New South Wales motorists have adapted well to the time of day tolling changes introduced to the Sydney Harbour crossings from today.

“While the results from today’s peak are promising, we also need to keep in mind other factors such as the wet weather, the pupil free day, the end of the Christmas holidays and rostered days off,” an RTA spokesperson said.

“While figures were up on average around four per cent on the Harbour crossings in the off-peak hour between 5.30am and 6.30am, they were down for the rest of the peak period between 6.30am and 9.30am.

“Morning traffic remained steady during the first time of day tolling peak and was consistent with volumes at this time of the year,” the spokesperson said.

“Time of day tolling is aimed at easing congestion and changing motorists’ behaviour to travel outside peak hours where possible.

“We will be watching the traffic volumes closely over coming days and weeks to see what patterns evolve.”

Visit the RTA website at www.rta.nsw.gov.au for updated daily figures.

Overall picture

Between 6.30am and 9.30am

Harbour Crossings: Down 9 per cent

• 32,265 last year
• 29,211 this year

Ryde and Gladesville Bridge: Down 6 per cent

• 18,990 last year
• 17,925 this year

NB: There was an overall average decrease of 8 per cent on all crossings

Peak traffic volume figures

These figures compare Tuesday January 29 2008 to today, Tuesday January 27, 2009 (the first Tuesday after the Australia Day public holiday)

5.30am to 6.30am 

Harbour Crossings -  Up 6 per cent 

• 4050 last year 
• 4287 this year 

Ryde and Gladesville Bridge – Up 2 per cent 

• 2754 last year
• 2808 this year  

NB: There was an average increase in traffic of 4 per cent on all crossings

6.30am to 7.30am

Harbour Crossings: Down 11 per cent

• 10,237 last year 
• 9097 this year

Ryde and Gladesville Bridge: Down by 6 per cent

• 6289 last year 
• 5928 this year  

NB: There was an average decrease of 9 per cent on all crossings

7.30am-8.30am

Harbour Crossings: Down 9 per cent

• 11,667 last year
• 10,646 this year

Ryde and Gladesville Bridge: Down 9 per cent

• 6942 last year
• 6290 this year

NB: There was an average decrease of 9 per cent on all crossings

8.30am-9.30am

Harbour Crossings: Down 9 per cent

• 10,361 last year
• 9468 this year

Ryde and Gladesville Bridge: Down 1 per cent

• 5759 last year
• 5707 this year 

NB: There was an average decrease of 6 per cent on all crossings.

9.30am-10.30am

Harbour Crossings: Up 8 per cent

• 7415 last year
• 8043 this year

Ryde and Gladesville Bridge: Up 9 per cent

• 4864 last year
• 5282 this year

NB: There was an average increase of 9 per cent.

Breakdown of figures for all crossings by the hour

5.30am-6.30am

Bridge:

• 2039 last year
• 2144 this year

Tunnel: 

• 2011 last year
• 2043 this year

Ryde: 

• 1245 last year
• 1216 this year

Gladesville:

• 1509 last year
• 1592 this year

6.30am-7.30am

Bridge:

• 6528 last year
• 5713 this year

Tunnel: 

• 3709 last year
• 3384 this year

Ryde: 

• 2939 last year
• 2791 this year

Gladesville: 

• 3350 last year
• 3137 this year

7.30am to 8.30am

Bridge: 

• 8238 last year
• 7646 this year

Tunnel: 

• 3429 last year
• 3000 this year

Ryde: 

• 3885 last year
• 3609 this year

Gladesville: 

• 3057 last year
• 2681 this year

8.30am – 9.30am

Bridge:

• 6954 last year
• 7189 this year

Tunnel: 

• 3407 last year
• 3032 this year

Ryde: 

• 3147 last year
• 3197 this year

Gladesville: 

• 2612 last year
• 2510 this year

Off peak

9.30am – 10.30am

Bridge: 

• 4901 last year
• 5135 this year

Tunnel: 

• 2514 last year
• 2908 this year

Ryde: 

• 2395 last year
• 2757 this year

Gladesville: 

• 2469 last year
• 2525 this year