We welcome the focus on this issue. The quality of life in Auckland, not to mention New Zealand's prosperity, depends on an efficient transport system. Seriously congested roads degrade the quality of life in a community and impair economic growth. They waste time and fuel; increase capital, maintenance and inventory costs; reduce productivity and business competitiveness; allow timeinsensitive, low value trips to displace high value time-sensitive trips, including urgent services and the flow of commerce; exacerbate pollution; and increase stress and fatigue