The Tauranga City Council have introduced a pre-paid, disposable toll card for private cars using Route K - the Route K Quick Card.
The Route K Quick Cards have multiple trips on them and remove the problem of finding cash to pay the toll.
The cards are available in $10 and $30 amounts. To use them, motorists simply hand their Quick Card to the toll booth operator instead of cash.
When there are no more funds available on the card from which to draw toll fees, the toll booth operator will retain the card and advise the motorist.
Quick Cards can be purchased from Council's customer service centre, the libraries, or the Route K toll plaza office.
17 comments
Quick Toll cards
Posted on 21-08-2011 10:50 | By tia
Another waste of money. Council currently have a prepaid card that can be topped up. Not disposable so helps in sustainability. So why introduce another one?? The problem with the existing (old) 'top up' card is that Council stopped allowing top up a their Customer Service Centre and top-ups had to be done at the toll office.
Thank you tia
Posted on 21-08-2011 12:14 | By SpeakUp
for that info. I don't use toll roads, but this is another example of BS bureaucracy. Looks like there is only one core mission of bureaucrats: how to create more bureaucracy by any means possible. -Citizens Monitoring Council-
Old technology
Posted on 21-08-2011 15:10 | By Chris
As usual, TCC are two steps behind the curve. Why use technology which still requires you to stop to pay a toll? We have the technology to allow wireless payment, so why not use it?
Look to Australian success
Posted on 21-08-2011 16:24 | By carpedeum
There is an excellent E-TAG system valid in all States in Oz Unit attaches to the rearvision mirror. NO SLOWDOWN or STOP IS REQUIRED at ANY tolls.Initial credit $25 or $50 (your choice)and when it gets used down to $5.00 an automatic top up occurs and debited to your credit card. Bit of breadth of vision required here in NZ
Auto pay
Posted on 21-08-2011 17:09 | By gadstuff
They do have auto pay using transponders in vehicles, the only catch is you have to buy transponder which is about a $100 or some thing like taht sort of cost. A lot of trucks seem to use the transponders.
E-tag and cards etc
Posted on 21-08-2011 17:41 | By jbegley263
Hey people there is an operational E-tag lane on Route K. Also I have topped up my top-up card at the toll gates by handing a cheque to the operator. I think it would be good if there was a concession e.g pay for 20 trips get one free.How about it TCC?
Toll Card
Posted on 21-08-2011 18:11 | By Glen Clova
Nothing new they had a toll card for years on the harbour bridge
Concessions would be great!
Posted on 21-08-2011 20:22 | By quinn
Hey jbegley263. I have always thought that as a very regular user of the K Road (everyday for my wife and I) that there should be some sort of loyalty system. I was thinking more like 20 free trips for every 100 used. We go through an avergage of 4 times a day between us - we live in Pyes Pa and work in Tauranga CBD and Mt Maunganui. That's not to mention weekend use and other travel for kids with sports etc during the week. we support the K Road - we just think there should be some incentive to use it.
no accountability
Posted on 21-08-2011 21:05 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
Any rate payers money saved on reducing the staff, that is the ones that sit and knit or play cards on the computer. Is the person that said all those years ago that 10,000 cars per day would use it still got a job?? That toll road costs this city on a daily basis. Once again no accountability
CARDS A PLENTY
Posted on 22-08-2011 03:14 | By PLONKER
Really the cost will be no less with plans made already to increase the prices, it is a matter of time only. A card system will allow TCC to get "prepaid" so more money in, they will also rely on people to misplace the cards and so the $$ will be permanently lost to TCC then
Ideal route for me...
Posted on 22-08-2011 08:02 | By the_fourth_estate
I think Route K is Taurangas greatest asset its just that so many people here aren't forward looking or worldly enough to realise it. Etag is a good system but is top heavy with costs so the swipe cards cool with me. I think other cities in NZ should look at whats been achieved with Route K and do the same, eventually the ploddingly conservative NZ public will catch up with more worldly nations and embrace the concept of private roadways...be good if PORT OF TAURANGA built its own one so all the port traffic wasn't blocking the route over the Kaimais...
PREDICTED MESS
Posted on 23-08-2011 02:02 | By YOGI
@ 4th Estate, NZTA predicted it would be a financial mess, and that was before the first bit of rock moved, TCC went ahead anyway and did it. Ever since the truth of it has been oozing into the cranial cavities VERY so slowly but surely that all was well and truly up the garden path, end result and proof of that is now clear as TCC wants to off load this money mess to NZTA who it would be fair to say are somewhat reluctant to take it on, cant possibly think why, can you ? I know why!
Evidence folk can't / don't read ...
Posted on 23-08-2011 07:52 | By Murray.Guy
The latest poll question asks, 'What do you think of the new Route K Quick Card? The majority have responded that use of the card saves time and money. As a daily user of Route K I can certainly testify that the road saves time, is a very pleasant road (no traffic and great surroundings) the card achieves next to nothing - other than denying me an opportunity to use up the loose change in my wallet that seems to accumulate so rapidly!
.
Posted on 23-08-2011 11:08 | By The author of this comment has been removed.
"Greatest Assets" don't think so. Great road - no question. "Forward thinking" - hell yes look at the number of toll booths. Only ever two people in them (one for each way) look forward to the day when everyone of them has an operator in it. That will never happen!!
USUAL NO BRAINER
Posted on 25-08-2011 07:51 | By Hebegeebies
Saves no time at all( quite the reverse) you still have to stop and hand over the card the operator has to take it swipe it and hand it back then you have to put it away.4 procedures here against one if you simply pay the $1.Those regular users with cards will always have the $1 coin ready and those that are not regular users will not be affected either way anyway.It is simply a TCC scheme to get prepayment for its failing cashflow !!Ratepayers are probably paying someone $150k a year to dream up this sort of nonsense.
City full of sheep to milk
Posted on 25-08-2011 12:03 | By The Tomahawk Kid
There are numerous ways and means of making this boat anchor around the necks of the ratepayers more profitable available to ANYBODY WHO GIVES A DAMN. Unfortunately that does not include council. The easiest thing for them to do is just fob the responsibility and cost on to the ratepayers. Promotions for every 10th car FREE, Free Mondays, Concession ticket incentives, Hiring it out for special events, billboards, Peak hour penalties and concessions, rebates for locals - premium prices for out of towners, etc etc - all of which - and more - would be used by ANYBODY (apart from council)who was responsible for getting back the money they spent on this road. But they dont need to! Why should they bother when they have a city full of SHEEP to milk! SELL IT IMMEDIATELY. or give shares in it to all the ratepayers in town, and let THEM run it. you could sell your shares, or buy more! Having shares in it would make it much more profitable and work a zillion times more efficiently.
BS
Posted on 27-08-2011 17:51 | By YOGI BEAR
K Road is a great road, best for sure, but the concept from the start was always going to be a financial disaster, known before, proved after. A card has to be less efficient for users of the road, Hebegeebies is right on that one.
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