Heavy vehicle owners could be charged for use of certain roads

Finance Minister Bill English yesterday released the 30 Year National Infrastructure plan, which contains initiatives to help the country cope with aging infrastructure. Photo / Mark Mitchell

A trial that could see heavy vehicle owners charged for the use of certain roads is to be considered.

Around $110 billion will be spent by central and local government on infrastructure over the next 10 years - but more money will come from user-pays and other charges.

Finance Minister Bill English yesterday released the 30 Year National Infrastructure plan, which contains initiatives to help the country cope with aging infrastructure.

One action outlines how Ministers will in 2015/16 consider advice on the feasibility and design of a "demand management and road pricing project" trial for heavy vehicles.

Road pricing is charging drivers for the use of a road, or the use of roads in a specific area.

Transport Minister Simon Bridges said he planned to speak more about that work at a road transport forum later this month.

Details such as how any charges might be made and where it could take place were not available at this stage.

"The Government has asked the Ministry of Transport to provide advice on the possibilities for a heavy vehicle demand management trial by the end of this year," Mr Bridges said.

"We already use demand management tools in roading. Taxes on fuel to pay for the National Land Transport Fund are one example.

"As part of the Government's objective of New Zealand's productivity growth, I have asked officials to look more closely at demand management including, but not limited to, pricing."

Mr Bridges said that with over $4 billion spent on land transport infrastructure each year, and the rising costs of congestion, such matters were worth exploring.

"The work will look at price and non-price options, and technological and non-technological options," he said.

"The overall purpose of the trial is to test a range of approaches to improving the performance of the road network. "A trial can help us understand what might and might not be possible, and what the impacts might be even beyond heavy vehicles."

A key focus of yesterday's infrastructure report is how to handle Auckland's growth.
The city is predicted to grow by another 716,000 people by 2045, and will need 400,000 more dwellings - almost doubling the current housing stock.

The Government recently dismissed the possibility of options including road charges being used to help pay for Auckland's transport strategy.

The infrastructure plan argues that the council's proposed investment would have only delivered modest improvements, and that better progress will be made under a long-term transport accord between the council and Government.

Green Party transport spokeswoman Julie Anne Genter said the infrastructure plan failed to respond to climate change, the biggest long-term infrastructure challenge.

"National is borrowing billions of dollars to build low-value motorways...while delaying critical, low carbon infrastructure like the City Rail Link in Auckland.