Mayoral candidate David Hay strongly opposes motorway tolling in Auckland.

Responding to the NZ Herald's story on road tolling today, Mr Hay said "Aucklanders are already carrying a huge burden of cost for congestion: in lost time, in vehicle expenses, in parking costs. This tolling scheme is an extra cost that will not solve the congestion problem."

"The purpose of congestion charging is to discourage people from using the motorway system during peak times. Aucklanders are already discouraged. The motorways are not working for Auckland now. Adding a further burden of cost will not improve the situation." said Mr Hay.

"This toll will be economically disastrous." said Mr Hay.

"Aucklanders cannot easily change their hours of work, or the times they need to get to and from school and university, to avoid congestion charges. The proposed tolls will impact most on low income earners and students. It will increase unemployment, reduce labour market flexibility, and stifle the education sector."

"The motorway tolls could raise more revenue for transport projects, but there are better ways of doing that" said Mr Hay.

"The government currently takes 60 cents per litre in petrol tax. Local Authorities get two-thirds of a cent per litre. The government holds the purse strings and decides transport spending priorities for Auckland, regardless of what Aucklanders want."

"The Auckland Council, and the Auckland Regional Council before that, have consistently told the government what Auckland's transport priorities are: better, faster, cheaper public transport. A Rapid Transit Network that provides more rail connections from the central isthmus to the North Shore, to the Airport, to the Northwest, and to Pakuranga and Howick."

"But governments - whether led by the National party or the Labour party - have failed to listen to Auckland. Instead of proposing these new taxes in the form of road tolls, the government needs to release its grip on the National Land Transport Fund. It must give Aucklanders, through Auckland Council and Auckland Transport, the power to decide what to do with the money raised from fuel taxes in Auckland."

ENDS

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