Privatization of Auckland roads via congestion charges inches closer
Auckland congestion charging: Three options with fees of $2 to $7 each way revealed
The number of Aucklanders driving into the city centre might come to a screeching halt within five years, as the council reveals its proposed zones and fees for the country’s first congestion charging scheme.
Auckland Council has narrowed its proposed scheme to three options, with charges ranging from $2 to $7; depending on where and when you drive.
The proposals could see motorists pay to enter the city centre, cross a wider central Auckland cordon, or use the city’s busiest core motorways during peak times.
The public will get its first say on the options in November, with a final decision expected in 2028 and congestion charging potentially introduced from 2030 or 2031.
NZ Herald
Auckland congestion charges are being dressed up as traffic management. I reckon they are something uglier: a user-pays road system where wealthy drivers buy convenience and everyone else gets priced off the motorway.
In the last election, I asked National Party candidate after National Party candidate about their roading policy because I am a policy geek who reads stuff.
What had dawned on me was that National seemed to be attempting to privatise the roads and I kept trying to point attention at it because I didn’t think voters appreciated what it meant.
The functional privatisation of roads via a congestion charge that will allow the rich to drive while the poor can’t.
It didn’t have to be this way.
Fully funding free public transport would generate the momentum for people to leave their cars at home and deflate congestion, but that costs money and it’s easier to punch the poor with congestion charges that the rich just see as an extra membership fee that allows them to drive around when others can’t.
Independent Media is more important than ever, especially in the lead up to the Election. TDB is the largest Left Wing Blog in NZ and we have been operating for 13 years. We get zero funding from NZonAir and we don’t have no rich backers. If you can donate please do so here or directly into our account –12-3065-0133561-56
” I reckon they are something uglier: a user-pays road system where wealthy drivers buy convenience and everyone else gets priced off the motorway.” – that’s it.
The public-private partnership is the takeover of goverment by stealth. Blame the pollies every bit as much as the money behind this crap on this one.