Billions earmarked for roads, rail, paths
The Government will spend $16.9 billion on New Zealand’s transport system, in measures set out in its latest National Land Transport Programme.
A record $5.7b has been assigned to Auckland’s networks.
Transport Minister Phil Twyford announced the investment yesterday, outlining the Government’s transport spend for the next three years.
The transport programme follows the release of the Government Policy Statement on Land Transport in June, which reflected the Government’s priorities.
‘‘This record investment in our transport system will help grow our regions, make it easier to get around our cities, and save lives on our roads. It will deliver the best results for our transport dollar,’’ Twyford said.
Most roading investment would go to the regions, rather than the big cities, with regional roads receiving $5.8b of funding, up $600 million from the last transport programme. However, Auckland continues to receive a significant investment of $5.7b, which will fund primarily public transport. Highlights include delivering light rail between Auckland city centre and Ma¯ ngere and to Auckland’s northwest.
Access to Auckland Airport and surrounding areas will be improved, including Puhinui rail station and investigating rapid transit measures to the eastern suburbs of Botany.
Walking and cycling initiatives are assigned $149m, including SkyPath and Seapath. The SkyPath development will get $67m and SeaPath will also receive a $31m investment.
The Northern motorway’s (State Highway 1) 18km extension from Puhoi to Warkworth will continue to be built by a public private partnership.
Nationwide, a total of $4.3b will go to programmes and projects that prevent accidents or reduce their severity, Twyford said.
This would include revamping intersections to stop collisions, installing median barriers in high-risk areas, and increasing road policing.
Roads receiving safety upgrades would include Dome Valley in north Auckland, Drury to Paerata in south Auckland, Waihi to Tauranga, and the Hawke’s Bay Expressway.
To ease congestion, a further $4b will be invested in public transport, rapid transit and rail, and $390m for walking and cycling. This will fund projects like the AMETI busway, renewal work on Wellington’s rail tracks, the Skypath and Seapath walk/cycleways, and investigation of a new commuter ferry service in Queenstown. State highways continue to receive the largest share of funding with a total of $5.7b.
‘‘We will invest $3.5b in new state highway projects like Puhoi to Warkworth, the Waikato Expressway, the Mt Messenger bypass, the Manawatu Gorge replacement, Transmission Gully, and the Christchurch Southern Motorway. A further $2.2b will be invested in state highway maintenance,’’ Twyford said.
The transport programme comprises $12.9b from the National Land Transport Fund, generated through fuel excise, road user charges, and other revenue sources; $3.4b from local government, generated through rates and Auckland’s regional fuel tax; and $557m in other Crown investments.