Three Cheers For The Eastern Corridor

Proposals for Auckland's Eastern Corridor, unveiled by Mayors John Banks and Barry Curtis, signal the relief from traffic woes which Aucklanders have desperately been waiting for, ACT New Zealand Transport Spokesman Deborah Coddington said today.

"I congratulate these forward-looking gentlemen, and their teams, for their determination to get Auckland moving," Miss Coddington said.

"But this is not just about Auckland. Traffic jams are costing Auckland around $1 billion and that makes every New Zealander poorer.

"Congestion affects small businesses - such as family-owned carriers; employees of big companies - like courier drivers; and families.

"It's just not acceptable for people like Christine Fletcher to condemn the project and say we should get cars off the roads.

"As a mother, she should realise that it's impossible for parents to use buses or bicycles to pick up their children from several different schools, take them to sports, then to the dentist, then call in at the supermarket on the way home.

"This proposed Eastern Corridor actually sets aside 30 percent of the cost for buses, walkways and cycle lanes, so those who choose not to use cars have got nothing to grumble about.

"This is the first step in the right direction. The next would be for a National/ACT government to repeal the draconian Land Transport Management Act, written by the Greens and pushed through the House last year, so that Auckland's roading network - which has been planned for over 30 years - can proceed in a decent time frame.

"Unfortunately, under this Labour Government, which has written Treaty of Waitangi 'principles' into every piece of legislation, the consultation process will delay any new roading in Auckland indefinitely," Miss Coddington said.

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