Congestion charging is expected to trigger a change in driver behaviour. 

A bill allowing councils and local authorities to set charges for people using busy routes during peak hours has passed its first reading in Parliament. 

A report released today revealed congestion costs Auckland $2.6 billion a year. 

Infrastructure New Zealand policy director Michelle McCormick says people need to change their thinking around transport. 

"We're quite often lazy and we just jump in the car without a thought about alternatives. But if there's a charge to it, we're paying directly - it might just make us stop and think."

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