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.