By lowering speed limits, new school signs could cost $25 million – AT

Implementing variable speed limits around schools, which would reduce speeds only during pick-up and drop-off times, is estimated to cost $16.7 million around Auckland.
Photo: RNZ/Nick Monro

Auckland Transport estimates it could cost up to $25 million to meet the government’s new speed rule to raise speed limits on roads where they have been lowered and introduce variable speed limits in schools.

The Minister of Transport signed the speed rule last monthordering speed limits to be reduced to their pre-2019 levels by July 1 next year, and introducing variable speed limits around schools a year later.

Transport safety general manager Teresa Burnett told the Auckland Transport Board on Tuesday that speed limits on 1800 local roads will need to be increased.

The majority of them – 1,760 – are in neighborhoods with schools, where limits have been lowered from 50 km/h to 30 km/h.

Auckland Transport estimates reversing speed limits could cost $7.5 million – changing signs and road markings in reduced speed zones.

Implementing variable speed limits around schools, which would reduce speeds only during pick-up and drop-off times, is estimated to cost $16.7 million.

Another $450,000 will have to be spent on advertising to inform people of the gear changes.

Burnett told the board no new funding had been allocated by the government to cover the reversal of the speed limits and the cost would have to be covered by Auckland Transport.

Board member and North Shore councilor Chris Darby asked if it was possible to refuse to reverse the speed limits.

The board was told this was not a “legal option” available to Auckland Transport and there was no room for consultation on whether to increase the limits speed.

But under new speed rule legislation it was possible to set new speed limits of 40km/h in town centres, but this would have to be requested after July 1 next year.

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

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