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."

LISTEN ABOVE

• Auckland traffic congestion could cost city $2.6b annually by next year
• ‘No silver bullet’: Why it’ll take more than new highways to fix transport issues
• 'Time of use’ charges for road users to reduce congestion
• Congestion charge plan: Motorists set to be charged to use Auckland's choked inner-city roads