Motorway toll rejected

Press, 18 June 1976, Page 4

Motorway toll rejected

It would be inappropriate to impose a toll on the users of urban motorways, the Director of Roading (Mr F. A. Langbein) told the Counties’ Association conference yesterday. He was commenting on a remit from Inglewood County which said that as urban motorways appeared to be taking an increasing share of the National Roads Board’s money, users of them should pay tolls to be spent on other roading. “This is a sign of the times, another indication that roading funds are inadequate. and another attempt to get round it,” said Mr Langbein. Mr Langbein said that urban people “paid their way and then some” in motoring taxation. Rural roading was

very heavily subsidised by urban dwellers. “Even if the toll proposal found favour with city folk, there would be real difficulties in putting it into practice,” he said. “At Auckland, at least 100 toll plazas would be required at motorway entry points, and it would probably cost more than you would get from it. “Tolls could be charged, perhaps. for long-distance routes, or for heavy traffic, but they would be singularly inappropriate for urban motorways.” A remit asking for a threeyear rolling programme for work on rural roads covered by roads vote grants from the Consolidated Fund was described by Mr Langbein as “a good idea, but the timing is not right.” V -

In the absence of assured money, a three-year plan would be an exercise in futility, he said. Another remit expressed “deep concern” at the rundown in N.R.B. funding. Mr Langbein said that Cabinet had asked the Minister of Works and Development (Mr W. L. Young) to report to it on the long-term requirements of the board. “We must first complete a roading needs survey, and that v'ill take about a year,” Mr Langbein said. “You can plan till Doomsday—it does not cost a lot. Money is the key.” he commented, on another remit asking for an assured annual income for the board “in real terms.” The conference, without further discussion, referred seven remits on roading to

its executive for discussion with the board.

Mr D. B. Rich (Waimairi) said the law should be altered to allow cycleways not on legal roads to be created, and for their joint use by cyclists and pedestrians. The conference asked for a review of the various acts affected by the proposal. It also adopted, with some dissent, a Golden Bay remit asking for a higher driver’s licence fee, Mr H. L. Riley saying the extra money could be used for reading, traffic control or facilities for the traveller. In its dying minutes, the conference passed a motion of confidence in the board, and asked that “in no way should its independence and income be eroded.”