Assessment of "bypass" alternative welcome

From: Stephanie Cook, Alliance Party Local Government spokesperson and Wellington City Counciller

Wellington City Counciller Stephanie Cook is delighted that Transfund is insisting on an adequate assessment of alternatives to the proposed "inner-city bypass".

The so-called bypass, which is strongly opposed by local residents, would carve through unique heritage areas and a vibrant local community at the cost of $30 million. In contrast, the expected benefits are negligible.

The November report from Transit's Independent Advisory Panel to Review Major Projects admits that travel time savings will be "not large", and that the project "cannot stand in isolation". However, the essential "related" initiatives that they describe, such as better resourcing of public transport, do not require the bypass!

The alternative option, optimising the existing road network, would be far less destructive and much cheaper. The savings could instead provide invaluable additional funding to more worthwhile endeavors to improve transportation in the capital, as listed by the Advisory Panel. A serious investigation of this option is long overdue.

© Scoop Media