Editorial: Time for decisive action over traffic

A courier company is offering its drivers one-on-one counselling to keep their frustration levels in check as they sit in queues all day. Has there been a more telling comment on the sheer awfulness of Auckland's transport system?

Fortunately for all those motorists who empathised with the couriers' plight, the Weekend Herald also reported a Government initiative that suggests ever-worsening snarl-ups need not be the road ahead. The Minister of Transport's circuit-breaker is the freeing up of access to the roading budget so that public transport schemes are no longer disadvantaged when pitted against road-building.

The cost-benefit funding formula of the Government's subsidising arm, Transfund, which strongly favours cars over buses or trains, is obviously in Mark Gosche's sights. He has signalled a determination to promote public transport - not more roads - as the key to overcoming the city's congestion woes. It is the right answer to a vexing question. Aucklanders must hope the minister pursues it vigorously.

Of course, not all agree that public transport should be given priority. Business, which estimates that the city's traffic jams are costing it up to $1 billion annually, wants Auckland's motorway network completed. That may, indeed, be an attractive quick-fix, even if increased exhaust emissions are a byproduct. But it offers no long-term cure for congestion. The shortcomings of a policy that has long had the car as king are now obvious. Annual traffic growth of 5 per cent will only exacerbate that.

If Auckland wants to be a consumer-friendly city and mentioned in the same breath as Melbourne or Toronto, the accent must be on public transport. As Mr Gosche says, roads will still be built but the major task must be to right the balance of 30 years of neglect of public transport.

His call is not new, of course. During that period of inaction, Auckland has contemplated proposals for mono-rail, light-rail, integrated bus and rail, another harbour bridge and harbour tunnels.

Still the debate over the best option - or, more probably, the best combination of options - rages, and over the next few weeks the Herald will assess each of the alternatives. But on one thing Aucklanders are united: the time for procrastination is over. The Government has given every indication of recognising the degree of frustration. It has assigned Associate Transport Minister Judith Tizard to assist the Prime Minister on Auckland issues and it will undoubtedly help that Mr Gosche is the MP for Maungakiekie. Their role should be to act as effective facilitators, smoothing the way for the decision-making of Infrastructure Auckland, the body with a billion-dollar kitty to complement national funding.

A public transport system will, of course, only entice people out of cars if it is efficient, frequent, comfortable and safe. At present, despite all their frustrations behind the wheel, most Aucklanders clearly see no reasonable alternative. Only 8 per cent of trips to work are made by public transport.

It will be a considerable step in the right direction if rapid progress can be made in two areas. The first concerns the negotiations for access to Tranz Rail's tracks for public transport competitors. Auckland's rail system has long been ludicrously under-used for commuter services. More immediately, perhaps, the cost-benefit difficulties that Transfund has with the planned North Shore busway could, at Mr Gosche's behest, evaporate.

Even with a far more efficient public transport system in place, it could be that Aucklanders will be weaned from their cars only by imposts. That, as the 1998 regional growth strategy suggested, could involve tolls or levies on parking. If such decisions need to be taken, so be it. There is no need for further studies or pie-in-the-sky schemes. This is a time for resolution.

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