Get ready for the return of toll booths

**Bren** · 25th August 2008, 07:21

I remember the days long ago when crossing the harbour bridge required you to dig into your pocket...those days are set for a return if national is elected into power...

New roads around Auckland might be paid for by tolls on drivers who use them if National wins the election.
The party's transport spokesman, Maurice Williamson, said yesterday that commuters could face bills of up to $50 a week for tolls of $3 to $5 a trip on new motorways or similar "roads of national importance".
But he believed that most people, if given a choice between tolls or queuing on free roads, would gladly pay.

I'm so glad I dont live in auckland now...

Full story here

**Quasievil** · 25th August 2008, 07:38

Sooner we bring in private roads into the country the better, works in most countries around the world, I have no problem with it, if you dont like it use the clogged public roads.
Give us a choice, Labour = no choice just power over the people

**NighthawkNZ:Me** · 25th August 2008, 07:39

user pays... they want new roads they pay... I don't

I got nothing against the tolls... but if they hay to do the tolls as well as the petrol tax that becomes a bit tuff...

I am sure we and if we get new roads down here it will be tolled

**oscarnz** · 25th August 2008, 07:44

Originally Posted by The Redneck

I remember the days long ago when crossing the harbour bridge required you to dig into your pocket...those days are set for a return if national is elected into power...

I'm so glad I dont live in auckland now...

Full story here

Tolling is going to happen whether National get elected or not.
The new road north of Auckland, to bypass Orewa (heading north) is going to be tolled. We are going to be handling the tolling call centre at Land Transport. It is due to open early December.

**Disco Dan** · 25th August 2008, 08:31

Used to have fun in England when I was a young'un ...my parents despised the toll roads and my dad whos an engineer made up some round bits of metal the same weight as the correct coins for the toll... it just had a simple pocket thing to put your coins in and measured the weight of the coins.

Bet systems changed by now though!

If there is a way around it i'll find it though, stuff paying taxes twice.

**oldrider** · 25th August 2008, 08:37

Nothing wrong with tolling, user pays, you choose to use it or go the other way.

As long as they don't make us pay tolls for existing roads!

Labour does that now by taxing everyone whether you use it or not!

Auckland pays for our roads, we pay for theirs.

Tougher on Auckland than on us, I reckon.

Don't be swayed by Labour's scare mongering bullshit.

John.

**k14** · 25th August 2008, 08:41

The sooner they bring them in the better. User pays all the way, I don't see why I should subsidise all the wgtn commuters using transmission gully when I use it maybe 2 times a year!

The modern day "toll booth" is not what most people think. In melbourne you have a little chip thingy on your windscreen. Every time you go under a "toll bridge" it make a sound and you get sent a bill at the end of the month. I would suspect it would be a similar thing over here.

**Mully** · 25th August 2008, 08:43

Meh. I agree with Tolls.

They will be on the new Northern Motorway Link. Which is a straight, boring road. I'd rather not be on that stretch on a bike anyway (other than a quick 'check it out' look).

Plus, it might keep cages off the windy roads, and mean more money to maintain said windy roads.

**nodrog:Me** · 25th August 2008, 08:51

we have one down here and its the fastest way to get into town, plus you dont have to pay if you are on your bike, you just ride around.

**Swoop** · 25th August 2008, 08:54

When the harbour bridge toll booths were taken out, the crime rate went up on the shore.
I wonder if it will go down if re-introduced?

**Headbanger** · 25th August 2008, 09:20

Doesn't affect me as no new roads get built down here, But I'm a big fan of them, Its user pays and the user has the choice to go another way.

**Skyryder** · 25th August 2008, 09:30

Originally Posted by oldrider

Nothing wrong with tolling, user pays, you choose to use it or go the other way.

As long as they don't make us pay tolls for existing roads!

Labour does that now by taxing everyone whether you use it or not!

Auckland pays for our roads, we pay for theirs.

Tougher on Auckland than on us, I reckon.

d roads and other road users will be forced to prop up their life style.
Don't be swayed by Labour's scare mongering bullshit.

John.

I wouldn't mind if the tolls applied to all users but I see in the Press that locals will not have to pay under the Nats policy. So with the price of gas riseing it will not be economical to use an alternitive route. Under National those that do not live localy will be subsidising those that do, by paying the toll.

Pretty obvouse what's that all about. The Nats realise that land values will drop on tolled roads and other road users will be propping up their land values and life styles.

Skyryder

**Devil** · 25th August 2008, 09:37

Unfortunately, if we want the good roads we'll have to pay for them. No problem as long as we fight to ensure bikes remain free, plus it'll help get traffic of the normal roads!

Clarification for people here. Tolls will ONLY go on new roads, not existing ones and there must be a reasonable alternative route if you dont want to pay a toll.

Haven't read up on the details so not aware of the local user thing. Will go do that now.

**Big Dave** · 25th August 2008, 09:46

>> But he believed that most people, if given a choice between tolls or queuing on free roads, would gladly pay.<<

I believe he is living on planet Kusbain.