Greater Wellington Regional Council has awarded the contract for the Wellington Public Transport Spine Study to transportation and engineering company AECOM, a firm with a strong combination of local and international knowledge and experience.

The 18-month study will identify and assess the most feasible long term options for a high quality public transport route through Wellington, from the railway station to the regional hospital in Newtown and connections with the wide public transport network.

The $1 million study, being carried out by Greater Wellington in partnership with Wellington City Council and the NZ Transport Agency, is part of the Ngauranga to Wellington Airport Corridor Plan.

The appointment of AECOM has been welcomed by Fran Wilde, Chair of Greater Wellington and the Regional Transport Committee, and Celia Wade-Brown, Mayor of Wellington City.
Fran Wilde says the awarding of the contract is a very significant green light for the study. “After identifying what we need to do through our corridor plan, then spending some time securing funding for the study and finding the best people to carry it out, we can now let them get on and do the work.

“AECOM has a wealth of experience in public transport systems from planning and developing options for a light rail system for Perth and a rapid bus network for Brisbane, through to planning a new tram line through Edinburgh and light rail in Minneapolis. So I’m sure they’ll produce some very exciting options for Wellington and provide the groundwork for good decisions about this crucial public transport route.”

Wellington Mayor Celia Wade-Brown is delighted that the tender has been let. "The triple whammy of congestion, rising oil prices and climate change means this study is incredibly important," she said.

"Wellingtonians say they want better and more reliable public transport. Our bus lanes are a start but we need a step change in the efficiency of our public transport networks.
"I look forward to the commencement of this project and the inclusion of existing data such as the 1995 (Wellington) Light Rail Transit Feasibility Study that gave a Cost-Benefit Ratio of 2.2 for several light rail options."

Fran Wilde says AECOM’s bid for the contract was among nine strong proposals, all with international components.

The first phase of AECOM’s work over the next three months will involve scoping the options for routes and transport modes and reviewing international public transport systems. It will then identify and develop options, which will be put up for public consultation around the middle of next year. The study’s due to be completed at the end of 2012.
You’ll be able to keep up with progress of the study at www.gw.govt.nz/pt-spine

ENDS

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