A new report says the federal government's so-called "congestion busting" infrastructure investments are actually making the problem worse.
The Grattan Institute report shows all the investment does is provide more roads and more public transport, which leads to further congestion.
The institute's transport and cities director Marion Terrill is calling for Australian cities to follow London, Singapore, Stockholm and Milan and introduce congestion charges.
She says charging people who enter the C-B-Ds of Australia's largest cities in the morning peak, and leaving in afternoon rush-hour, could have a substantial impact on congestion.
How congestion charges fare around the world
Milan
The Lombardy capital introduced in 2012 the so-called Area C, a congestion charge active in the city centre. It covers the central area and encompasses about 8 km2 and 77,000 residents. Area C was definitely confirmed as a permanent fixture one year later.
Due to its lingering air pollution problems and associated health problems, in 2007, and for a trial period, the city banned 170,000 older cars and motorcycles that do not pass strict environmental emission standards.
In the first month cars entering the city center decreased by 33%, with a total of about 700,000 vehicles less during the month or about 40,000 per day; later results confirm the decreasing trend in traffic congestion in the city.
Milan Area C Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org
Stockholm
Motorists in Stockholm, which has a population of 2.27 million, can expect an average of 28 percent extra travel time than free flowing traffic, which increases to 48 percent during morning peak hour, and 61 per cent during evening peak hour.
Motorists in Stockholm, which has a population of 2.27 million, can expect an average of 28 percent extra travel time than free flowing traffic, which increases to 48 percent during morning peak hour, and 61 per cent during evening peak hour.
It is ranked as the 92nd most congested city out of 189 cities.
Congestion charges were introduced in Sweden in 2006. It began as a seven-month trial and followed with a referendum where the majority voted in favour of the system.
It came into force as a traffic congestion and environment tax in August 2007 and has been operating since.
An evaluation of the trial conducted by MIT measured a 22 per cent decline in traffic passing into the charge zone over the course of 24 hours. 2010 OECD data shows traffic to and from Stockholm city centre declined by an average of 20 per cent since the charge was implemented.
While it faced initial resistance, by 2014 it had garnered the support of about two thirds of the population and every political party, according to the Centre for Transport Studies, Stockholm.
London
London is ranked as the 25th congested city in the world and at least 52 per cent of the 8.79 million population own a car.
Motorists can expect an average of 40 per cent extra travel time with an increase to 64 per cent during morning peak hour and an increase to 68 per cent during evening peak hour.
The congestion charge standard rate is set at £11.50 a day (close to AU $20) and was introduced in London in 2003. The initiative was pushed by Ken Livingston during his successful campaign for mayor in 2000.
Traffic in the city's charging zone had reduced by 27 percent from 2002, the government body responsible for transport, Transport for London, reports.
The city's congestion charge system led to 37 per cent more passengers entering the congestion charging zone by bus during charging hours in the first year.
A 2017 UK government study has measured it has cut down about 21 per cent of traffic flow since 2003.
Singapore
In 2015, it was estimated that 44 percent of households owned cars in Singapore and according to the TomTom Index, its traffic ranks 55th most congested in the world with an average congestion level that's 34 per cent higher than free flowing traffic.
In 2015, it was estimated that 44 percent of households owned cars in Singapore and according to the TomTom Index, its traffic ranks 55th most congested in the world with an average congestion level that's 34 per cent higher than free flowing traffic.
The 5.6 million-populated city state sees a 53 per cent increase in traffic during morning peak hour and 60 per cent during evening peak hour.
Singapore calls its congestion charge the Electronic Road Pricing System and motorists incur a fee every time they used price roads during peak hours.
It was introduced as the Area Licensing Scheme in 1975, which reduced traffic by 45 percent, and was replaced by the Electronic Road Pricing System in 1998, which decreased levels of traffic by a further 15 per cent, according to the Danish Architecture Centre.
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