Photo: 123rf
A new report commissioned by Auckland's mayor estimates traffic congestion could cost the super city $2.6 billion dollars each year, by next year.
Wayne Brown commissioned the report from consultants EY and ARUP in support of his case for a time of use - or congestion - charge.
The government has introduced a time of use charging bill, and it was due to be heard in Parliament for its first reading on Tuesday.
The report, "Aucklands Cost of Congestion", estimated the average Aucklander will waste over 17 hours in traffic each year by 2026 - working out to 29 million hours every year across the city.
The costs incurred from delays caused by traffic would be $1.9 billion dollars, and macro-economic costs, $0.7 billion, were projected to add up to $2.6 billion a year by 2026.
Brown said traffic costs businesses and Aucklanders alike, and it needed to be fixed to get growth in the city.
"A Time of Use Charge will enable people to think of other ways to travel, like public transport, carpooling or driving outside rush hour.
"Reducing Auckland's congestion will mean that truckies can deliver more freight on less trucks, and tradies can spend more time on the job, rather than sitting in traffic.
"If we're going to achieve the growth the government wants, we need to fix this now."
Brown said a congestion charge would be the start, but a stronger public transport and roading system was also needed.
According to the report, 90 percent of the vehicles that were stuck in traffic were cars, and the next 7 percent were heavy vehicles.
Auckland's morning traffic reached its highest levels at about 8am, with it taking an average of 19 minutes to drive 10 kilometres.
The afternoon surge peaks at 5pm, taking an average of 20 minutes to traverse 10 kilometres on the roads.
The report said while the evening traffic was longer and slightly worse, at both morning and evening congestion doubles the time a trip takes overnight.
In 2024, Auckland was ranked as the 77th worst congested city globally, out of 500 cities across 62 countries.
Motorists sceptical about charge - AA
The Automobile Association says they are open to a congestion charge, but it should not be an undue cost on motorists.
AA policy director Martin Glynn said traffic was undoubtedly a big cost to Aucklanders, and they had surveyed their members extensively on congestion charges.
"They're pretty sceptical. They're even concerned about whether it'll work, whether enough people will change where they travel or how they travel, or whether it'll just shift the problem around, but they're particularly concerned about affordability."
He said the AA is open-minded to a charging scheme, because traffic is only going to get worse and there aren't many other options, but it shouldn't be an undue cost on motorists.
"People rely on their cars in Auckland, much more than they do in other places where time of use charging has been put in place. So, we're really looking for something that's fair and affordable for motorists, so that people will still be able to meet their travel needs."
Glynn said any scheme needed to ensure travel alternatives and good public transport were available where it was introduced, so people can still get where they needed to go.
People needed to be confident they would get travel time savings, if they were paying a congestion charge, he said.
"The key thing will be coming up with something there is enough public support for, at least, that enough people accept."
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