Photo by Ashwini Chaudhary (Monty) on Unsplash
Transport minister Simeon Brown announced this week that the government will soon introduce a bill allowing councils to impose “time of use schemes”, generally known as congestion charges.
“Congestion is a tax on time and productivity,” Brown says. “It means that we are away from home for longer, sitting in gridlock. It results in fewer jobs being done, fewer goods being moved, and delays to services across the city.”
The proposed legislation will allow local councils to put forward schemes to address congestion on their road networks. The NZTA will work closely with councils to design the schemes, and any proposed scheme will require approval from the central government before being implemented.
“Faster, more reliable travel times will increase productivity, and lower costs for businesses and their customers. That is why we are enabling time of use schemes to be put in place.” Brown says.
Further, “Any money collected through time of use charging will also be required to be invested back into transport infrastructure that benefits Kiwis and businesses living and working in the region where the money was raised.” Brown says, “Councils will not be able to spend this money on other priorities or pet projects.“
Brown, also Minister for Auckland, and Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, are both strong advocates of the legislation.
Mayor Brown said of the bill earlier this year, “It’s not a surprisingly new thing. You’re just encouraging people to change their day a bit or do something differently — or better still, get on a bus. There are options, you know.”
Luxon has stated that the National Party is “broadly supportive” of the bill.
A Closer Look at Auckland’s Propose Congestion Charge Scheme
At present, the proposed charges range from $3.50 to $5 per trip during peak times. These charges are intended to incentivise drivers to alter their travel times or routes or to switch to public transportation.
Initially, the charges are expected to apply to key routes such as State Highway 1 between Penrose and Greenlane, and State Highway 16 between Lincoln Road and Te Atatū Road.
Two expected congestion charge routes below in red:
Image source: Google Maps
The scheme is expected to be implemented by 2026, although it could be as soon as 2025. The Auckland Council’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee has already voted in favour of setting up a team to oversee the implementation.
Mayor Brown expressed in June, “It’s about making the most of what we have and bringing Auckland in line with similar cities.”
Opposition, Backlash, and General Concern
The proposed congestion charge scheme has been criticised for its potential to disproportionately impact South Auckland residents and low-income areas.
Ōtara-Papatoetoe local board chair Apulu Reece Autagavaia has stated that the proposal doesn’t consider the needs of South Auckland households.
“A lot of families find it more economical to travel by car than through public transport,” he said. “The hop card might be worthwhile for an individual, but when you add in a family of five, it does become more costly.“.
“Private vehicles are a need for a lot of the community, who don’t have a reliable alternative,” he added.
Earlier this year, public transport subsidies were lifted, which will exacerbate the congestion charge scheme’s impact on those already concerned.
There is a strong public sentiment that Auckland’s current public transport network does not offer a feasible alternative to driving. Critics argue that without consistent and reliable public transport, residents may have no option but to pay the congestion charges. This would suggest that, in practice, the proposed scheme would less alleviate traffic and rather impose stringent costs, particulalry on already disadvantaged communities.