Waka Kotahi says it is considering the feasibility of toll charges on road projects within the New Zealand Upgrade Programme.
The agency recently signed a $39m deal to upgrade the back-office technology and enable more tolling.
It is now awaiting a government decision on tolling the 7km Penlink between Whangaparāoa Peninsula and State Highway One following public consultation earlier this year, it says.
The $8b Upgrade programme includes at least two other highways that might be tolled, the agency adds.
These are Ōtaki to North of Levin, and the 6.8km Takitimu North Link between Tauranga and Te Puna.
Waka Kotahi can only go so far as to consider the feasilibility of tolls.
By law, only the Transport Minister can recommend a road tolling scheme, and the minister must be satisfied there is some community support for it, an alternative untolled route and the tolling will be efficient and effective.
The country has three toll roads currently, two of which are already in Tauranga - the Tauranga Eastern Link and Takitimu Toll Road.
10 comments
Why Tauranga heavily tolled?
Posted on 14-11-2022 10:43 | By jed
Why does Tauranga get so heavily tolled?
@Jed
Posted on 14-11-2022 10:50 | By The Professor
Because we are all mugs and allow things like this to happen. It's about time our people stood up and protested against things like this. It 's also probably linked to the fact that the Government and local Councils want us out of our cars and onto unreliable public transport.
It’s convenient.
Posted on 14-11-2022 11:35 | By Shadow1
Tauranga is fair game at the moment, we have no democratic rights. The government commissioners have made that clear. They make a show of listening to ratepayers then carry on with their plans. May as well toll all of our roads too. Shadow1.
Why not
Posted on 14-11-2022 11:47 | By FRANKS
completely surround Tauranga with toll roads................that's about as smart as most other Waka Kotahi money spending ideas.
What
Posted on 14-11-2022 11:59 | By Merlin
What the? the possibility of 3 toll roads for Tauranga? We already have 2 thanks a previous government and only one in the rest of the Country. Definitely NO.
Yeah of course
Posted on 14-11-2022 12:49 | By Kancho
Why I'm not surprised. Seems the high cost of fuel and road charges and fines skimmed by the government seem to not get to roading upkeep or upgrades, nor even road policing . They take a little off the double taxing on importing fuel but take it back with the other hands in your pocket. To pay shed loads of consultants, talk fest, bureaucracy and even extravagant parties like the opening of transmission gully $337 ,000 on top of a huge overrun but they say was budgeted for ! The printing money and huge borrowing that grandchildren will still be paying off makes this government the worst and the country is in sharp decline. No wonder our young skilled leave and less people want to come here either
@ jed
Posted on 14-11-2022 12:55 | By Kancho
The answer is we are not a Labour electorate. It's why the already scheduled work on our northern link was immediately cancelled by Labour when they came I to power. And now a half assed project in its place with roundabouts instead of a proper off ramp at Omokoroa or four lanes to town . Anyone living in Omokoroa know this is so, we should all remember and vote accordingly.
Tauranga roads
Posted on 14-11-2022 17:18 | By Robin
Just watching the 1st 2 roundabouts been built on the Katikati. I would hate to know the cost. Everyday there are workman standing around doing absolutely nothing. Crash barriers put up a few months ago are been pulled down and road widened. I’m sure the cost could be halved.Do it once and do it properly! Against another toll that is just ridiculous. Government is making a fortune out of fuel taxes as with all stop start uses a lot more fuel
NZTA needs to go!
Posted on 15-11-2022 05:47 | By TheCameltoeKid
They can go and take a running jump in the lake with their tolls! There's 3 toll roads in New Zealand and we have 2 of them. The funding was already allocated under National but taken away by Jacinda and her greenie mates. Now they're going to hold up traffic even more with their stupid cycle lane to Bethlehem and reduce the speed limit. Now the queues I'll probably extend as far back to Waihi. All NZTA do is provide problems not solutions.
Of course, more tax money
Posted on 15-11-2022 08:14 | By an_alias
This will be endless going forward, they want to stop all car driving and this is there way. Only public servants will be able to afford this going forward and private jets from Europe to USA for Jacinda.
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