A former Wellington mayor will take over as chairperson of the Auckland Light Rail group, replacing the former boss of Manukau City Council. \
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Transport Minister Michael Wood said Dame Fran Wilde would start as chairperson of the Auckland Light Rail group from next month, working with former Manukau City Council chief executive Leigh Auton and Hauraki Māori Trust Board member Lucy Tukua. The appointment of a well known Wellingtonian to lead Auckland Light Rail comes as the minister insists work to actually build the massive transport project will begin soon. Labour initially promised it could get tracks laid within one term of Government. \
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The Auckland Light Rail project was estimated to cost [$14.6 billion](https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/politics/127610200/auckland-light-rail-goes-for-tunnel-option-with-harbour-crossing), making it one of the biggest ever investments into public transport. The plan is to have modern trams take passengers from Auckland Airport through Māngere and to Onehunga, before going underground into planned tunnels that lead to Auckland City.
