Cycleways and public transport to benefit from $54b plan

A $54 billion transport spend during the next decade has been announced by transport minister Phil Twyford.

The Government intends building and upgrading roads, rail and cycleways – the latter expected to provide huge benefits for the growing number of electric bike riders and other forms of e-mobility.

Twyford announced the package earlier to provide certainty to infrastructure builders the Government is committed as the economic impacts of the Covid-19 coronavirus mount, Stuff reports.

It will also provide $45m over three years for coastal shipping to help remove freight from roads.

The proposal is detailed in the Government’s draft policy statement (GPS) on land transport, which will spend $48b – the NZ Upgrade Programme adding another $6.8b.

Projects aren’t specified but road safety and public transport get a decent slice.

Light electric rail had its own funding category “rapid transit” under a previous plan but now comes under funding for public transport infrastructure.