Transport funding solutions in the hands of Aucklanders

29 April 2013

"Aucklanders wanting a better transport system should carefully consider and provide feedback on the options set out in the Funding Auckland’s Transport Future report launched today," says Stephen Selwood Chief Executive of the New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development.

"Should we invest more in transport for the future? If not, how do we cope with congestion? If so, should increased investment be funded by continued increases to rates and fuel taxes, or should we opt for motorway or cordon tolls or a package of all tools?

"Following six-months deliberation a consensus building group of community, transport, environment, and business representatives tasked with solving Auckland’s transport funding conundrum have come to three key conclusions:

1. Doing nothing is not an option. We have to increase the pace of investment in public transport and roads to support Auckland's growth or the city will grind to a halt

2. Using existing funding tools like fuel taxes, road user charges, rates and tolls on major new roads could bridge the funding gap but the increases would be significant and congestion will still be a problem

3. Unless Aucklanders are prepared to accept the costs associated with heavier congestion, and further increases to rates and fuel taxes into the future, introducing some form of road pricing will be required by 2021.

"While more work is needed to design the best solution, the group has signalled its preference for some form of road pricing, subject to feedback from Aucklanders. Road pricing schemes have the added benefit of impacting on travel demand, helping to reduce the level of congestion on roads, encouraging alternative modes of transport and improving travel speeds and journey times for motorists and freight. Importantly, they must be supported by viable, attractive public transport alternatives.

"NZCID is on record as favouring a motorway network charge with an average toll of around $2.00 a trip, higher at peak and lower off peak. This won't bridge the entire funding gap - we'll still need contributions from fuel taxes, rates and government support - but a motorway network charge means that increases to petrol tax and rates will be much less.

"The advantage of this approach is that, subject to an enabling change of law, it can be easily introduced and provides a means to target the most congested part of the network, the motorway system.

"Another key advantage is that it provides people with choices. For every driver who chooses to use the local road network, walk, cycle, bus or train, share a ride with someone else, or travel off peak, that means one car less on the motorway and a faster trip for those who choose to pay.

"Market research commissioned by NZCID this time last year indicated that a majority of Aucklanders will support a toll of around $2 to $3 at peak on Auckland's motorways if this reduces congestion and helps fund major transport projects.

"That said, while NZCID favours a motorway network charge on the basis of the information in front of us today, we are fully open to endorsing alternative solutions than can demonstrate better outcomes.

"To achieve this, solutions will have to be tailored to the Auckland situation. What works for a city like London or Sydney may or may not work here. We actually have a fantastic opportunity to borrow the learnings from other cities, adapt them and progress a next generation solution.

"Now is the time for Aucklanders to provide their feedback so that the key decisions can be taken by 2015 and implemented by 2021 before we reach gridlock," Selwood says.

To read the report and have your say: www.keepaucklandmoving.org.nz
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