Drive-by eftpos system likely for Transit toll roads

The prospect of drivers paying road tolls without having to dig into their pockets has been brought a step closer.

Transit New Zealand, the Government's roadbuilder, is to investigate methods of electronic collection because of the findings of a consultation report it prepared.

"The report found that there is support for the concept of a nationally integrated electronic toll collection system for toll roads in New Zealand," Transit chief executive Rick van Barneveld said.

Transit wants to use tolls to pay for the construction of new roads.

But in its report, it says "many individual submitters queried the introduction of toll roads in principle, arguing that significant revenue is already collected through petrol excise tax".

Most people making submissions also said a cost-free route must also be available as well as any toll route.

All Maori organisations which made submissions were against tolls.

Transit's preferred tolling option is a "free-flow multi-lane toll configuration" with no barriers and tolls collected electronically as vehicles drive by.

The report recommends Transit investigate toll payment options for cars not fitted with an "electronic toll collection device", and a toll payment option that does not record toll payers' personal details.

- NZPA