Dropping Auckland light rail a ‘gutsy move’: RTF

The government’s decision to scrap Auckland’s electric light rail project has pleased the Road Transport Forum (RTF).

It’s now asking the Government to reconsider funding for more “mainstream” roading projects instead.

Transport minister Phil Twyford announced the decision to end the twin track Auckland Light Rail process and refer the project to the Ministry of Transport for further work, meaning it has now gone the way of the government’s ‘Clean Car’ plan emission standards and “feebate” EV incentives and become a possible election issue with decisions to be made after.

In a statement, Twyford says Government parties were unable to reach agreement on a preferred proposal despite “extensive cross-party consultation”.

Meanwhile, Green Party co-leader James Shaw is pointing the blame at NZ First and says the party has breached its good faith coalition agreement by stalling the project.

Twyford says two “credible and deliverable” proposals were received from NZ Infra (a consortium of the NZ Super Fund and Canadian pension fund CDPQ Infra) and Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency.

“Either would have created hundreds of jobs and resulted in an Auckland metro that offered Aucklanders a 30 minute trip from the CBD to the airport.”

Auckland Light Rail remains a project in the Auckland Transport Alignment Project (ATAP), he says.

“The Ministry of Transport and the Treasury will report back after the general election on the best option for this project to be delivered by the public sector.

“Auckland Light Rail will be New Zealand’s most complex infrastructure project in decades and it’s vital we get it right for future generations,” Twyford says.

 Road Transport Forum (RTF) chief executive Nick Leggett says the withdrawal of the project is to be praised.

“It’s a gutsy move, but it’s the right one, and I congratulate the Government on this decision,” Leggett says.

“The estimated cost of $6 billion, if not more, for this project means the country cannot afford it.”

The RTF is now asking the Government to consider the funding of projects like Auckland’s East-West Link, which was missed out of the $12 billion infrastructure package announced earlier this year.

“The RTF has always been sceptical that the project cancelled today would provide the level of service that would transfer enough people from their cars to markedly reduce congestion in Auckland.

“Two of the Government parties clearly wish to pursue this and will be able to put it to the electorate at the September general election,” Leggett says.

Meanwhile, Infrastructure NZ chief executive Paul Blair says the decision to scrap the project provides some clarity but questions still remain about “process, problem definition, outcomes and how now Auckland will meet its transport and housing needs”.

“Light rail was proposed to address access, congestion, housing and urban regeneration objectives that now are left without a clear response.

“A significant transport and housing investment programme is now required to fill the gap left by light rail and by Auckland Council funding pressures.”

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