Toll crucial or road 10 years late, Transit says

Transit has given a warning to Aucklanders that the western ring route will take "at least" an extra 10 years to build if they don't agree to tolling.

The agency released its 10-year state highway plan yesterday after the release of Land Transport NZ's wider land transport funding programme which also includes spending on local roads and public transport.

Both highlighted record spending on state highways already foreshadowed in the Budget and firmer details on completion dates for some projects.

The Transit programme included details of the introduction of the five-year funding package also announced in the Budget - a big change from the previous one-year funding guarantees for transport funding.

Transit chief executive Rick van Barneveld said yesterday that it was "the first time Transit has been able to set out a definite five-year plan".

It gave the agency a much greater level of confidence for the delivery of state funding, he said.

Despite this, there was still a significant funding shortfall for the completion of the western ring route, the strategic alternative to SH1, by 2015 which "remains dependent on support from Aucklanders for tolling the route".

Mr van Barneveld told the Herald that without tolling, the route - which runs from the south through Auckland connecting Manukau City, Auckland City, Waitakere City and North Shore City - would not be able to be completed by "at least 2025, at least 10 years on" from the 2015 target.

Transit's board has yet to approve a public consultation process with Aucklanders on the issue, expected to be underway by now.

Mr van Barneveld said the delay was a result of the need to get certainty on other funding requirements for the road, now resolved.

He expected the board to make a final decision within two months and the consultation process, if approved, to begin after that.

If the board opted against the toll consultation process, significant discussions with the Government would be required, he said.

Transit had to revise its forecast this year after a revenue shortage, but it has been able to put its programme back on track after the Budget cash injection.

Automobile Association motoring affairs general manager Mike Noon welcomed the reinstatement of previously postponed projects, but said there were no big surprises in the announcements.

The AA would reserve its position on the tolling issue until any details were unveiled, he said.