NEW Zealand’s government has issued a draft policy statement (GPS) on land transport that proposes “targeted investment” of $NZ 2bn ($US 1.2bn) in public transport over the next three years.
Rail projects expected to benefit include:
completion of Auckland’s City Rail Link, and
delivery of the Lower North Island Rail Integrated Mobility (LNIRIM) scheme in Wellington, involving provision and upgrading of substations, along with replacement rolling stock for the Wairarapa and Manawatu lines.
The government says that it will prioritise practical, achievable transport projects that deliver reliability to commuters, benefit businesses, and support economic growth, while also demonstrating value for money.
Although funding for public transport has increased by 71% in the past five years, patronage has fallen by 23%, in part due to Covid pandemic. Specific projects and funding allocations are due to be confirmed later this year.
“I expect the NZ Transport Agency to consider different ways of funding and delivering major transport projects,” says transport minister Mr Simeon Brown. “This includes build, own, operate, transfer equity finance schemes, and value capture. Ensuring local government pays their fair share, funding should also be supplemented by increased public transport fare-box recovery and third-party revenue.”
KiwiRail CEO Mr Peter Reidy has responded positively to the GPS. “Rail plays a critical role in New Zealand’s multi-modal transport system, contributing up to $NZ 2.1 bn in often unseen benefits annually – from emissions reductions to congestion relief and road maintenance cost savings,” he says.
“The draft GPS’ focus on metropolitan networks and the Golden Triangle of Auckland, Waikato, and Tauranga is welcome, as is retaining the integration of rail infrastructure within the land transport planning system.”
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