The Government has released a flurry of plans for the country’s transport networks – here’s what you need to know about that roadmap.
One by one, the press releases trickled through from Transport Minister Simeon Brown’s office late yesterday afternoon, each of them detailing a different part of the draft Government Policy Statement (GPS) on Land Transport.
From pothole prevention funds and new roads of national significance to increased fuel taxes and vehicle registration fees, there was a lot to unpack. Here’s a round-up of what New Zealanders will likely navigate over the coming years.
Firstly, what it means for your back pocket
Sweeping country-wide transport plans are expensive.
The Government says it’s planning to spend more than $20 billion on those plans and that money must come from somewhere.
Part of that funding will come via an increase in fuel taxes.
The previous Labour government had planned to start increasing the fuel tax by 12 cents per litre over the next three years. At the time, Simeon Brown said National’s transport plan didn’t need any fuel tax increases.
Now, Brown is proposing an increase in fuel taxes, albeit not during this parliamentary term. The Government’s transport plan instead includes a 12 cent per litre increase in 2027, followed by six cent and four cent increases in January 2028 and 2029, respectively.
Brown said yesterday there were plans to eventually replace the fuel taxes with a universal road user charge (RUC).
Currently, drivers of heavy vehicles and light diesel vehicles already pay road user charges, while owners of light electric vehicles will also start paying these from next month. Moving to a universal RUC would mean all road users would be charged.
The Government is also proposing an increase to the motor vehicle licensing fee (or rego as it’s otherwise known) of $50 over two years. It currently costs $106.15 to register a private petrol car for 12 months.
An increase in how much people must pay for traffic fines is also on the cards.
These changes still won’t be enough to fund the Government’s transport plans, so Brown said it will look at other ways of funding the projects, such as public-private partnerships (PPPs) and increased use of road tolls.
The Government has announced it will spend over $20 billion to "get transport back on track", with some funding coming from hikes to vehicle registrations and taxes on fuel. (Source: 1News)
What is that money paying for?
A major pillar of the new transport plan is the return of the Roads of National Significance programme first introduced by John Key’s government.
That programme includes 15 proposed projects, all of them four-lane highways. Those projects include roads between Whangārei and Auckland, the East-West link in Auckland, a second Mt Victoria Tunnel in Wellington, and the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass in Canterbury.
The Government is also planning a dedicated Pothole Prevention Fund to the tune of $500 million to tackle the 62,000 potholes it says need repairing on state highways around the country.
Policing road safety
The transport plan also addressed issues around road safety and policing.
Brown said yesterday the Government will introduce laws to enable roadside drug testing and review fines for traffic offences. He also reiterated it wouldn’t be continuing the previous government’s blanket approach to speed limits.
“Investment in infrastructure to reverse recent speed limit reductions will be prioritised, where safe to do so,” he said.
This includes increasing speed limits to 110 km/h on certain roads.
What about public transport?
The proposed spend for public transport projects and walking and cycling improvements over the next three years is significantly less than what Labour had budgeted for.
But Brown said the Government will invest up to $2.3 billion for public transport services, and up to $2.1 billion for public transport infrastructure.
He said a key focus for Auckland would be completing the City Rail Link and the Eastern Busway. Work will also continue on rail network upgrades in the lower North Island.
The Government is now asking for the public’s feedback on the draft policy statement. That consultation closes on April 2.
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