Maurice Williamson: Auckland Councillor on the congestion charging bill passing in Parliament

One Auckland councillor says a long road's ahead before the city's close to congestion charging.

A new bill has passed in Parliament that'll let councils charge drivers on specific roads at peak travel periods - beginning with the City of Sails.

A report commissioned by the mayor estimates stalled traffic costs the city $2.6 billion dollars each year.

Howick Ward councillor Maurice Williamson says a long process of consultation, and setting up a board will now begin.

"I'll make the wild prediction now - you will not see an operational congestion charging regime for a minimum of at least three years from now." 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Congestion charging maybe coming to a motorway near you. The
government bill that allows for congestion charges has passed its
third reading in Parliament and councils can now propose schemes
to charge drivers for driving on certain busy roads at
certain times, subject to approval by the Transport Minister. Morris
Williamson is an Auckland councilor and with us now, hey,
Morris Hi, Heather Auckland is going to be the first
one to do it. How soon?

Speaker 2 (00:21):
Well, the first thing you need to know is when
you read the legislation, it says it comes into effect
on the anniversary of the Royal assent. So it can't
be for we haven't had the royal assent yet because
on manly passed last night. When the Governor General signs
it probably, let's assume later this week or next week.
The bill can't come into effect for another year after that,
which is just after the election surprise, surprise, next year.

Speaker 1 (00:44):
But then you probably need the time, don't you, to
actually set up more infrastructure and so on.

Speaker 2 (00:49):
Well, no, from that point on you've got to begin
a long process of public consultation, setting up a board.
I'll make the wild prediction now you will not see
an operational congestion charging regime for a minimum of at
least three years from now, and I think more like
four years from now.

Speaker 1 (01:08):
Oh well, that's a bummer. I mean, surely, surely this
I would think that we need this sooner rather than later.
What do you think.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
While there's a lot of opposition, A lot of counselors
at organd council don't agree with it and don't want it,
I'm a big fan because I've seen elsewhere in the
world the impact it's had. In Manhattan and New York.
They've only had it running for the course of a
year or so, it's dramatically reduced congestion, dramatically improved travel times,
and it means that people did start to begin to

(01:36):
choose other options, traveling at a different time of day,
or using public transport, or in some cases not even
needing to make the trip. But look, time is money,
and if you're a tradee charging yourself out at eighty
dollars an hour and you're stuck for an hour in congestion,
would you be happy to pay, say five bucks and
get through there in twenty minutes time rather than an hour.

Speaker 1 (01:58):
Yep, absolutely Morris, thank you as right. You just speak
with such common sense. Morris Williamson, Auckland Councilor. For more
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