Could a $9 toll really fund Auckland's new harbour crossing, or is it just a drop in the ocean? An advocate is raising serious questions about the financial viability of proposed tolls for Auckland's new harbour crossing, suggesting the numbers just don't add up.
While the Infrastructure Commission has floated a toll as high as $9 to help finance the monumental task of building a second harbour crossing, the editor of an advocacy website, Matt Lowrie from Greater Auckland, argues this won't be enough to cover the enormous long-term costs. He points out that the estimated revenue from such a toll, projected to be between $7 and $9 billion, falls significantly short of the anticipated over $20 billion price tag for the new crossing.
But here's where it gets interesting: When Auckland's Harbour Bridge first opened its gates in 1959, motorists paid a modest 2 shillings and 6 pence. Interestingly, the Commission notes this is roughly equivalent to $9 in today's money – a fascinating parallel, isn't it? Tolls on the original bridge were eventually removed in 1984.
Lowrie acknowledges the undeniable need for a second crossing to boost capacity. However, he suggests that exploring alternative funding avenues alongside tolls might be a more prudent approach. He also agrees that tolling both crossings would be essential; otherwise, he warns, the existing bridge could become underutilized, leaving a 'multi-billion dollar piece of infrastructure ... sit unused.'
And this is the part most people miss: Lowrie proposes a more measured approach, suggesting the implementation of a lower toll to gauge its impact on traffic and revenue. He highlights a past success story: the introduction of the Northern Busway in 2008, which significantly delayed the need for massive spending on a new harbour crossing by effectively easing pressure on the existing bridge through increased public transport uptake.
Ultimately, Lowrie suggests that regardless of the specific tolling strategy, Aucklanders will likely bear the brunt of the cost through increased road or fuel taxes. A substantial portion, he notes, will also come from Crown investment, a decision that must be carefully weighed against other critical public needs like hospitals and schools.
Transport Minister Chris Bishop has acknowledged the scale of the undertaking, calling the new crossing 'the biggest infrastructure project New Zealand has ever done.' While the new crossing will indeed be tolled, the crucial question of whether the existing bridge will also be tolled remains a subject of intense deliberation. As Bishop stated, 'We are working our way through that. That's a very big decision for the country to make.'
What do you think? Is a $9 toll a realistic contribution to funding the new crossing, or is it a symbolic gesture that won't solve the core financial challenge? Should both bridges be tolled, or would that unfairly penalize drivers? Share your thoughts in the comments below – we'd love to hear your perspective!
