Media Statement

13 August 2014

Growing evidence damns Len Brown’s arguments in favour of trains

Auckland travel patterns challenge the need to fund Mayor Len Brown’s election promises, according to an Auckland councillor.

Dick Quax said research commissioned by the Ministry of Transport demonstrated what Aucklanders have known all along.

“Around three quarters of Aucklanders travel to and from work by car whereas less than two percent of workers take the train. Around 80 per cent of people live in the suburbs and 70 per cent of people work in the suburbs.

“In other words the Mayor is serving up a lifetime of crippling debt and compounding rate increases in order to fund infrastructure that few people need or use. The denial of evidence by the Mayor is astounding, and the cost will be borne of generations of ratepayers,” Dick Quax said.

The Ministry report prepared by consultant Richard Paling examined Census data to determine trends in commuter behaviour from 2001 to 2013.

“This compelling research further erodes the flagging argument for the City Rail Link. Few people live in the central city, only a minority of people work in the central city, and those who go there generally travel by car or bus.

“Trains don’t travel to and from North Shore, or my community in the eastern suburbs. In fact very few people will ever benefit from the City Rail Link, even though generations of Aucklanders will pay for it if the Mayor gets his way.

“It’s time for Auckland Council to review the objective evidence about consumer habits and travel patterns as we develop the forthcoming Long Term Plan,” Cr Quax said.

End.

See:

http://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Research/Documents/Richard-Paling-report-Transport-Patterns-in-the-Auckland-Region-Executive-Summary.pdf

http://www.transport.govt.nz/assets/Uploads/Research/Documents/Richard-Paling-report-Transport-Patterns-in-the-Auckland-Region.pdf

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