The Bureau of Transport Economics and the former Commonwealth Bureau of Roads have examined the historical background to their work both from the point of view of precedent and legal interpretation of responsibilities of government. It is considered that this paper may provide assistance to the study of State/Commonwealth relations with special reference to roads and road transport.

• History of Commonwealth Government Legislation Relating to Roads and Road Transport 1900–1972
  
  op_008.pdf
  (1.24 MB)

This report examines the market for battery powered electric passenger vehicles suitable for use in major urban areas in Australia. A typical specification for an electric passenger vehicle has been used as the basis of the analysis. The study was commissioned following the considerable interest shown in the Electric Car Conference conducted jointly by the Bureau and the Australian Electric Vehicle Association in 1975.

• Urban Passenger Travel: The Role of the Electric Car
  
  op_012.pdf
  (6.92 MB)

As part of the National Highway System the Bureau of Roads nominated the Hume Highway as the National Highway linking Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra. However, the route of the National Highway from Goulburn to south of Albury was, in the opinion of the Bureau of Roads, a matter for detailed examination.

The Bureau of Roads began work on such a study and reported on the section between Goulburn and Tabletop in 1975. This second report is concerned with the section between Bowna to Barnawatha in the vicinity of Albury.

• National Highways Linking Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra, 1978 Second Report
  
  report_034.pdf
  (4.26 MB)

The production and export of wheat is important for Australia and its storage and transport represents a significant load on domestic resources. This report presents the results of a study of the costs of transporting the wheat harvest from the production areas to the ports in order to meet both domestic and international demand.

• Transportation of the Australian Wheat Harvest
  
  report_038.pdf
  (8.8 MB)

This Report summarises and draws together the results of a long and detailed series of investigations into aspects of residential streets, including residential street design, construction and operation, conducted by the former Commonwealth Bureau of Roads.

• Discussion Paper on Residential Streets
  
  op_023b.pdf
  (7.98 MB)

This report examines the hypothesis that there are no significant differences in the urban usage characteristics of various sized passenger vehicles, and discusses some implications of these results. The purpose of this study, carried out in the Melbourne metropolitan area, was to ascertain whether there were any significant differences in the characteristics which describe the usage pattern of various types of passenger (and other) vehicles, in the context of the measurement of urban emissions and fuel consumption. Such differences would determine whether or not passenger vehicles could be considered to be homogeneous for the purpose of these measurements. This analysis will assist in the assessment of the impact of the Australian urban vehicle fleet enery consumption and emissions production.

• Usage Patterns of Urban Cars: Their Effect on Fuel Consumption and Emissions
  
  op_026.pdf
  (4.33 MB)

This paper describes a method of measuring price changes at the national level in the road and bridge construction and maintenance industry. The paper gives the results of application of such methodology to measure the price changes for roadworks from 1963–64 to 1977–78 in the form of a price index. This index is a refinement and update of the price index developed by the author for the former Commonwealth Bureau of Roads.

• A Road Construction Price Index
  
  op_027.pdf
  (1.57 MB)

Urban air quality management is concerned with comparing two kinds of costs: those arising out of increased levels of air pollution and those involved in implementing an abatement program. This report is concerned with these latter costs insofar as it investigates the relationship between regulatory instruments (ADR27A for example) and their practical effects on emission generation by Australian cars.

• Vehicle Driving Patterns and Measurement Methods for Energy and Emissions Assessment
  
  op_030.pdf
  (5.27 MB)

In this Report, four parallel investigations were undertaken: road user effects; construction costs and engineering considerations; environmental impact; and social impact.

In examining possible route locations in each corridor the four investigations were progressively carried out in more detail as alternatives were eliminated, until the best alternative became apparent. At this stage road user effects were quantified and a benefit-cost ratio was used to assess the economic warrant for construction of the preferred alternative.

The investigations identified various aspects requiring further and more detailed study during selection of the precise location and the design and the construction stages.

• National Highways Linking Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra Third Report: Canberra Connections, 1979
  
  report_040.pdf
  (3.59 MB)

This Report investigates the structure, market conduct and performance of the domestic long distance freight industry with particular emphasis on the long distance road transport sector and the intermodal competition it faces.

All sectors of the industry appear to be highly competitive. Not only is there competition within the industry, but rail has the potential to capture a significant amount of the long distance freight market from road. The terms of reference as given by the Minister are contained in Appendix 1 of this Report.

• The Long Distance Road Haulage Industry
  
  report_041.pdf
  (6.36 MB)