Media Release

11 April 2006

Option3 Presents Petition to Regional Land Transport Committee

Over 2700 postcards in support of Option3 on the Western Corridor have been presented to the Greater Wellington Regional Counci today. Wellington and Kapiti residents signed up in favour of Option3 which calls for safety improvement on the coastal highway, better rail services, technological innovations and smart planning on the Western Corridor.

“Given a choice between the Gully and Option3, people are choosing Option3. 2700 people have shown that there is no regional consensus for supporting Transmission Gully” said Option3 Spokesperson, Karl Baker.

The petition was presented to the Regional Land Transport Committee who met today to decide whether to endorse the Hearings Subcommittee's support for Transmission Gully. Option3 said that the recommended plan would only shift congestion, and undercut rail patronage by starving public transportation of adequate funding.

Ralph Chapman, Associate Professor at Victoria University, supported Option3 and highlighted the implications of building new roads on the region's efforts to curb climate-changing C02 emissions.

“Building new road capacity, while letting the energy-efficient rail system remain in its inadequate state is irresponsible in the face of global efforts to reduce C02 emissions” said Chapman.

Option3 was concerned that building Transmission Gully would lock the region into car-dependency at a time of rising petrol prices. “It is essential that we provide Wellington and Kapiti residents with real transport choices, so that commuters don't have to use their cars, and the 30% of people who don't have access to cars are provided with a decent public transport service” said Paula Warren from Option3.

Option3 will continue to lobby local and central government for balanced transport solutions.

ENDS

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