The New South Wales Government is looking at developing a performance-based standards (PBS) map to cope with the growing number
The New South Wales Government is looking at developing a performance-based standards (PBS) map to cope with the growing number of heavy vehicle operators wanting to gain access to State’s road network.
Under PBS, operators who build or own a vehicle that does not meet current NSW standards but want to gain access to a particular road must gain permission from the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA).
However, as there is currently no map the RTA assesses whether certain routes and networks can be accessed as requests are made.
But due to an increase in transport operators queuing to find out whether they can gain access to a particular route, as well as more companies coming forward with vehicle designs, the RTA’s General Manager of Compliance and Freight Strategy Philip Halton says the Government is working towards “streamlining” legislative processes in order to cut business waiting times.
“That certainly would include us working towards being able to show people maps that they can more easily plan their business,” he says.
“That’s certainly where we want to go.”
Halton says NSW transport legislation, with its focus on prescriptive standards, constrains the type of trucks which can be designed and used.
“We have work to do to re-engineer some of that legislation to create an easier system,” he says.
In order to address these shortcomings, Roads Minister Eric Roozendaal has signed an exemption order granting him the personal authority to clear the way for initiatives to happen, according to Halton.
While declining to name the businesses granted access under PBS, or which companies had submitted designs to the PBS review panel, Halton says the initiative has so far been successful and he expected it to “grow from here”.
“We are up and in the game, which is great,” he says.