction and maintenance for 2004-05 was $5,809m. This was a 6% increase ($325m) from the 2003-04 estimated expenditure of $5,484m.

14.5 ESTIMATED ROAD CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE EXPENDITURE

2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
ACT
Australia
ACT
Australia
ACT
Australia
Expenditure category
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m

Servicing and operating
19
528
10
601
10
670
Road pavement and shoulder construction
Routine maintenance
3
353
1
375
1
372
Periodic surface maintenance
3
242
3
281
3
268
Bridge maintenance/rehabilitation
2
148
2
139
1
156
Road rehabilitation
7
414
3
447
3
436
Low-cost safety/traffic
8
294
5
253
7
329
Asset extension/improvements
Pavement improvements
54
964
49
741
25
799
Bridge improvements
3
232
9
266
2
365
Land acquisition, earthworks, other extensions/improvements
-
1 181
-
1 451
-
1 460
Other miscellaneous activities
Corporate services
5
213
4
216
4
237
Enforcement of heavy vehicle regulations
-
82
-
95
1
102
Vehicle registration(a)
1
274
3
301
3
307
Driver licensing
1
189
-
176
-
177
Loan servicing
-
160
-
144
-
130
Total
106
5 273
88
5 484
60
5 809

- nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Figure includes combined total of expenditure on vehicle registration & driver licensing.
Source: National Transport Commission, Annual Reports, 2003, 2004 and 2005.



PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Buses

The Australian Capital Territory Internal Omnibus Network (ACTION) is the main provider of passenger transport in the ACT. The ACTION Authority was established as a statutory authority on 1 January 2002, and provides:

  • passenger bus network and school services, with a range of express and route services to and from all suburbs
  • a special needs transport service - a door-to-door service for disadvantaged people in the community
  • charter bus services.

For the 2004-05 financial year, ACTION employed 700 full-time equivalent staff, operating:
  • a bus fleet of 391 buses (373 passenger buses and 18 special needs buses), including 82 disability accessible buses
  • depots and workshops (located in Tuggeranong and Belconnen)
  • four bus interchanges (located at Belconnen, Tuggeranong, Civic and Woden)
  • ACTION Authority's head office at Tuggeranong.

14.6 ACTION BUS SERVICE, Selected statistics - ACT

Operating statistics
2003-04
2004-05
Change 2003-04 to 2004-05

Passenger boardings '000
16 305
16 240
-65
Bus kilometres '000
22 988
23 339
351
Buses in fleet no.
388
391
3
Employees no.
677
700
23

Source: ACT Department of Urban Services, ACTION Authority Annual Report 2004-05.


Total passenger boardings for ACTION buses decreased by 65,000 between 2003-04 and 2004-05. Bus kilometres travelled increased by 2% in 2004-05 to 23.3 million km, from 23.0 million km in 2003-04.


Taxis

Taxi dispatch services in the ACT are provided by Canberra Cabs (with a fleet of 191 taxis) and Elite Taxis (Canberra) (with a fleet of 44 taxis). Almost all of these taxis are independently owned and operated, and compete for hirings throughout the ACT. Canberra Cabs also provides 18 wheelchair accessible taxies.


A cross border arrangement for the provision of taxi services exists between the ACT and NSW Governments. This arrangement enables Canberra and Queanbeyan taxis to operate freely within the region. Queanbeyan has a fleet of 16 taxis.


Coach and rail services

The numbers of rail and coach passengers into and out of Canberra increased between 2004 and 2005.


For rail passengers in 2005, a total of 50,334 passengers boarded trains leaving Canberra, which was an increase of 6% from 2004 (47,642). A total of 52,438 passengers arrived by rail into Canberra during 2005, which was also a 6% increase on the figure for 2004 (49,679).


For coach passengers in 2005, there were 21,725 passengers who travelled out of Canberra and 21,719 passengers who arrived in Canberra. These numbers represented respective increases of 5% and 6% compared with arrivals and departures for 2004.

14.7 COACH AND RAIL PASSENGERS

2003
2004
2005
Change 2004-05
no.
no.
no.
% change

Origin Canberra
Rail passengers
62 127
47 642
50 334
6
Coach passengers
22 986
20 699
21 725
5
Destination Canberra
Rail passengers
64 032
49 679
52 438
6
Coach passengers
22 904
20 401
21 719
6

Source: CountryLink, State Rail NSW, Data available on request.


Domestic and regional aircraft travel

Airline services into and out of the ACT are classified as either 'domestic' or 'regional' services. The domestic airlines are those performing Regular Public Transport (RPT) services primarily between capital cities and major tourist centres within Australia. The regional airlines are those performing RPT services primarily to regional centres within Australia.


The number of fare-paying (revenue) passengers for both domestic and regional travel (i.e. total traffic) increased by 8% from 2003-04 to 2004-05. The number of domestic revenue passengers through Canberra International Airport increased by 9% (161,836 passengers). There was a 2% increase in the number of regional revenue passengers (11,451).

14.8 REGULAR PASSENGER TRANSPORT SERVICES, Revenue passengers - ACT

Domestic
Regional
Total traffic
In
Out
Total
In
Out
Total
In
Out
Total

1999-2000(a)
729 694
732 796
1 462 490
254 649
252 082
506 731
984 343
984 878
1 969 221
2000-01
640 915
648 030
1 288 945
410 396
407 878
818 274
1 051 311
1 055 908
2 107 219
2001-02
478 545
483 775
962 320
441 134
437 848
878 982
919 679
921 623
1 841 302
2002-03
659 527
653 615
1 313 142
301 034
302 175
603 209
960 561
955 790
1 916 351
2003-04
900 367
892 305
1 792 672
251 648
259 102
510 750
1 152 015
1 151 407
2 303 422
2004-05
981 742
972 766
1 954 508
255 671
266 530
522 201
1 237 413
1 239 296
2 476 709

(a) Regional airline data include estimates.
Source: Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics, Aviation Statistics, Airport Traffic Data, 1994-95 to 2004-05.


Total passenger aircraft movements in and out of Canberra International Airport decreased by 4% between 2003-04 and 2004-05. Regional aircraft movements also decreased by 7% over the same period. Domestic aircraft movements decreased by 2%.

14.9 REGULAR PASSENGER TRANSPORT SERVICES, Aircraft movements - ACT

Domestic
Regional
Total traffic
In
Out
Total
In
Out
Total
In
Out
Total
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.

1999-2000(a)
9 822
9 829
19 651
10 692
10 682
21 374
20 514
20 511
41 025
2000-01
8 378
8 376
16 754
17 484
17 629
35 113
25 862
26 005
51 867
2001-02
5 455
5 446
10 901
14 403
14 412
28 815
19 858
19 858
39 716
2002-03
7 668
7 665
15 333
10 344
10 309
20 653
18 012
17 974
35 986
2003-04
9 522
9 516
19 038
9 676
9 651
19 327
19 198
19 167
38 365
2004-05
9 491
9 477
18 698
8 940
8 938
17 878
18 431
18 415
36 846

(a) Regional airline data include estimates.
Source: Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics, Aviation Statistics, Airport Traffic Data, 1994-95 to 2004-05.



MOTOR VEHICLES

Registered motor vehicles

According to the 2005 ABS Motor Vehicle Census, there were 219,552 motor vehicles registered in the ACT as at 31 March 2005, representing 2% of the 13.9 million registered motor vehicles Australia wide. Passenger vehicles made up 86% (188,641) of all registered motor vehicles in the ACT in 2005. Light commercial vehicles made up 9% (19,472) and motorcycles made up 3% (7,385). These proportions have remained stable over recent years.

14.10 REGISTERED MOTOR VEHICLES - ACT

2003
2004
2005
no.
no.
no.

Passenger vehicles
183 719
185 603
188 641
Light commercial vehicles
18 498
18 876
19 472
Campervans
529
507
505
Truck
Rigid (with GVM 4.5 tonnes or less)
607
629
609
Rigid (with greater than GVM 4.5 tonnes)
1 738
1 729
1 687
Articulated
250
236
238
Non-freight carrying
84
101
92
Buses
957
916
923
Motorcycles
7 014
7 092
7 385
Total
213 396
215 689
219 552

Source: Motor Vehicle Census, Australia, March 2004 and March 2005 (cat. no. 9309.0).


The estimated average age of motor vehicles in the ACT at 31 March 2005 was 9.6 years, younger than the average of 10.2 years for motor vehicles in Australia as a whole. When compared with the other states and territories, the estimated average age of ACT motor vehicles was the third youngest, after New South Wales and the Northern Territory (both 9.3 years).


New motor vehicle sales

A total of 14,739 new vehicles were sold in the ACT in 2004-05. This represented a decrease (down 115 vehicles) on the number of new vehicles sold in 2003-04 (14,854). Nationally, new motor vehicle sales increased by 4% over the same period. The majority (70%) of new vehicles sold in the ACT in 2004-05 were passenger vehicles. Total new vehicle sales in the ACT accounted for 2% of new vehicle sales nationally.

14.11 NEW MOTOR VEHICLE SALES

ACT
Aust.
Passenger vehicles
Other vehicles
Total vehicles
Passenger vehicles
Other vehicles
Total vehicles
Financial years
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.
no.

1999-2000
11 781
3 053
14 834
509 448
233 146
742 594
2000-01
11 503
3 108
14 611
571 045
237 640
808 685
2001-02
10 260
3 453
13 713
537 610
266 961
804 571
2002-03
10 420
4 040
14 460
560 203
300 343
860 546
2003-04
10 490
4 364
14 854
594 414
345 710
940 124
2004-05
10 340
4 399
14 739
604 027
377 764
981 791

Source: New Motor Vehicles Sales, April 2006 (cat. no. 9314.0.55.001).


Motor vehicle use

In the 12 months ended 31 October 2004, vehicles registered in the ACT for road use travelled a total of 3.2 billion km. Passenger vehicles accounted for 85% of the total kilometres travelled and light commercial vehicles accounted for 10%.


For the same period in the ACT, the total distance travelled for business purposes (680 million km) was just over one fifth (21%) of the total distance travelled by ACT registered vehicles. Passenger vehicles and motor cycles travelled an estimated 353 million km for business purposes, which was 13% of the total distance travelled by those vehicle types (2,787 million km). By comparison, the total distance travelled by trucks, buses and light commercial vehicles for business purposes (327 million km) was 73% of the total distance travelled by those types of vehicles in 2004 (448 million km).


The average distance travelled for business purposes in the 12 months ended 31 October 2004 was 9,700 km, which was 63% of the average distance travelled by ACT registered motor vehicles that year (15,400 km)

14.12 MOTOR VEHICLE USE, Type of vehicle - ACT - 2004

Total business km travelled
Total km travelled
Average business km travelled(a)
Average km travelled(a)
Vehicle type
million
million
'000
'000

Passenger vehicles
^350
2 762
^6.6
15.2
Motorcycles
**3
^25
**3.7
^4.0
Light commercial vehicles
^205
323
15.9
18.2
Rigid trucks
62
64
29.3
29.2
Articulated trucks
27
27
115.4
112.5
Non-freight carrying trucks
^2
^2
^22.2
^22.4
Buses
31
32
39.8
38.9
Total
680
3 234
9.7
15.4

^ estimate has a relative standard error of 10% to less than 25% and should be used with caution
** estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use
(a) Average distance travelled for registered vehicles which were used. Excludes registered vehicles that did not travel during the reference period.
Source: Survey of Motor Vehicle Use, 12 months ended 31 Oct 2004 (cat. no. 9208.0).



ROAD TRAFFIC INCIDENTS

Traffic infringement notices

In 2004-05, the Australian Federal Police issued a total of 20,840 notices to drivers in the ACT. This included 16,433 traffic infringement notices, 3,471 official cautions and 936 parking notices. Compared with 2003-04, this represented a decline of 16% for traffic infringement notices and a decline of 10% in official cautions.


Speed and red light cameras

According to the ACT Policing, Annual Report, 2004-05, the ACT had four mobile speed cameras, and nine fixed red-light/speed cameras in operation. A total of 36,882 infringement notices were issued from these cameras (12,176 from mobile speed cameras and 24,706 from fixed cameras). Of the 24,706 infringements issued from fixed cameras, 23,136 (94%) were for speeding infringements, 1,351 (5%) were for red light infringements and 163 (1%) were proceeding through red arrow infringements.


Random breath tests

The ACT Police use both random breath testing and targeted breath testing, whereby police target specific locations and times of day. The number of random breath tests conducted in the ACT in decreased by 3% between 2003-04 and 2004-05 (from 48,332 to 46,898). Of the tests conducted in 2004-05, 1,117 (2%) resulted in positive readings. This represented an 16% decrease in the number of positive readings compared with 2003-04 (1,326).

14.13 RANDOM BREATH TESTS, ACT

2001-02
2002-03
2003-04
2004-05

Tests conducted no.
75 176
76 675
48 332
46 898
Positive tests
Number no.
473
1 141
1 326
1 117
Proportion of all tests conducted %
0.6
1.5
2.7
2.4

Source: ACT Policing Annual Report 2004-05.


Traffic accidents

In the ACT during 2004-05, there were 10,881 motor vehicle collisions reported to the police, a 6% reduction from 2003-04. However, the number of persons injured in traffic collisions increased by 52% from 753 in 2003-04 to 1143 in 2004-05. There were 16 fatalities in the ACT caused by motor vehicle collisions in 2004-05, compared with nine fatalities in 2003-04.

14.14 TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS, ACT

2002-03
2003-04
2004-05
Change from 2003-04 to 2004-05
no.
no.
no.
%

Collisions
11 723
11 530
10 881
-6
Injuries
852
753
1 143
52
Fatalities
13
9
16
78

Source: ACT Policing, Annual Report, 2004-05.


Types of collisions

According to the 2004 Road Traffic Crashes in the ACT report by the ACT Department of Urban Services, there were 7,275 on-road motor vehicle crashes in the ACT during 2004, a 12% decrease from the number reported in 2003 (8,288 crashes). The most frequent accident type in 2004 was 'rear end collision', accounting for 46% (3,376) of all crashes. The second most frequent accident type was 'right angle collision', accounting for 15% (1,120) of all crashes.


In terms of severity, there were 390 casualty crashes (381 injury crashes and nine fatal crashes) in the ACT in 2004. The majority of casualty crashes (224) occurred at intersections, with 121 of these at 'T intersections' and 76 at 'cross intersections'. Of the 381 injury crashes, 'right angle collisions' had the highest proportion (28%, or 105 injury crashes).


In the ACT in 2004, more motor vehicle crashes occurred on week days than on weekends. The highest proportion of crashes occurred on a Friday (18% or 1,309 crashes), which was followed by Thursday (17%, or 1,234). The lowest proportion of crashes occurred on a Sunday (8%, or 616).



BIBLIOGRAPHY


ABS

Taxation Revenue Australia, 2004-05, cat. no. 5506.0.


Government Finance Statistics, 2004-05, cat. no. 5512.0.


Australian System of Government Finance Statistics, Concepts, Sources and Methods, 2005, cat. no. 5514.0.


Survey of Motor Vehicle Use, Australia, 12 Months Ended 31 October 2004, cat. no. 9208.0.


Motor Vehicle Census, Australia, March 2005, cat no. 9309.0.


Sales of New Motor Vehicles, Electronic Delivery, January 2006, cat. no. 9314.0.55.001.



NON-ABS

ACTION Authority, Annual Report 2004-05, last viewed 11 August 2006, <http://www.action.act.gov.au/>.


Australian Federal Police, ACT Policing, Annual Report, 2004-05, last viewed 11 August 2006, <http://www.afp.gov.au/>.


Department of Transport and Regional Services, Bureau of Transport and Regional Economics, Airport Traffic Data, 1994-95 to 2004-05, last viewed 11 August 2006, <http://www.btre.gov.au/statistics/aviation/>.


National Transport Commission, Annual Report 2005, last viewed 11 August 2006, <http://www.ntc.gov.au/>.


Roads ACT, Department of Urban Services, Data available on request.


Roads Transport, Department of Urban Services, Data available on request.


State Rail NSW (CountryLink), Data available on request.



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