27 August 2009
MEDIA RELEASE:

A giant step backwards for a resilient transport system

"Today's National Land Transport Programme allocation of only 10% to public transport over the next 3 years shows the Government is not serious about its CO2 commitments or about improving transport choice" says Bevan Woodward, spokesperson for FAST, the Forum for Auckland Sustainable Transport.

"Transport is NZ's fastest growing source of CO2 emissions and this will only be exacerbated by such an unbalanced transport programme.

“Furthermore, far from delivering future economic benefits, the National Land Transport Programme commits New Zealanders to a precarious existence at the mercy of future oil shocks. The demand for oil is forecast to exceed supply when the global economy recovers. New Zealand’s economy is at grave risk from rising oil prices that will soon exceed last year’s high of US$147/barrel.

“Consequently New Zealanders must reduce our car dependency. New Zealand needs far more investment in public transport, and to ensure local roads are better places for all who use them – be they walkers, cyclists, public transport, freight, or car users. This will provide New Zealanders with more choices about the transport we use, reduce our CO2 emissions and improve our economic vulnerability for when oil prices start to rise again as the global economy recovers.“

“Unfortunately, today’s National Land Transport Programme is a giant step backwards for a resilient New Zealand transport system” says Mr Woodward.

ENDS

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