Council strategic transport and infrastructure team leader Sarah Dove told the committee a recent law change created opportunities for councils to manage congestion through pricing.<\/p>\n
Morning peak traffic on Turret Rd. Photo \/ George Novak <\/p>\n
The Land Transport Management (Time of Use Charging) Amendment Bill will take effect next month.<\/p>\n
It allows councils to investigate charging road users during peak traffic hours to encourage travel at different times or by other modes, reducing peak traffic and improving travel time reliability.<\/p>\n
Council staff recommended spending $300,000 over the next three years on a joint investigation with regional and national partners.<\/p>\n
The focus would mainly be on time-of-use charging while considering potential tolling options. <\/p>\n
Any future decision to introduce a charging scheme would require further consideration, consultation and approval.<\/p>\n
Drysdale said he supported allocating the $300,000 to the study. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe are tolled more than anyone in the country, there are other ways and I think we should look at all the options.\u201d <\/p>\n
Tauranga Mayor Mahe Drysdale. Photo \/ Alyse Wright<\/p>\n
He said the cost of major transport projects, including Connecting Mount Maunganui, Cameron Rd stage two and 15th Ave to Turret Rd could total $800m to $1 billion.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhich, in a rates capping environment, is going to be really tough for us to do them all.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said Tauranga\u2019s roads were good, except for two hours in the morning and evening when \u201ceveryone wants to travel on the same bit of road\u201d. <\/p>\n
\u201cIf we can shift some of that demand out, then I think that\u2019s worth considering. $300,000 now could save us $300m in the future, and I think that\u2019s a good investment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Bethlehem councillor Kevin Schuler agreed, adding it was natural the public would have a negative response in the first instance when discussing extra charges.<\/p>\n
Arataki councillor Rick Curach said comparisons to other countries with congestion charging were problematic because of differences in income.<\/p>\n
Tauranga City councillors Glen Crowther and Rick Curach.<\/p>\n
\u201cNew Zealand has been falling over quite a number of years in terms of household income and personal income to a point where people are just surviving.\u201d<\/p>\n
Congestion charging would \u201cmake hardship even worse\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo, the problem with implementing this in a New Zealand circumstance would only make hardship even worse.\u201d <\/p>\n
He said there needed to be well-functioning public transport as a genuine alternative to private vehicles.<\/p>\n
Matua-Ot\u016bmoetai councillor Glen Crowther said about 81% of 1100 submissions in 2024 opposed time-of-use charging<\/a>, and 78% opposed the council working with NZTA on a business case.<\/p>\n P\u0101p\u0101moa councillor Steve Morris said the community had already shown its opposition.<\/p>\n \u201cI ain\u2019t up for it. I don\u2019t think our community is up for it. I want this to end here.\u201d<\/p>\n Welcome Bay ward councillor Hautapu Baker said while the Government was \u201cshouting no new taxes\u201d for the upcoming election, this was a \u201ctravel tax in disguise\u201d.<\/p>\nP\u0101p\u0101moa ward councillor Steve Morris and Welcome Bay Councillor Hautapu Baker. Photo \/ David Hall<\/p>\n