Clearly these Metro lines are a “dream” project, and they would be underground heavy rail rather than a London Underground style Metro. But it’s certainly better to be talking about this kind of stuff than whether we’ll need to double-decker the Southern Motorway.

The future of Auckland’s transport is public transport. The ARC realise this, we just need to convince the government now. Oh, and the new super-city (damn I hope they’re an empowered ARC and not an expanded Auckland City Council).

I agree wholeheartedly with you and them that a Manakau-Botany-Panmure link, the CBD rail link, a rail link to the airport, and preferably North Shore (if not extending the busway through a dedicated bus tunnel or special bus lanes on the bridge to the CBD) are important, but the whole metro idea is pie in the sky, and too expansive to construct.

Regarding road pricing, is the waterview connection going to be tolled. Tolls are my favourite road pricing method. petrol tax ain’t bad either, and it is a pity National dumped the regional fuel tax idea.

I’m more of a fan of petrol tax rather than road pricing – largely because it’s far cheaper and less of a hassle to administrate.

The quantum shift is along the lines of what I’ve suggested in the past. However, as you note the road pricing might be very politically difficult to pull off in Auckland, especially without a lot of high visibility PT projects in place before hand.

There could be a lot of success with a ‘soft quantum’ option, basically high PT development, limited road network extensions and a series of softer push measures such as the 10c a litre petrol tax, much tighter restrictions on super cheap sh*tbox jap imports (a younger fleet is good for emissions and safety aspects also), new urban highway/motorway projects developed as toll roads, maximum rather than minimum parking requirements for developments, and a parking levy in centres with good PT access.

That would probably achieve a lot of push, without a massive, expensive and politically troublesome road pricing system. The only downside is you would lack the ability to target particular areas or corridors (except the parking levy) or to manage access based on time of day, congestion etc.