Not “going to go down well”, “crazy” and “fully against it” are among Tauranga residents’ responses to the potential of congestion charges for the city’s roading network.
At a Tauranga City Council meeting last week, the Commission talked about the potential of applying congestion charges – also known as Variable Road Pricing – revealing it had undertaken a study on the idea with Waka Kotahi.
The SmartTrip Variable Road Pricing Study, which explored the viability and impacts of congestion charges here in Tauranga, estimates $88 million could be produced in net revenue per year by 2035 and that would increase to $158m by 2048.
Congestion charges would differ depending on the time of day and parts of the road network included. One example is a peak-hour 6km trip from Bayfair Shopping Centre in Mount Maunganui to the city centre could see a motorist paying $3.
However, no decision on implementing congestion charges has been made yet by TCC or Waka Kotahi – the next step is the council will consult on VRP in its 2024-2034 Long Term Plan later this year.
So what does the community think of the idea? The Sun took to the CBD to find out.
‘Another cost’
Greer Thomsen is not in favour. “I don’t think [congestion charges] will change many people going on the roads. It’ll just be another cost that people will have to pay…I feel like the cost of living is bad enough as it is.”
Greer Thomsen. Photo: John Borren/SunLive.
Richard Pratt describes congestion charges being implemented in Tauranga as “crazy”.
“Half of the congestion is caused by these crazy roadworks that have been dragging on for years,” says Richard. “People are just going to have to suck it up and pay it [congestion charges] aren’t they, so it’s just another way of gathering revenue.”
Richard Pratt. Photo: John Borren/SunLive.
According TCC, revenue would be reinvested in the Tauranga transport network to create a better roading network, more efficient public transport services and better cycling and walking facilities.
Causing anger
CBD business owner Aaron Brown says he would be “fully against congestion charges”.
Aaron Brown. Photo: John Borren/SunLive.
“All that does is just anger people and make them say: ‘You’re not on our side when you’re forcibly making us do these things’ Meanwhile [the commission is] saying: ‘Okay we want you off the roads with the congestion charges on these peak hours.’ So it forces you to get on the bus, yet they’re not fixing the bus first. They’re not making that affordable, convenient.”
Transferring congestion and struggle
Vicki Naylor doesn’t think congestion charges are “going to go down well in $10 Tauranga”.
She says there’s a mix of wealthy and “people that are struggling” here.
Vicki Naylor. Photo: John Borren/SunLive.
“There’s the people at Mount Maunganui who are very wealthy then you’ve got people in the suburbs who will struggle. People that can’t afford those roads are going to have to go elsewhere and congestion will just be transferred to somewhere else.”
Alison Bradley says the charges will punish families with little kids that need to come to town.
Alison Bradley. Photo: John Borren/SunLive.
“I think they’d be better off to finish the roadworks they’re doing and see if there’s any gain from that.
“Like Cameron Rd is shocking…if they’d just put the money into finishing all that stuff then see what works and how it looks. They’re spending millions and millions on roads that are going to improve our driving.”
Council will consult on road pricing as part of its draft 2024-2034 LTP later in the year.
19 comments
Yeah, they don't care
Posted on 18-09-2023 11:59 | By an_alias
The un-elected do not care what you think.
IS THIS PART OF THE WEF AGENDA?
Posted on 18-09-2023 12:15 | By covid19dotnetdotnz
My friend and I went for a coffee, each received $20 parking fees. I took my car to get a wof. The garage parked it on the grass outside their workshop for an hour. $200 fine for no rego (waiting for wof so it could be registered). My delays per week due to road works congestion is in excess of 5 hours per week. The congestion is due to city planners failing to address the issues for many years. This city will be bankrupt within 10 years due to the stupid road works and cycle lanes. When you exit Countdown on Cameron Road, you now have to give way to pedestrians, 2 bike lanes, and then you can get onto the road? I am a cyclist and I do not feel safe on our roads anymore. This is either deliberate or our city planners are simply inexperienced.
The Master
Posted on 18-09-2023 12:23 | By Ian Stevenson
Two issues are at the core of this...
1 TCC is actively planning to create and maximize road congestion 24/7. This is part of the idealist climate alarmist radical idea/s that that the earth is goin to "cook" if all travel is other than by walking, bike of buses.
2 TCC have made such a mess of the finances (worse under the Commissioners dictatorship) of the roading, the debt and much more.
These two 100% messes are self indulgent of TCC to self create a need to self indulge in making even more quality decisions with equally the same outcomes.
Is there any...
Posted on 18-09-2023 12:30 | By morepork
... other walk of life, besides Local Administration, where you can charge people to create a shocking mess over a considerable time (Cameron Road), then raise a new tax on them in a (by no means certain) attempt to "fix" the chaos you created, and finally pat yourself on the back for the fantastic contribution you made to the development of the area? In any job where you have to answer to someone, you would think very carefully before indulging in such activity, and you'd certainly want the input and engagement of the affected community. The sooner these Commissioners (and their government masters) are removed, the better for all of us.
Doesn't make sense
Posted on 18-09-2023 12:56 | By oceans
Congestion cahrges disproportionately affect low income individuals who may have limited alternatives to driving. While the goal is to reduce congestion, some people may simply pay the charge, leading to continued congestion. And finally, implementing and managing congestion charging system can be complex and may require significant administrative resources.
The Master
Posted on 18-09-2023 13:49 | By Ian Stevenson
The only reason for "congestion" is that TCC have intentionally planned it that way!
Perhaps the motive all along was putting tolls on all roads everywhere?
They must have a statute passed by Government to allow it to happen, same as Route K and the others.
Congestion!
Posted on 18-09-2023 15:09 | By [email protected]
The only place there is any real congestion is in the heads of the non-elected Commisioners and the Cameron Road debacle...it would seem that commonsense must be buried somewhere along that carriage way, because you cannot seem to be able to make a decent decision anywhere else...we remember catastrophe of Links Ave all pain no gain.....this 'bright' idea will do nothing but further strip the centre of the city of much needed money and customers, who will willingly travel to The Crossing, Bayfair and Papmoa Plaza...
Bruce Walker
Wealthy
Posted on 18-09-2023 15:10 | By bopsaint
Vicky not all that live in Mt Maung are wealthy.What area do you call the suburbs.
congestion charges
Posted on 18-09-2023 15:29 | By grayman
according to google there are only five cities with congestion charges. they are = London, Singapore, Stockholm , Milan and Gothenberg.
How does the tauranga City council think they are to be the worlds sixthcity to do the same.
Just fix the mess of three years of upheaval to the cities roads and the problem may disappear .Even Auckland is not on board with this one
graham
What a crock!
Posted on 18-09-2023 16:53 | By Shadow1
Do these guys never quit. Congestion charges will never get off the ground. I would be very surprised if Land Transport are interested at all. The infrastructure needed to monitor the charges would be prohibitive. It works in Singapore where 5 million people live either in or close to the city centre. They also have a super efficient metro system so people don’t drive into the city.
Tauranga hasn’t a dog’s show of maintaining a system like that. The main contributors would be the 1100 council employees.
I suggest that the Commission finish the bit of Cameron Road that isn’t finished yet( about six months work at their usual rate) and get out of town. We have never needed an elected council more than right now.
Shadow1
London example
Posted on 18-09-2023 17:01 | By Johnney
I noticed there are no separate bike lanes in London. The designated bus lane doubles as a bike lane freeing up other lanes for cars. What NZ has done is create extra wide footpaths for bikes and pedestrians, build extra wide median strips with plantings, and given the motorists one lane instead of two. Complete greenie ideological hair brained idea.
Wow
Posted on 19-09-2023 11:28 | By peanuts9
The comments on this article are the usual complaints from some of the regular moaners. How dare anyone want to change their privileged world. A congestion charge, which is common overseas, may make them consider the damage they are doing to the environment but somehow I doubt it. They will still drive, badly, everywhere, all the time complaining about the congestion, the roads, the council, & anything else that upsets their elitist little world.
Tolley
Posted on 19-09-2023 11:31 | By Howbradseesit
and co, please leave town immediately. You are making this city a completely horrible place to live. I commute by bike every day and these cycle paths are diabolical to navigate, in fact I feel safer on what's left of the road for cyclists. I suggest you go out there and test it yourself before you congratulate yourselves for what you've done.
On another note, if you are really interested in raising money for our roads I suggest you bring back the toll on the harbour bridge and charge any vehicle who's license plate is not registered to a Tauranga address $2.50 to cross it.
Just wait for the uproar
Posted on 19-09-2023 14:04 | By earlybird
when TCC ratepayers notice that the BOP Regional Council have charged everyone $250 for the bus subsidy.
@covid19dotnetdotnz
Posted on 19-09-2023 15:43 | By morepork
I was shocked to read your post. Apart from the imbecility of the ticket issuers, it is proof again (if proof were needed) that there is an unspoken agenda to remove vehicular road traffic (mainly cars). I trust the garage never paid the fine, and your expensive coffee with a friend does nothing to encourage local business. The people in charge simply don't care. Your post reflects the experience of many other people in the community and frustration is rising, not only amongst motorists, but also among the many small businesses affected by myopic and stupid design and construction decisions made by an unanswerable and unelected authority. We need them gone. (And it will take years to undo all the damage they have wrought.)
@Johnney
Posted on 19-09-2023 15:46 | By morepork
I lived for around 8 years in London and can confirm what you said. I also endorse the remainder of your post.
How to kill a city
Posted on 19-09-2023 18:22 | By Fernhill22
This nonsense is how these commissioners are going to further kill off what was a vibrant city. I don't think the commissioners are living in the real world where there is a cost-of-living impacting people's incomes, then adding congestion charge into the equation, as well as extortionate parking charges it is just going to become unaffordable for people to move around Tauranga. You are going to create further problems of people wanting to work from home as they can't afford to come into town, employers unable to hire people, and the extra costs for business which could drive them bankrupt.
A better solution would be to use the $151m for the Civic Precinct towards sorting out our infrastructure, then once a change in govt has happened we can get rid of the commissioner's costs & we can start reducing costs in consultants & over expenditure in TCC.
Taxation without representation
Posted on 19-09-2023 19:16 | By Astradaz
Taxation without representation is the domain of monarchs and dictators. 😉. But you do just have to wonder at the arrogance of the commissioners. This...and a 34 million 'levy' for the cute new cbd build out. Tax tax tax away.
And, of course the wally from nzta thought it was a good idea....for Tauranga. I suggest he tries it out in Wellington or Auckland....or Napier.
Irrational
Posted on 21-09-2023 06:35 | By beejay8
Let me get this right: The Commissioners are pushing to dampen people's inclinanation to bring their vehicles into the CBD precinct at the same time as they are keen to establish a stadium on the Domain that will encourage 100s of people to bring their cars into the same area. Epitomises their irrational management regime!
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