Transmission Gully toll looks more likely...

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Transmission Gully toll looks more likely...

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MikeAqua

6059 posts

Uber Geek

#2049135 4-Jul-2018 16:44

mattwnz:

Except public transport isn't exactly great in this area, and not suitable if you are transporting things. Trains are slow and not all that frequent, and stations tend to be unpleasant places to wait. Wellington rail station is also not very central, which I believe is something they are working on with lightrail/trams. I suspect buses will struggle up TG due to the gradient.

I don;t seem a problem with cars, especially when many will be EVs in the next decade.

You don't build a billion dollar road with taxpayer dollars, and then not want those same taxpayers to use it.

The concern motivating the consideration of a toll is that bunch of people will abandon pubic transport in favour of the new road and this will increase congestion closer to and in the CBD. EVs are only a solution to pollution, they don't solve congestion, parking or risk to cyclists and pedestrians.

Mike

Wellingtondave

76 posts

Master Geek

#2050230 6-Jul-2018 02:06

There are a few things to consider without getting really out there about carbon emissions or fuel economy (and that may have been considered).

1. Will T.G enable more productive people to live up the coast and commute into the city? Also pubic transport debate should happen here. Why didn't they run rail lines down the middle?

2. Will T.G be a safer and more reliable route for passenger vehicles? Shouldn't safety be a priority over efficiency or volume? There's more to a life lost than the economic cost used in the calculations.

3a. Would Wellington city residents (primarily 'southern suburbs') be happy with a surcharge from Trades etc. Look at London or other congestion charge cities. It raises the inner city living cost.

3b. Would Wellington city employers be happy paying a little more to accommodate out of city workers costs? (Not [edit not excluding:] including convenience costs such as parking, which may be a personal choice, if you're not a nurse etc.).

4. IF there is a natural disaster during the payback period, won't we all (all New Zealanders) get the benefit of T.G many times over, I do mean country wide in the 'productivity' of the capital post disaster.

nickb800

2476 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#2050239 6-Jul-2018 07:28

I don't think any tradie is cheeky enough to add a $3 surcharge for a NZ road toll - London's one is nearer $20 NZD. And very few tradies will be coming in from Kapiti to do single jobs in the Southern suburbs.

Fortunately, with the wire rope barriers between Paekakariki and Pukerua Bay, the road is reasonably safe. Halving traffic volumes (if we assume half of drivers stump up for the toll, half don't) is likely to decrease risk of accidents further - more gaps in traffic for vehicles exiting side roads, less chance of hitting something if you do veer across the center line. Then we have Kapiti District Council talking about reducing the speed limit on the soon to be old SH1 to 60K's, which reduces risk further. So it's not like we will have rich folk staying safe on TG and poor folk getting hurt on old SH1

People live in Kapiti because it's cheaper (well and lifestyle things). So no need for employers to pay more for the toll or travel cost.

Even those too stingy/poor to pay the toll, will be grateful when there's a slip blocking the old SH1 and they have the option of a 4 hour drive home or a $3 toll. And those stuck in Wellington after a major disaster will be grateful that essential supplies can come in by road more quickly than if they were relying on old SH1, which was estimated to take 3 months + to reopen after a major earthquake. So there's a good argument for a mix of user pays and general taxation going towards the cost of the road

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