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A congestion charge of $ 3.50 to enter Auckland’s central city during rush hour could occur within three years under a scheme put forward by officials.
A joint government and council group said the city center cordon could be the first stage of a broader road toll in Auckland that could reduce traffic volume by 8-12 percent, a drop similar to school holiday levels.
Four years of work have produced a detailed proposal focused on reducing traffic and pollution, as a basis for public discussion and political support.
Ricky Wilson / Stuff
A congestion charge is expected to encourage people to ditch their cars, but there are concerns that those who are less well off could be affected.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff has given the proposal his “qualified support.”
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“I recognize that doing so requires persuading the general public that it is an efficient and appropriate way to control congestion and generate revenue,” Goff said. Things.
“While congestion charging is just one tool in a larger toolbox, it is still important in creating an efficient and integrated transportation system,” said Auckland Transportation President Adrienne Young-Cooper.
The first phase proposed a cordon around the city center, similar to the one introduced in the Swedish capital, Stockholm, that would be free to cross outside peak hours, but would cost up to $ 3.50 from 6 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. 15:30 pm to 7 pm.
License plate recognition technology, such as that used on toll roads, would generate charges on a user’s account.
RYAN ANDERSON / THINGS
Officials said the congestion charge should follow the completion of central Auckland’s rail tunnels, the City Rail Link.
Officials recommended beginning implementation as soon as major downtown public transportation improvements are completed, such as the $ 4.5 billion City Rail Link, scheduled for 2024.
The report, released Monday, also noted that more work is needed to ease the financial burden on underprivileged motorists, suggesting discounts for those with community service cards as an option.
The city center cordon was seen as a low-cost, low-risk first step towards a larger scheme that could cover the main roads in the Auckland region.
The cordon could cost $ 46 million to set up and $ 10 million a year to operate, generating $ 20 million in revenue.
The region-wide highway option could cost $ 185 million to set up, $ 87 million to run annually, and generate $ 223 million.
If either option were to replace Auckland’s current regional fuel tax, around $ 150 million a year would be lost on that revenue.
The central cordon of the city was the approach taken in Stockholm, which carried out a six-month trial in 2006, then a public referendum before becoming permanent in 2007.
MOT / Supplied
A proposed central city cordon could cost $ 3.50 to cross during rush hour, on a proposed congestion charge.
The officials’ report said there was an immediate and sustained 20 percent drop in traffic, with public transportation use between 4 and 5 percent, and a doubling of public support in five years to 70 percent. hundred.
Officials had tried to assess the social impact on the underprivileged and saw little effect from the city’s central cordon, partly due to good public transportation options, but said expanding it to strategic highways would affect more people.
“What we need is a decision to move forward,” said Matt Lowrie, editor of the transportation-focused website Greaterauckland.co.nz. Things.
“It will take at least 2-3 years to implement for it to make sense by the time the City Rail Link makes sense, so we can have more certainty about what is going to happen, rather than talk about it for the next decade or more. Lowrie said.
Officials said that any net surplus from congestion charges should go to public transportation infrastructure.
Barney Irvine of the Automobile Association called the report a compelling case, but one that it had to be sold to the public first.
“Sure, politicians have to say: we are interested and we see benefits for Auckland in this; but the decision has to be made by the public and that will need a really meaningful engagement process, ”Irvine said. Things.
Auckland Business Chamber Chief Executive Michael Barnett said that big cities around the world had successfully introduced congestion charges, and so had Auckland.
“We’ve talked and talked about the problem and now there is a workable solution, proven models to follow, and the willingness to try it. Let’s go ahead and finally make a decision and introduce a user-paid fee, ”Barnett said.
“The goal should be to alleviate congestion around the city that costs freight forwarders, exporters and travelers thousands of dollars and thousands of hours in lost productivity each year as they crawl through the city during peak hours,” he said.
“Reducing traffic volumes during weekday rush hours in the central city will not only benefit the livability of our city, but also its viability and lift productivity.”
The city’s downtown business promotion agency, Heart of the City, was wary of the scheme at a time when the central city is already suffering a commercial drop from Covid-19.
“It is important that this is not seen as another imminent change, which would keep people away from the center of the city; that’s what worries me, how this debate is framed, “said a spokeswoman.
David White / Stuff
Auckland city center was hit by the Covid-19 lockdown: Heart of the City is concerned about what a cordon load will look like.
The trucking industry hasn’t been part of the detailed work so far, but the National Association of Trucking Carriers said it could support higher rates if there were gains through shorter travel times.
“Puhoi [the northern gateway toll road] is a good example: they have not overcharged and there are gains in productivity and efficiency, so depending on the level of load that is going to be, we will see if that really works ”, said its CEO, David Aitken.
The first political debate on the proposal will take place on Thursday when it is presented to the Auckland Council planning committee.
