State Highway Plan Fails To Deliver

22 February 2006

State Highway Plan Fails To Deliver

“Last year’s Transit New Zealand 10-Year State Highway Forecast was generally agreed to be making progress to address the nation’s roading requirements. What a difference 12 months makes!” says AA Motoring Affairs Manager Mike Noon.

“This year’s plan delivers a $685 million funding shortfall, delays to roading projects throughout the country, and for Auckland motorists the spectre of toll roads. This year’s plan will not be acceptable to anyone, and certainly not to motorists.”

“That $685 million worth of promised and essential roading projects across the country will be delayed, or not undertaken at all, is completely unacceptable.”

“Because costs increase, delaying the construction of any roads required today simply means taxpayers will have to spend more money building the same roads in the future.”

“Delaying is false economy and completely overlooks the economic and social benefits of getting these important roading projects completed as quickly as possible.”

“While the AA is heartened by the Government’s reassurance last week that the Auckland highway network will be completed on time, what is needed is for the Government to make more money available to build roads.”

“Motorists pay petrol taxes and diesel road user charges to fund the state highway programme and roading projects like Auckland’s Western Ring Route. Motorists will want to be assured that these taxes are being fully spent on roads before there is any attempt to introduce road tolling.

“The AA will be making a formal submission to Transit New Zealand on the draft forecast and lobbying the government for an urgent review of road funding,” says Mr Noon.

ENDS

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