10 July 2007

Wellington rail funding plan welcome, but belated

The Green Party has applauded the Wellington Regional council and the Government for working together to confirm the $500 million allocation to Wellington's rail system.

"This is a major step forward after decades of neglect, and comes only just in time. The annual survey released this week by Greater Wellington Regional council shows public transport use around Wellington has fallen substantially. Confidence in the system is also falling - it should be a real warning bell that the percentage of those choosing public transport for its convenience fell from 22 per cent to only 8 per cent." Greens Co-Leader Jeqanette Fitzsikons says.

"Those figures reflect the chronic under - investment in train and bus services that the new package only now begins to address. Aucklanders may have been flocking to public transport in record numbers, but Wellington, always the poster child for public transport use, is going backwards - almost certainly because of the delays and breakdowns that have plagued the capital's train and bus services in 2006 and early 2007.

"The Greens can take some credit for Michael Cullen's statement that public transport can play a vital role in addressing climate change. The Greens have been saying this in Parliament for years, yet hitherto, Cullen would respond with a litany of excuses : people wouldn't get out of their cars; not everyone could catch trains; buses need roads too; and the plumber with his van of tools couldn't catch the train.

"Finally, Cullen has recognised that to cut carbon emissions from transport we need better public transport.

"While this package is welcome, it is not the end. We should be planning now for the next stage, including more new trains to increase frequency; electrifying the track to Waikanae and double tracking to Otaki; more bus priority lanes in Wellington; fixing the bottleneck to the entrance to Kaiwharawhara; and eventually funding light rail into Courtenay Place, and out to the airport.

"It is clear where the most cost-effective options lie. $500m will buy in a rail package - improving service, reliability and frequency across the whole city - but the same amount will fund only about half a motorway. "Wellington Regional Council should keep its future funding options open. It should not for instance, divert the revenue stream from a petrol levy into roading. It should instead retain the upgrade and expansion of public transport as its top priority - in order that issues of dubious reliability and convenience finally become a thing of the past, and no longer a deterrent to using public transport, " Ms Fitzsimons says.

ENDS

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