April 29, 2002
Mayor John Banks Encourages New ARC Councillor To Push For Train Upgrade
It is laudable of newly elected ARC councillor Mike Lee to set as an early objective to push “ARC bureaucrats” to
urgently adopt Transport Advocate Grant Kirby’s suggestion of refurbishing Tranz Rail passenger carriages to ensure a
train service can operate when the new Britomart transport centre opens next year.
However, Mayor Banks strongly rejected Mr Lee’s version that he won the by-election in a backlash against the Mayor’s
policies of completing the motorway network with urgency and speed.
“If Mr Lee does his arithmetic he will see that more than 30,000 voters wanted urgent action on network completion,
seven thousand more than voted for Mr Lee. The problem was that support was split between two candidates, and Mr Lee
came through the middle.”
“Well done Mr Lee, but I also note he was quoted in the campaign as supporting the Eastern Transport corridor. If that’s
an honest statement, then we are all agreed. Auckland needs an integrated transport solution – urgently.”
“Auckland City is working for greater urgency to complete the long-planned integrated transport solution for the region,
I am confident that – with Mr Lee’s support - the ARC will too.”
ENDS