Missed Turn For Wellington Traffic

ACT New Zealand Deputy Leader and Wellington-based MP Heather Roy today revealed that the Wellington region's new rail units - 90 percent of which are to be funded by the Labour Government - will emit twice as much carbon dioxide as buses.

"When asked in Parliament the Transport Minister seemed unaware the business case used to justify buying rail units, rather than buses, is full of errors - the worst being the outrageous assumption that buses use 2.8 litres of fuel for every kilometre travelled," Mrs Roy said.

"A more accurate international figure of 0.34 litres per kilometre, when using the Ministry of Economic Development's carbon emission calculations, means that these trains will emit more than double the amount of carbon dioxide as diesel buses would have.

"Further, the Minister has made it clear that there would be no more funding for the region beyond projects already approved; once the rail units are purchased, there will be no money for transport programmes - including addressing Wellington's roading congestion problems.

"Motorists using the Ngauranga Gorge, Kilbirnie and travelling around the Basin Reserve - all congestion choke points - will see no infrastructural investment under this Government, or receive any relief from the traffic woes that plague them on a daily basis. Wellingtonians are also out of luck when it comes to any progress being made on Transmission Gully.

"The decision to pour all Government resource into trains is based on shonky calculations. Taxpayers deserve quality decision-making on the spending of their money. The Minister has a duty to ensure this before committing to an option that will only part-solve the problem.

"When it comes to Greater Wellington's public transport, 43 percent of people use rail and 57 percent use buses at some time - on a regular basis, however, most use private vehicles. Rail is only part of the solution, and this Government spending will not solve the problems of congestion or increased carbon emissions. Worse, by putting all eggs in one basket, there is now nothing left with which to seriously address Wellington's transport woes," Mrs Roy said.

ENDS

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