After months of delays, the administrators of the controversial Intelligent Access Program (IAP) are set to announce a technology provider. While
After months of delays, the administrators of the controversial Intelligent Access Program (IAP) are set to announce a technology provider.
While there has been no official word on a date, ATN understands an announcement could come from Transport Certification Australia (TCA) within a week.
Phillip Halton, General Manager of Compliance and Freight Strategy at the New South Wales Road and Traffic Authority (RTA), says TCA is “getting very, very close” to an announcement.
The move comes as the RTA looks set to extend the higher mass limits (HML) network in the State. According to NatRoad, NSW is “actively considering the opening of further routes” for HML and “the Monaro and Federal highways are at an advanced stage of HML assessment”.
However, Halton declined to be drawn on the new maps. He says any announcements regarding the expansion of the HML network will be dictated by the announcement of an IAP provider.
He says the NSW Government will release “extensive information” regarding HML after an IAP provider enters the marketplace.
“When the first IAP service provider is announced we have some instructions from the Government about the expansion of higher mass limits in New South Wales,” he says.
The impending announcement is unlikely to be met with gratification by the transport industry. While government has tried to sell the benefits of IAP — such as greater access to state roads — industry officials have continually raised opposition to the monitoring device.
Australian Road Train Association (ARTA) Chief Executive Duncan Bremner labels IAP as nothing more than a “policing device that will add further regulatory burden on the industry”.