INDEPENDENT NEWS

Watch live: New $30b plan to tackle Auckland transport woes

Published: Thu 26 Apr 2018 12:37 PM
Watch live: New $30b plan to tackle Auckland transport woes unveiled
Nearly $30 billion will be spent on Auckland transport in the next 10 years, partly funded by a fuel tax, private finance and tolls.
The government and Auckland Council have announced the new Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP) at Newmarket train station today.
Watch the announcement here:
Billed as New Zealand's largest ever civil construction programme, $28 billion will be poured into light rail and roading projects at Penlink and Mill Rd.
Heavy rail and bus upgrades, safety improvements and more dedicated cycle lanes are also part of the plan.
The projects will be funded by $4.4 billion raised from the new Auckland fuel tax, increased revenue the National Land Transport Fund and Crown Infrastructure Partners contributions.
Read the full plan here:
Transport Minister Phil Twyford said the funding plan also included public private partnerships.
"We're putting half a billion dollars into Mill Rd which is going to take a lot of pressure off the Southern Motorway between Manukau and Drury, and $200 million into Penlink, which we're intending to do as a PPP. It's perfectly designed as a toll road," Mr Twyford said.
Auckland Mayor Phil Goff said $1.8 billion was set aside for light rail but extra funding would be announced shortly.
He said a fuel tax was a better option than raising rates.
"Auckland has to contribute its share and the regional fuel tax allows us to do that. The more than $4 billion expenditure it unlocks is critically important to progressing a better transport system for Auckland.
"To raise the same sum from rates would result in a total rate increase of over 13 per cent this year. Alternatively, to do nothing would see Auckland become increasingly gridlocked."
"Because of the design of the road it's easily tolled" - Phil Twyford duration 5:10
From Morning Report:
Click a link to play audio (or right-click to download) in either
MP3 format.
ATAP major investments include:
Committed projects like the City Rail Link and northern motorway improvements.
• Light rail
• Eastern busway (Panmure-Botany)
• Airport-Puhinui State highway upgrade, including a high quality public transport link to an upgraded Puhinui rail station
• Bus priority programme, to more rapidly grow Auckland's bus lane network and support faster, more reliable and more efficient bus services
• Albany-Silverdale bus improvements
• Lower cost East West Link to address key freight issues in the area
• Papakura-Drury motorway widening
• First phase of the Mill Road corridor
• Penlink (tolled)
• Walking and cycling programme to expand the network and complete key connections (e.g. SkyPath)
• Significant programme of safety improvements
• New transport infrastructure to enable greenfield growth
• Network optimisation and technology programme to make the best use of our existing network
• Rail network improvements including electrification to Pukekohe, additional trains and other track upgrades
RNZ
New Zealand's public broadcaster, providing comprehensive NZ news and current affairs, specialist audio features and documentaries.
Radio New Zealand is a Crown entity established under the Radio New Zealand Act 1995. Radio New Zealand News are vital elements in our programming, providing impartial news and information to New Zealanders every day. Radio New Zealand (RNZ) provides listeners with exciting and independent radio programmes in accordance with the Radio New Zealand Charter.

Next in Comment

US Lessons For New Zealand’s Health System: Profiteering, Hospital Adverse Events And Patient Outcomes
By: Ian Powell
Israel’s Argument At The Hague: We Are Incapable Of Genocide
By: Binoy Kampmark
View as: DESKTOP | MOBILE © Scoop Media