18 July 2002

National Will Legislate To Build Roads Faster

National will allow public-private partnerships and road tolling to finance building new roads and to finance public transport, National Leader Bill English said releasing National's transport policy in Auckland today.

"National will bring in this legislation to get Auckland and other parts of the country moving - areas where bureaucracy and outdated legislation is stalling progress.

"We will amend the Resource Management Act to quicken what is now a lengthy hearing process for projects of strategic importance, and simplify the decision making on roading and public transport strategies.

"In Wellington, for example, Transmission Gully is long overdue. Growth in the region will be hindered without this transport link. National voted for Peter Dunne's Members' Bill to bring forward this project but Labour backed down on its word and voted it down.

"National will also review the processes for compensation under the Public Works Act to facilitate purchases of land for roading and public transport projects.

"We will also dedicate net speed camera revenue to road safety expenditure.

"Access to public transport and increasing use of public transport is important. We will continue patronage funding and funding passenger transport for those dependent on it," Mr English said.

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