Text payment option on cards for toll highway

The NZ Transport Agency is thinking of giving motorists the choice of paying by text on the Northern Gateway Toll Road.

Since the 7.5km Orewa-Puhoi section opened on January 25, motorists have been able to pay the $2 toll by pre-paid, online, freephone or cash methods.

More than two million vehicles have tripped the road's electronic number plate readers and at peak times queues of frustrated motorists have formed at cash payment kiosks.

Agency spokesman Andy Knackstedt said yesterday that expressions of interest were being sought from companies in developing a mobile phone text-based payment solution for collecting tolls.

He said the agency was always looking to improve services but no commitment had been made to develop such a system.

"This is an opportunity to see what is available and how this might potentially work to the benefit of tolling."

One of the areas that would be examined carefully was the need to ensure drivers complied with the road-user rule which will ban the use of hand-held mobile phones while driving from November 1.

Mr Knackstedt said the agency was not aware of overseas jurisdictions that offered text payment for casual users of toll roads, though some allowed it for regular users.

The agency said the toll road was chosen by more than 73 per cent of those driving between Northland and Auckland. This was more than was expected before the road was built.

Fewer than half of motorists use a prepaid account and half went to a cash kiosk where they used a touch-screen to state their registration number and number of trips they wished to pay for.

Presently, motorists pay online or by phone, using only Visa or Mastercard, and the agency is also looking at expanding the range of acceptable credit cards.

Rodney Mayor Penny Webster welcomed the agency's consideration of text payment.

"Having that option will make it easier for people and reduce the queues at the kiosks," she said.

Although many Rodney residents had "sorted" a payment system which suited them, she was concerned about another summer of snarl-ups on a road which was supposed to save 20 minutes' travel on the "scenic" route through Orewa and Waiwera.

Automobile Association spokesman Simon Lambourne said the association had given the agency feedback about woefully inadequate facilities for cash payment.

The choice of paying by text was desperately needed, as well as more payment machines at kiosks or machines at car-window height so people were not forced to leave their vehicles.

Aucklander Ross Brader said he found paying the toll by internet with a credit card was "a breeze".

However, he would happily pay by texting and charge back to the mobile phone and pay the extra charges if the method was available.