David Thornton: Auckland cannot wait for traffic solutions

David Thornton

The seemingly endless battle between the pro-roading lobby and the public transport lobby continues to stifle real progress towards winning the war against Auckland's march to traffic gridlock. What is going on - or not going on - in the programme to get Auckland's traffic moving and reduce congestion?

On the one hand we have seen Michael Barnett, CEO of business lobby group Auckland Chamber of Commerce, seemingly having convinced Prime Minister Helen Clark to put Government funding into roads; and on the other hand, the left-wing dominated ARC has pushed for most funding to go on public transport, in particular an under-used, geographically restricted urban rail system.

Just two years ago ratepayers were slugged with astronomical ARC rate increases because, we were told, we had to pay for solutions to traffic congestion.

Despite some changes to how those rates were apportioned, such as the introduction of a business differential, the total rates collected have not merely stayed at the high level pitched in 2003, but have increased by a further 5 per cent this year.

Where is the payback?

We now read articles by ARC transport committee chairman Dr Joel Cayford, supported by Herald columnist Brian Rudman (see links at the bottom of the page), advocating that most money should be spent on the passenger rail system.

That is not the view of those who vote with their feet. Aucklanders choose buses, ferries and, of course, cars to undertake their journeys. The hundreds of millions already spent on rail have failed to produce any significant increase in passenger usage.

It must therefore be obvious that however much is spent on rail, that alone will not produce a significant reduction in congestion - or even any reduction at all given the population increases forecast for the next few years.

It is also obvious that an urban rail network will cost billions to create and take decades to construct.

Auckland cannot wait that long. We are not one of the world's major cities. We do not have a population of millions to support a "world-class" transport system. We cannot afford to build a rail network that adequately serves the entire region.

And do Aucklanders really want a "compact city" with blocks of flats and high-density housing throughout the region - the scenario detailed in the Auckland Regional Growth Strategy, which dictates that we must have a region-wide mass transit system?

We need some breathing space in which to get our future planning more in tune with our preferred life-style - but we must also introduce immediate measures to deal with traffic congestion.

So why are we not putting in place measures which will deal with the present problem - congestion increasing at a rate with which we cannot cope?

It does not take a rocket scientist to work out that the best way forward is to increase the efficiency of present assets - most significantly the road system - with a bigger bus fleet and measures such as more bus lanes and increased parking restrictions.

But above all we must have deterrents to car use in the busiest parts of the roading system.

If we could deliver a sort of stun-gun approach to the present semi-gridlock situation we could at least buy time to develop both roading and public transport networks at an affordable pace.

We need to get people out of their cars - not simply by offering alternatives but by introducing deterrents that bite. That is the stun-gun approach.

If we are crying out for solutions, we must be prepared to pay. And those who contribute to congestion must pay the greatest share of the cost.

The new ARC Regional Land Transport Strategy obviously had a quick look at this option and meekly decided that "charging people to use parts of the network in the Auckland region - called road pricing - will not be considered by the Regional Land Transport Committee until the Government has completed its current investigation into road pricing and there has been extensive evaluation and public consultation across the region".

That is a total cop-out. Road pricing is a proven and acceptable method of containing and reducing traffic congestion.

Earlier this year a Herald leader gave us a suggestion: "The fairest and most effective form of congestion charge in Auckland would be a variable electronic toll on the inside lanes of motorways. It would enable people to pay for a faster trip if it is worthwhile to them. And everyone who pays will reduce the congestion in free lanes.

"Electronic tolls would enable the price to reflect demand for the lane at any time of day on any section of the network. Sensors in the road could monitor the speed of vehicles in the lane and increase the price of entry, posted overhead, whenever congestion in the lane causes the speed to drop."

All very clever, but highly technical and therefore operationally risky. And very expensive.

A much simpler scheme is already operating in some cities - a congestion charge for entering the central city.

The scheme introduced in central London just over three years ago saw an immediate 25 per cent reduction in traffic congestion.

Applying a similar measure to the Auckland CBD would have a similar effect if the present bus network was improved. London's congestion charge was supported by the addition of just 200 new buses. Auckland might need only 30 or 40 additional buses.

The London example clearly shows that deterrents do work.

I firmly believe that a congestion charge system could be introduced in Auckland within 18 months. That's how long it took to put the London system in place.

No one likes to pay taxes and charges, but it is interesting to note that after just three years the London congestion tax has been accepted by the public because it has produced the desired and promised result.

In fact the charge has recently been increased by 60 per cent without any major outcry.

Would that Auckland's local and regional politicians had the courage to implement such measures here to bring our congestion problems under control for the benefit of all our citizens.

* David Thornton is a former member of the North Shore City Council, the Auckland Regional Land Transport Committee, and the Greater London Council.