Auckland Transport (AT) recommends light rail along five of the busiest streets in Auckland. Traffic jams on Dominion Rd and Manukau Rd are getting worse. AT looked at other options like double decker buses but in the end, decided that light rail was the best option. Buses can carry 2,500 people an hour. Rail can carry 12,000 people an hour.
AT’s plan is to have light rail on the streets which used to have trams. These were Mt Eden Rd, Symonds St and Queen St. Light rail is similar to the old trams but can carry more people and uses rechargeable batteries instead of overhead lines. Trams were removed from Auckland in the 1950s. The cost of building light rail is between $25m to $100m a kilometre, depending on whether the route is hilly or flat, full of bends or straight.
However, the mayor, Len Brown, says there is no money for light rail in the 10 year plan. He wants to keep the rates rise to 2.5% a year if possible. AT thinks that private funding might be possible.
Note: It is Auckland’s anniversary day tomorrow. Listen to January 16th 2009 to hear more about anniversary days of Auckland and other cities.
Questions
If you live in Auckland, what is your opinion? Do you think these roads are too busy now? If there was a light rail system, would people use it? Do you think these five roads are wide enough to have light rail as well as cars?