Opinion: Finding a solution to Tauranga's congestion problems

Could the SkyCab be an answer to Taurangna's traffic problems? Image / Supplied

Another day, another 35 minutes stuck in traffic.

Sigh.

The sun was shining, the birds were singing, and I was sitting in my car.

The Turret Rd shortcut is back in action and queue-cutting cars are once again stopping the flow of traffic on 15th Ave, making the rest of us wait longer.

I waited five rotations of the lights just while I was sitting in the turning bay from Fraser St to 15th Ave - no more than three cars at a time were getting through, and sometimes only one, because the intersection was getting blocked.

Sure enough, when I crested the hill by Grace Rd, I could see all the cars queued up at the start of Turret Rd stopping and letting all the shortcutters in, a friendly and polite gesture to the queue jumpers, but frustrating for each of the cars in the huge line behind them who are also forced to stop.

It was almost enough to make me want to catch the bus - if only that was a viable solution for me with the hours it runs in Welcome Bay.

It would be great if a solution could be found to this congestion problem, and to the other chokepoints around the city.

There are plenty of ideas out there, it's just a matter of finding one that might work.

In yesterday's Bay of Plenty Times, SkyCabs were mooted as an answer to Tauranga's congestion.

The monorail-type cabs are suspended above traffic and would therefore not require the sacrifice of any roading space.

It's a great idea but, at $560 million, I don't see it ever coming to fruition as no one will be keen to foot the bill.

But we need to come up with something, and quickly, before our city comes to a complete standstill.