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Fixing Auckland’s transport

Fixing Auckland’s transport

Today marks a critical step in the most important funding debate Auckland has ever had: whether or not Aucklanders are willing to pay for the transport system this city desperately needs to keep it moving, says Mayor Len Brown.

Auckland faces a $12 billion transport funding gap to build the new roads, rail, ferries, busways, cycleways and supporting infrastructure needed to cope with a population set to hit 2.5 million in the next three decades.

Two reports were released today to Auckland Council’s budget committee. The first from the Independent Advisory Body (IAB) presents two alternative funding pathways for Auckland to raise $12 billion to achieve the fully-integrated transport network promised in the Auckland Plan.

The second report, from Auckland Council group, presents two different transport budgets: one which shows the limited number of transport projects the city can afford using current revenue streams, and a second budget that would use alternative funding pathways to build the Auckland Plan transport network Aucklanders have said they want.

“Aucklanders tell me every day that we need to fix this city’s transport problems and I know a basic network isn’t good enough for them, so let’s debate, discuss and decide if and how much we are prepared to pay to finally fix Auckland’s transport problems.

Mayor Brown says the research from the IAB shows Aucklanders face a cost whichever direction they choose; either through the higher rates and fuel tax pathway or motorway user charge to raise the $12 billion needed to get this city moving, or through the economic and social costs of a city grinding to a halt.

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“Today’s findings from independent experts have shown us that if we are prepared to pay for it, we could invest in a transport system that would improve congestion by 20 percent over the next 10 years compared to where our traffic problems are currently heading.

“Achieving this level of transport performance will deliver economic benefits to the Auckland region of $1.6 billion in improved productivity and reduced costs.”

Auckland Council will consult Aucklanders from January 2015 on which transport budget option they want - the basic or the full Auckland Plan network - and if they choose the Auckland Plan network, how they would prefer to pay for it. The final decision will be made during the Long-term Plan 2015-2025 adoption process throughout May/June 2015.

For further information:
Alternative funding Q&A
Long term transport funding final report
Long-term Plan transport programme appendix

ENDS

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