immediately. In the 2007 federal election, both major parties made different election commitments regarding the F3 to M2 link. Labor committed $150 million to undertake feasibility and planning studies under the National Building Program, while the Coalition made election commitment of $1.5 billion over seven years to 2014 to fund the construction of the F3 to M2 corridor. Labor eventually won the election. In October 2008, the NSW government sought to receive federal funding from Infrastructure Australia on the F3-M2 connector. In May 2011, the federal Labor government announced deferral of its National Building Program feasibility study until 2015–16, creating uncertainty about the federal government's commitment to the project. Project revival Pennant Hills Road In March 2011, the Liberals–Nationals coalition won the state election. In 2012, Infrastructure NSW released its 20-year State Infrastructure Strategy report which claimed that Pennant Hills Road carried approximately 80,000 vehicles per day in 2011. The Environmental Impact Statement of the NorthConnex subsequently released in July 2014 showed that Pennant Hills Road carried approximately 62,000 vehicles per day, out of which roughly 10% were heavy vehicles. Until 2020, the average daily traffic volumes on Pennant Hills Road remained at the same numbers. Along with the State Infrastructure Strategy report, the link between the F3 and M2 was also recognised in Transport for NSW's Long Term Transport Master Plan as important infrastructure for freight traffic and the wider connectivity within NSW to reduce congestion and improve traffic flow along Pennant Hills Road. In 2013, The National Roads and Motorists' Association (NRMA) identified the arterial, Pennant Hills Road as the third worst road in NSW and the ACT. This rating reflected the level of frustration experienced by road users. Traffic congestion is often associated with poor road safety and further compounding congestion into off-peak period. The rate of accidents along the arterial strip was significantly higher when compared to the NSW average. A proposed tunnel link was estimated to carry more than 100,000 vehicles per day (50,000 in each direction). M7 owners proposal In March 2012, the NSW government received an unsolicited proposal from the owners of M7, to design, build, operate, maintain and finance the F3–M2 Link. A committee was set up to investigate and assess the proposal and in July that year, the proposal moved to Stage 2 of the unsolicited proposals process (development and assessment of a detailed proposal). On 30 May 2013, the NSW