More expenditure on non-performing assets?

How ironic that Prime Minister John Key in Copenhagen claims New Zealanders can't afford to reduce their greenhouse emissions, yet Transport Minister Steven Joyce can find $2.4 billion public money for expenditure on non-performing assets (in the Wellington region) that saddle us with long term costs and harm... and more greenhouse emissions!

John Key and Steven Joyce could give us real dividends, if they were to follow the advice of town planning and health experts within the Transport Agency and the Lancet-UCL Commission (www.thelancet.com), and reduce our need for cars and trucks.

Projects such as a high capacity light rail extension through the Wellington CBD to the Hospital and Airport, and dual rail tunnels from Pukerua Bay through to Paekakariki, could enhance the public transport network and take cars and trucks off the road. These developments would achieve the claimed benefits for a fraction of the cost. Extending the rail system into the CBD using tram-train would knock ten minutes off the journey time for thousands of commuters every day, at a cost of much less than $100 million, the same time saving claimed for Transmission Gully but at ten times the cost.

Investment in cycle friendly infrastructure that persuaded one driver to shift from his car to cycling on a 5km commuter trip to work or to the public transport connection, brings potential $8,700 savings per year (NZTA). These come from capital and fuel cost savings, health benefits, savings on parking and parking freed up for others, increased safety to others, congestion relief (to others), network resilience and reliability, improved energy security and environmental benefits.

Are we going to move into the 21st Century, or do we let ourselves be driven back into the dark ages?

ENDS

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