Trade-offs in road pricing: the Auckland road pricing evaluation study

The paper outlines the outcomes of the New Zealand Ministry of Transport's (MOT) Auckland Road Pricing Evaluation Study (ARPES) conducted by a consortium including Hyder Consulting Pty Ltd. The study addressed a range of road pricing options designed to alleviate the Auckland traffic congestion. It addressed the full spectrum of issues including traffic congestion relief, social, economic and environmental impacts, mitigation measures, financial analysis, technical feasibility, public acceptability and consistency with government policies. The paper covers the unique focus of the ARPES on the social, economic and environmental impacts of road pricing, the options considered, the comprehensive evaluation framework developed, and the outcomes of the study. Particular attention is given to the trade-offs that are inherent between the benefits of road pricing to transport operations and environmental outcomes and the possible social (and in some cases economic) impacts, and the challenges of finding a positive balance in a city like Auckland.