Vehicle Kilometer Travelled Program
WHAT IS IT AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT ME?
Waka Kotahi is supporting councils from our largest urban areas (Auckland, Tauranga, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch) to develop urban programmes aimed at creating a better range of transport options and reducing reliance on cars.
These urban environments are subject to the greatest population growth, but also have the greatest capacity to achieve VKT reduction by increasing the accessibility of lower emissions transport options for people, such as cycling, walking and public transport.
The urban programmes will outline a pathway to create urban transport systems where cars aren’t the only option available or prioritized; and the transport solutions need to make sense for each place and for the people that live in them.
To support Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch councils in the urban programmes development, Waka Kotahi has created technical guidance Urban Programmes: Less Traffic, More Choice (Part A and Part B) to assist Tier 1 councils in the preparation of urban reduction programmes.Vehicle kilometres travelled (VKT) reduction | Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency (nzta.govt.nz)
The VKT reduction programme is one of three delivery programmes under the Waka Kotahi Climate Emergency Response Fund (CERF) programme and is being led by the VKT reduction team. Note: Tier 1 urban environments are Auckland, Hamilton, Tauranga, Wellington and Christchurch.
Waka Kotahi has been allocated $22.5 million under the Climate Emergency Response Fund (CERF) 2022 to progress these initiatives.
Hamilton City Council voted for this on September 21 2023 to implement this program. This is also part of the Access Transport document by Hamilton City council which is encouraging people out of cars as in Access Hamilton | Hamilton City Council docs.
“Travel choice and mode shift: In the past, our streets have been designed to focus on moving cars and trucks around efficiently. Travel choice means changing the way we design the system to provide viable options for people to move around. It also means actively encouraging more people to travel easily, conveniently and intuitively using various options to help reduce our impact on the environment and improve accessibility to facilities for all. Guided by the cities moving - Hamilton-Waikato Metro Area Mode Shift Plan, we aim to make public transport, biking and walking more attractive for all Hamiltonians.” (pg. 12 – Access Hamilton – HCC)
“...encourages mode shift to more active travel such as walking or biking – shaping future travel behaviours to be less dependent on cars – and helps us to combat the climate crisis by enabling a more sustainable way of living. This culture aligns perfectly with the 20-minute city concept where people have access to the most essential things they need – work, shops, healthcare, leisure – within a short walk or bike trip.” (pg. 16 Access Hamilton – HCC)
The councillors who voted against this were Taylor, Donovan and Bydder.
The polluter pays....
As in pg. 66 Access Hamilton document. A congestion tax will be added for ‘polluters; Those same
polluters who pay for the same roads and infrastructure through taxes! Urban VKT reduction programmes Part A: The framework for urban programmes - Less traffic; more choice – August 2023 (nzta.govt.nz):
EMAIL ALL COUNCILLORS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVES IF YOU OBJECT TO THIS! I certainly do.
CONTACT: issues@transport.govt.nz
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By Operation Tipping Point NZ