Speed ​​limit abolition: New school signs could cost $25 million – AT

Introducing variable speed limits around schools, which will only reduce speeds during pick-up and drop-off times, is estimated to cost $16.7 million in the Auckland area.
Photo: RNZ/ Nick Monroe

Auckland Transport estimates it could cost up to $25 million to comply with the government’s new speed rule on roads where it has been reduced and variable speed limits introduced in schools.

The Transport Secretary signed the speed bill into law last month, ordering speed limits to return to pre-2019 levels by July 1 next year and variable speed limits around schools to be introduced a year after that.

Transport safety general manager Teresa Burnett told the Auckland Transport Council on Tuesday that speed limits on 1,800 local roads would need to be increased.

Most of them – 1,760 – are in areas with schools, where the limit has been reduced from 50 km/h to 30 km/h.

Auckland Transport estimates changing the speed limit could cost $7.5 million, including changes to signs and road markings in reduced speed zones.

Establishing variable speed limits around schools that will only reduce speeds during pick-up and drop-off times is estimated to cost $16.7 million.

Another $450,000 will need to be spent on advertising to inform people about the speed changes.

Burnett told the board the government had not provided any new funding to cover the cost of changing the speed limits and the costs would have to be borne by Auckland Transport.

Board member and North Shore councilor Chris Darby asked if there was any possibility of scrapping the speed limit.

The board was told this was not a “legal option” available to Auckland Transport and there was no opportunity for consultation on whether the speed should be increased.

But under new speed laws there was the possibility of new speed limits being set at 40km/h in city centres, but applications for this would need to be made after 1 July next year.

Burnett noted that by July 1, 2025, it will be difficult to change speed limit signs and road markings.

Advice on speed management under the new rule from NZTA is still to come.