Media release: Taxpayers’ Union misses the bigger transport picture
Wellington (16 January 2018): The New Zealand Initiative's Sam Warburton says that Jordan Williams of the Taxpayers’ Union has overlooked bigger problems in transport funding in his claim that the National Land Transport Fund be limited only to roads.
“Apart from the contribution public transport can make to alleviating congestion, what Mr Williams’ argument misses is that much National Land Transport Fund expenditure is matched almost dollar-for-dollar by ratepayers,” said Warburton.
“Many ratepayers drive very little or not at all.”
Warburton points out while motorists might pay for some projects that they do not benefit from, ratepayers might also pay for some projects that they do not benefit from.
“There is a kind of balance here which the Government should be mindful to get right over the next year.”
“However, two wrongs don’t make a right and the transport planning and funding system should be overhauled. We need a system that gets what motorists want, what non-motorists want, and everything in-between.”
Warburton says that this is but one of many inefficiencies and inequities in transport.
“Historically, Auckland has received about 20 percent more funding than it contributes in revenue and Canterbury 50 percent less – a situation that is only going to worsen in future.”
“We should be looking at road and congestion pricing, reducing the influence of politicians and the risk of vanity projects, and empowering households and communities to decide for themselves the transport systems they want."
ENDS
Sam Warburton is available for interviews, please contact:
Linda Heerink, Communications Officer
The New Zealand Initiative
Phone: +64 4 494 9109
Mobile: +64 21 172 8036
Email: linda.heerink@nzinitiative.org.nz