ITS Australia’s Roads, Tolling & Tech 2026 conference has concluded in Sydney, bringing together leaders from government, industry and academia to examine the technologies, policies and operational reforms shaping the future of Australia’s road networks.
Across two days and more than 30 speakers including Deputy Secretary Infrastructure Projects and Engineering Camilla Drover, former Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts, Hon Paul Fletcher and Professor of Management and Founding Director of the Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (ITLS) at the University of Sydney, Professor David Hensher, the conference explored smart infrastructure, connected vehicle data, tolling innovation and real-time network operations. A clear theme emerged: the sector is transitioning from being data-rich to decision-driven, with greater emphasis on turning insights into faster, more effective action on the network.
Road user charging reform was a central focus, shifting from a theoretical policy discussion to a more immediate and practical challenge. With declining fuel excise, increased electric vehicle uptake and changing travel behaviours, speakers agreed reform is becoming unavoidable. The conversation has evolved to how new pricing models can be implemented in a way that is fair, transparent and trusted by the public, with connected vehicle technologies playing a key enabling role.
The conference also highlighted the growing importance of “sweating the assets” – leveraging off, and maximising the value of, existing road infrastructure. Through AI-enabled analytics, digital twins and integrated data platforms, operators are improving incident detection, reducing congestion and enhancing safety without significant new capital investment.
Resilience emerged as another critical priority, as increasingly complex and interconnected road systems require closer integration between IT and operational teams (OT), along with more coordinated, data-led responses to disruptions. Speakers emphasised that automation will progress at the speed of public trust, while the importance of national standards and harmonisation was reinforced as essential to scaling innovation across jurisdictions.
Transport for NSW, the official host state partner, said the conference reinforced the importance of collaboration in delivering future ready road networks.
“The discussions over the last few days highlighted how rapidly technology is reshaping transport, from smarter road operations and safer motorways to more customer focused and sustainable network management,” said Adele Beachley, Executive Director SCATS at Transport for NSW. “These developments are critical to ensuring our transport systems are ready for the demands of the future”.
ITS Australia CEO Susan Harris said the conference demonstrated the sector’s readiness to move from pilots to implementation.
“Across two days, we heard a clear message: Australia has the capability, partnerships and technology to modernise how we manage and fund our road networks. The focus now must be on coordinated delivery and national consistency,” Ms Harris said.
(Picture: ITS Australia)
