Auckland congestion charge: Mayor says new toll could replace fuel tax

Friday, 6 November 2020

The growing number of vehicles on Auckland's roads could overwhelm anti-congestion efforts, the AA says (video first published July 2019).

Auckland’s mayor supports a congestion charge to replace the regional fuel tax, but says it mustn’t impose “impossible burdens” on disadvantaged sectors of society.

Phil Goff made the comments to Stuff after a survey on the charge was presented to Auckland Council this week.

It showed the proposed charge has the support of only 29 per cent of the public.

Congestion charging is a method used to ease congestion by directly charging road users at different times or locations, depending on how congested the roads are.

Politicians are supportive of a congestion charge in Auckland, despite a survey revealing public support is lacking. (File photo)

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Congestion charges have reduced traffic in central London by 10 per cent in as many years, and could raise $300 million annually towards improving Auckland’s transport network. (File photo)

“When implemented well it has been proven effective in other cities in reducing congestion, and has to be considered as one effective means of tackling Auckland’s problem,” Goff said.

Auckland Mayor Phil Goff says he supports a road toll in principle, but wants the government to address the question of equity for low-income earners who may find charges a genuine burden.

“But it needs to include a provision for there being effective public transport alternatives, and address questions of equity in terms of not imposing impossible burdens on disadvantaged groups in our community.”

Goff said congestion charging relies on government legislation to be implemented.

“This means that its introduction won’t be immediate, allowing in the meantime for the strengthening of our public transport system as a co-requisite,” he said.

“It would raise money which should be reinvested in our transport system, but the key purpose is to introduce demand management as an effective way of reducing congestion.”

The Ministry of Transport has been investigating whether to introduce congestion charges in Auckland in a project known as the Congestion Question.

A phase one report was completed in November 2017, and spokeswoman Marian Willberg said the ministry and cross-agency group are continuing work on phase two.

“While good progress has been made, the work programme has been affected by the need to focus on the Covid-19 response,” she said.

“The focus of this work is using pricing to influence travel choices. While a congestion charge would raise some revenue, this is not the primary purpose.”

Auckland Council’s planning committee chairman Chris Darby said he will be considering a report on the Congestion Question at either the December committee meeting or early in the New Year.

“Once the new Minister of Transport has been fully briefed and taken the main findings report to Cabinet for their consideration, I expect the joint officials from the Ministry of Transport and Auckland Council will be bringing an update report to [the] council,” he said.

“Although we are yet to see the main findings report, I am generally supportive of the need to look seriously at such a travel demand management instruments like congestion charging.”

A 2019 study found Auckland to have the second most congested roads in Oceania with traffic increasing travel times by 29 minutes.

London introduced congestion charging in 2003, and over the following decade recorded a 10 percent reduction in traffic and improvements in air quality.

Incoming Transport Minister Michael Wood was unavailable for comment.