Road Funding -- Who Pays And Is There a Better Way?

This new research report explains the current road funding arrangements in Australia and examines potential directions under the proposed AusLink program, to be released later this year. Currently one-fifth of road funding in Australia comes from the Federal Government through programs including the National Highway, black spot (serious accident locations), Roads of National Significance, and local roads, with the bulk of moneys being spent in regional areas. This report also considers alternative funding rationales including focusing on areas with higher social values (that is, higher social benefit/cost ratios), and tying funding to transport related taxes. [Editor's note: See also the report on The Commonwealth Government's Role in Infrastructure Provision at http://www.aph.gov.au/library/pubs/rp/2003-04/04rp08.htm]