Greens celebrate funding revolution for Auckland walkways, cycleway, and public transport

The Green Party have welcomed the record level of investment for Auckland in clean, green transport choices like walking, cycling, new trains, and faster public transport.

Green list MP Chlöe Swarbrick said today:

“Like many Aucklanders I rely on public transport to get around our city. I am stoked that our Government has committed to delivering high quality, efficient, future-proofed public transport across Tāmaki Makaurau.

“With the Greens in Government it’s going to be easier for Aucklanders to choose fast, congestion free alternatives to cars, with record investment in light rail, more electric trains, bus priority lanes, and SkyPath and SeaPath for safer walking and cycling.

“People will find it easier to get around and our environment is better off for it.

“This is the Green Party starting to deliver in Government on the issues we’ve campaigned on for decades. I congratulate Julie Anne Genter, our Associate Transport Minister, for her hard work in this space alongside Labour and NZ First”.

Investment highlights (sourced from the NLTP 2018-21 Regional Factsheet):

  • Work will get underway to deliver light rail between the City Centre and Māngere, and to Auckland’s northwest.
  • Investment will be allocated to the electrification of the rail line from Papakura to Pukekohe.
  • Investment in new electric trains to provide for growth and reduce crowding that would otherwise occur.
  • $31 million will be invested in SeaPath, a walking and cycling connection between Northcote Point and Esmonde Road, Takapuna. There will be $67 million to fully fund the SkyPath project across the Auckland Harbour Bridge, and investigate a dedicated walking and cycling crossing of the Manukau Harbour to replace the Old Māngere Bridge. $56.6 million will be invested to complete the Glen Innes to Tāmaki Drive shared path.
  • $119 million for the provision of a third main line between Westfield and Wiri and an upgrade of Westfield rail junction to provide better separation of passenger and freight services.
  • Access to Auckland Airport and surrounding areas will be improved through the Southwest Gateway programme. This work includes Puhinui rail station improvements, investigation of rapid transit measures between Auckland Airport and Botany, and identifying improvements along state highways 20, 20A and 20B to improve journey reliability and provide more transport choices.
  • $240 million will be invested in the Auckland Manukau Eastern Transport Initiative (AMETI) Eastern Busway improvements.

Latest Transport Announcements

Story

Families Will Pay More Without Clean Car Standard

The Green Party says scrapping the Clean Car Standard will mean New Zealanders end up paying more to run their cars.
Read More

Story

Govt caves to industry on Clean Car commitment

The Green Party says the Government’s move to cave in to industry by gutting the Clean Car Standard scheme is a reminder why National can’t be trus...
Read More

Story

Govt gets it wrong with cancelled ferries

The cost of cancelling the iRex ferries shows the wastefulness and short-term thinking of the Coalition Government.
Read More

Story

Greens launch petition for regional passenger rail

The Green Party has launched a petition calling on the Rail Minister Winston Peters to reinstate passenger rail services across the country.
Read More

Story

Raising speed limits on undivided highways invites trouble

The Government’s move to increase speed limits substantially on dozens of stretches of rural and often undivided highways will result in more serio...
Read More

Story

One year on, still no progress on new ferries

Today’s announcement from the Government on its plan for new ferries throws more uncertainty on the future of the country’s rail network.
Read More