Bay of Plenty toll roads: Councils back revenue sharing for local road maintenance
Local councils in New Zealand's Bay of Plenty are advocating for a share of toll road revenue to fund the maintenance of local roads. They argue that motorists often use local routes to avoid tolls, placing an unfair financial burden on council infrastructure.
Why it matters
This highlights the tension between national infrastructure funding models and the financial strain placed on local municipalities by traffic displacement.
Councils in and around New Zealand’s most-tolled city, Tauranga, are backing an idea to receive a share of tolling revenue to put towards wear on local roads.
Parliament is considering legislation that would allow toll revenue to be used to maintain free alternative routes as the Government signals tolling will play a bigger role in funding future transport projects.
Tauranga and Western Bay of Plenty councils say motorists may choose local roads to avoid tolls, potentially increasing pressure on council-owned infrastructure.
The Bay of Plenty already has two of New Zealand’s three toll roads and is expected to gain more as major transport projects, including the Takitimu North Link, are completed.
Western Bay of Plenty District Council infrastructure general manager Brad Singh said motorists would sometimes choose local roads, but the council had not done a detailed study to isolate the effects of toll avoidance.
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