The Roads and Traffic Authority and three other agencies will be abolished as part of the most significant restructure of transport in NSW history, Minister for Transport Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Roads and Ports Duncan Gay announced today.

NSW Maritime, the Transport Construction Authority and the Country Rail Infrastructure Authority will also cease to exist and their functions will be absorbed by the new integrated transport authority – to be called Transport for NSW.

Transport for NSW will be responsible for the co-ordinated delivery of transport services across all modes, and a renewed focus on the customer.

It will see policy and planning experts from all transport agencies working together in the one location, eliminating duplication and ensuring they no longer work in silos.

Mr Gay said a new body to be called NSW Roads and Maritime Services would build and maintain roads; conduct driving tests; issue licences and registrations; and oversee harbours and waterways.

“Twelve weeks ago, when we announced the start of this process, I said the RTA would not be the same organisation and today’s announcement bears that out – in fact, there is no longer an RTA,” Mr Gay said.

“What we will have in its place is a streamlined, customer-focused organisation to deliver essential frontline services to the people who use our roads, our harbours and our waterways.

“With strategy and policy work now taken care of by Transport for NSW, the task of making sure motorists can get from point A to point B quickly and safely is right in focus.”

Mr Gay said the importance of regional NSW had been recognised with the establishment of a new division focusing on freight and regional development.

“This means that for the first time the key freight system components including road, rail, marine, ports and intermodal terminals will be consolidated, and will provide a single point of contact for industry interaction,” he said.

Ms Berejiklian said the work now carried out by the Transport Construction Authority – which builds transport infrastructure – and the Country Rail Infrastructure Authority – which is responsible for regional rail infrastructure – would be undertaken by Transport for NSW.

“The establishment of Transport for NSW will mean frontline staff at RailCorp, State Transit, Sydney Ferries and the new Roads and Maritime Services will be able to get on with the sole task of providing a reliable and efficient world-class transport service to customers,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“Whether the customer is a commuter, a motorist, a pedestrian, cyclist, or an importer or exporter – they will be at the centre of everything we do.

“Transport for NSW will take charge of major procurement and long-term planning and policy, meaning for the first time we will see a co-ordinated and holistic approach to public transport – from simple things like ensuring bus and train timetables provide seamless connections for customers through to the delivery of integrated plans and major multi-modal projects.

“We now have a structure in place for Transport for NSW which flows down from six divisions – including for the first time a Customer Experience Division and a division devoted entirely to freight and regional development, which will ensure our transport system has a positive and not hindering influence on the state’s economy.”

The Transport for NSW divisions are:

• Customer Experience – which will make sure journeys are as simple and seamless as possible;
• Planning and Programs – which will consolidate planning for all modes and develop a comprehensive transport masterplan;
• Transport Services – which will ensure transport services cost-effectively meet the current and future needs of customers;
• Transport Projects – which will ensure major projects are delivered on time and on budget;
• Freight and Regional Development – which will make sure freight services and facilities meet the needs of the State economy, with particular focus on regional NSW; and
• Policy and Regulation – which will develop and oversight polices and laws pertaining to transport across the State.

Ms Berejiklian said the appointments of the six new deputy directors-general – from a pool of around 200 applications per position – were being finalised.

Legislation to form Transport for NSW will be introduced in parliament in the next session.