Don't prioritise rail over road, warns Chamber of Commerce

$247 million will be spent on commuter rail in Auckland and Wellington under National’s new transport plan, announced by Bill English on Sunday. While the focus has been on improvements to rail, there were also a number of roading and busway projects announced in National’s plan, including $955 million for the Mill Road upgrade, $835 million for the North-West Busway and $616 million for the AMETI Eastern Busway project. These announcements follow a report from the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research released last Monday that estimated productivity losses from congestion in Auckland alone cost New Zealand nearly $2 billion year-on-year. The Employers and Manufacturers Association (EMA), Infrastructure NZ and the National Road Carriers Association were among those who commissioned the NZIER report. "We’ve been pushing for pace and acceleration in this regard and it appears that is now getting traction" says Kim Campbell of the EMA. The CEO of Infrastructure New Zealand Stephen Selwood has agreed that the announcement signals that engagement from the government with the findings of the report, but expressed the need for further commitment to the East-West link, a roading project that provides better road links to the Onehunga-Penrose area. "It is vital that resource consents for this project are granted. Once in place, the East-West Link and other projects announced today will have a lasting positive impact on movements to, from, through and within our largest city," Selwood says. In a statement released this afternoon, Michael Barnett of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce agrees. While acknowledging the need for public transport upgrades he says that a more efficient system for moving the city’s vital cargo and goods is needed.  “The East West Link has a strong business case with a projected $2.90 return for every $1 spent. We have yet to see the business case for a light rail connection to the Airport and how it will stack up against the other public transport services.”