Motorway tolls are needed to speed up Aucklandand bridge its funding gap.
The introduction of ‘dynamic’ motorway tolls in Auckland would help decongest the city’s road network and provide the quickest, most efficient and most equitable way to bridge the annual $400 million transport investment funding gap, says New Zealand Council for Infrastructure Development chief executive Stephen Selwood.
He presented his views as the annual Building Nations Symposium in Auckland yesterday morning.
Selwood shares the business sector’s concern that the proposed timeframe for addressing Auckland’s transport issues is far too long.
“A 10 year wait for road pricing as suggested in the recent Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) report leaves the agreed investment programme $4 billion short and, if not addressed urgently, congestion will become chronic,” he says.
“An immediate solution to funding and congestion is required.”
Dynamic tolling, says Selwood, would allow authorities to adjust the price up and down to maximise traffic flow on the motorway and reduce demand on local roads.
“Those who choose to pay benefit from a faster trip. Those who don’t have options to drive free on other roads, take public transport, walk or cycle. Others may choose to share their car to reduce the cost of the toll or travel at different times,” he says. “Motorists will set the price by their collective action.”
Selwood points out that a system like this could be introduced within a few years using existing number plate recognition technology like that used on the Northern Gateway toll road. “There’s no need for a tracking device in every car or satellites in the sky to implement such a scheme,” he underscores.
“Motorists will be advised of the current price on their phones before they leave. Variable message signs would also inform motorists well before they reach the motorway on-ramps.”
Encouragingly, a 2015 Colmar Brunton survey of 5000 Aucklanders found 57% preferred the use of motorway tolls to fund transport investment than rates and fuel taxes.
Selwood further explains that the optimum speed which maximises traffic flows is between 80km/h and 60 km/h because at those speeds drivers can travel 20kms on a motorway in just 15 or 20 minutes. However, when speeds rise above 80 km/hr, safe drivers increase the gap between themselves and the car in front, which means that while travel times are faster, overall traffic flow is reduced.
“And when speeds drop to just 20 km/h – the typical average speed in the morning and evening peaks – it takes an hour to drive the same twenty kilometres,” he exclaims. “That’s a waste of everyone’s time and money and is a huge cause of frustration for Aucklanders.”
Selwood concludes by emphasising that a dynamic tolling system on the motorway would raise required funds for investment without disincentivising travel and would provide users a direct benefit in travel time savings.
“A ‘win-win’ solution.”
