Congestion charging is being called a necessity for Auckland’s future, as new findings reveal the growing cost of traffic gridlock.

A white paper, Auckland’s Cost of Congestion, reports that delays on the roads will cost the city NZD 2.6 billion every year by 2026.

Infrastructure New Zealand’s Policy Director, Michelle McCormick, says introducing congestion or time-of-use charging is essential if Auckland is to unlock its productivity potential.

“Congestion charging can both manage demand on the city’s roading network and help pay for the provision of Auckland’s transport infrastructure into the future,” McCormick explains.

Congestion charging is a system that charges drivers for using certain roads during busy times.

It’s already being used in cities like London and Singapore to reduce traffic and encourage public transport use.

London’s Congestion Charge Zone is one of the largest in the world.

Singapore's Electronic Road Pricing system, installed in 1998.

The proposal suggests any funds collected from these charges should be reinvested into Auckland’s transport system, including roading and public transport improvements.

McCormick highlights that cross-party support exists for the concept, with Infrastructure New Zealand hoping the Government’s Time of Use Charging Bill will gain wide backing as it makes its way through Parliament.

But she notes, “A congestion charging scheme will require time to implement with physical infrastructure, background processes and customer-facing systems all needed, so it is important that there is long-term political consensus to see it through.”

For Coasties who travel into Auckland regularly for work or leisure, congestion charging could be a game-changer—potentially reducing time stuck in traffic, but also adding an extra cost to the daily commute.

The future of this proposal will be one to watch as it moves through Government.

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