Tolls of $6 proposed for Auckland Harbour Bridge, $3 to enter city

[Postie]

do you think this would count for motor bikes aswell??
don't we already pay enough levy's and shit in rego and constantly raising gas prices?

A government report on tackling Auckland's congested roads suggests charging motorists $6 to cross the Harbour Bridge.

The Ministry of Transport report makes a number of suggestions for charging people to drive into the city, including the Harbour Bridge option.

Other proposals are $3 to enter a cordon - essentially the Auckland isthmus - at 15 charging points, or charging motorists $5 a day to enter the central business district.

Another of the five schemes in the report would involve a $10 a day additional charge on parking on both private and public property.

The report was released today by Transport Minister David Parker, Finance Minister Michael Cullen and Transport Secretary Robin Dunlop.

"It's time to recognise that we cannot pave our way out of traffic," said Mr Dunlop. "These schemes represent a balance between the need to reduce congestion and raise revenue while minimising the social, environmental and economic impacts to Aucklanders."

Mr Parker said: "The government has an open mind and has not taken a position on this. Depending on what comes out of the consultation process, the government may decide to look at the options further or decide to take no further action.

"That is why it is important that Auckland has its say because congestion is a major issue for the city, as it is in most large cities."

A six-week consultation period starts today and ends on 28 April. Submissions can be made to the Ministry of Transport, which will be consulting with local government, business groups, non-government organisations and the public.

The ministry will then report back to ministers on the outcome of the consultation.

Q&A

When would it apply?

Monday to Friday, between 6am and 10am.

Who would be exempt?

Public transport and emergency vehicles. Taxis included, but this could be re-examined.

What about commercial vehicles?
Charged at the same rate as private cars as each contributes roughly equally to congestion.

Would residents have to pay?
Yes, except for the parking levy scheme.

[Flatcap]

Another of the five schemes in the report would involve a $10 a day additional charge on parking on both private and public property.

Does that mean I would have to pay to park in my own carport?

[Postie]

Does that mean I would have to pay to park in my own carport?

yeah thats what i can't figure out either, it reads that way. Good luck to who ever comes round to my house asking for money for me leaving my car on the driveway.

[Flatcap]

yeah thats what i can't figure out either, it reads that way. Good luck to who ever comes round to my house asking for money for me leaving my car on the driveway.

The must mean privately owned parking buildings...

[Finn]

This has got nothing to do with traffic what so ever and if you beleive it is then you're a fool. It's just another form of tax that this fucking government will introduce, like the other 126 they have since you kept voting for them.

I will laugh at all the labour supporters as they pay 1/5 of their pay packet getting to work.

[bugjuice]

the amount of people that live over the shore and work in the city and vice versa.. it'd cost a fortune.. time to get the flipdown plate on the car..

[Patrick]

Bikes would have to be exempt...surely...

With rising petrol prices and this, the streets will be buzzing with bikes of all shapes and sizes, just like some Asian metropolis...

[Flatcap]

This has got nothing to do with traffic what so ever and if you beleive it is then you're a fool. It's just another form of tax that this fucking government will introduce, like the other 126 they have since you kept voting for them.

I will laugh at all the labour supporters as they pay 1/5 of their pay packet getting to work.

Mate, I never voted for the Commies in power. Bunch of useless school teachers, academics and drop outs who don't know how to survive in the real world.

However it is the council who is looking at doing this as I understand it - Never voted for Hubbard either

[Karma]

Not only that, but what about people that just drive through the city?

If you live on the shore, but want to drive down to south auckland for work then will you have to pay?

My mum lives in Kohi and commutes over to Albany every morning, doesn't stop in the CBD at all... will she have to pay?

Can't imagine they'd ever get away with this...

[WRT]

I'd agree to a small toll on cars with less than 3 occupants if (and only if) the money collected went towards developing and subsidising a decent public transport system.

Apart from that, vehicles on commercial errands, busses, full cars and bikes should be exempt.

[marty]

why wouldn't they? they have congestion and toll charges in most big cities, parking is expensive -try $25 an hour for casual parking in some central sydney carparks, and central london is up to 10 POUNDS a day just to drive in there, let alone park.

i would say that the charges would arise at the off ramps - not the motorway, but the bridge toll would either be at a cheaper rate both ways, or a higher rate one-way.

ahhh the joys of living in a big city trying to move out of the last century

[marty]

maybe you could get a discount for risking driving on the clip-ons though

[bugjuice]

another thing to consider tho:

we're getting tolled, and loosing more money to Mr Tax collector. Are our wages going to increase to show the difference?

While it costs to build roads, they put tolls on the new roads. Construction works (on and off duty) have to use these roads. They also use fuels, which are also going up. So their work is more expensive to build a new road. So they put tolls on the roads. Construction workers still use those roads too, which costs them more for building, so the bills go up.. it's an endless circle.

Fuel costs go up, so there's more money for roads. But everyone including construction uses fuel, and it's passed back to the road users. So we have to pay more so we can pay for more roads, which will only cost us more..

Government and construction workers need to stop being greedy. It didn't cost this much 10 years ago, so why so much now? It's cos the new yacht range is out, and everyone wants one..

[Postie]

i have a solution. I'm gonna act crazy, start pissing in my pants at work and eating slugs and shit, get diagnosed as mentally ill and sit on the sickness benefit, that way i don't have to work so i won't pay taxes which means i don’t have to come into the city to work so i don't need to pay more taxes. Sweet.


This working for a living is a fucking joke.

[bugjuice]

go to jail.
get waitered on, meals cooked for you, rent for free, new mates.. just imagine how much you'd save.. just a shame you can't go out and ride the bike around as much..