Hopes riding on hi-tech fix for Hobart’s traffic woes

TECHNOLOGY designed to change driver behaviour and help fix Hobart’s worsening traffic congestion is set to be a game-changer for Tasmanian motorists.

Minor crashes can easily result in major traffic congestion around Hobart’s CBD.. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

TECHNOLOGY designed to change driver behaviour and help fix Hobart’s worsening traffic congestion is set to be a game-changer for Tasmanian motorists.

The Department of State Growth has made the call in new tender documents released relating to the introduction of real-time predicted route travel times and a new early warning system for Hobart motorists.

The documents also reveal the department has been hampered by a lack of reliable data needed to “support its arguments’’ and solve Hobart traffic woes.

As part of the project now out to tender, contractors must provide real-time traffic data on Hobart’s arterial roads and the CBD, and supply and install a new Bluetooth system.

Information on predicted route travel times would ultimately be displayed and updated on large road signs and sent to smartphones.

“This could prove to be a game-changer in influencing demand patterns and driver behaviour,’’ the Department of State Growth tender said.

It says motorists could then “plan their journeys appropriately and thus maximising the use of existing traffic network infrastructure’’.

A bluetooth alert system could be a “game-changer” in fixing Hobart’s traffic problems. Picture: MATHEW FARRELL

Vehicle travel trips across greater Hobart are expected to grow 0.5 per cent annually over the next 20 years.

“To be able to identify problem routes and areas effectively, the department should have the ability to measure and analyse travel times for road users travelling from the main approaches in to and out of the Hobart CBD,’’ the department noted.

“However, the department does not currently have sufficient data sources to provide such information. As a result, it is not equipped with objective network performance indicator data to support its arguments in the public discourse over traffic congestion.’’

The latest developments follow the awarding of a $179,000 tender this year to GHD Australia and Kapsch, which is looking at lane management, traffic signal operations and a system-wide analysis.

RACT membership and community executive general manager Stacey Pennicott said the new technology had a role to play as part of a wider range of measures.

“But a long-term, multi-faceted solution is still required to meet the challenges of Hobart’s growing congestion problem,” Ms Pennicott said.

Infrastructure Minister Rene Hidding said the technology was exciting and innovative, enabling the traffic control centre to directly control traffic signals to quickly ease congestion points and to communicate traffic information directly to commuters.