The Minister of Transport, Steven Joyce, said today that the government does not have the money for the Auckland rail tunnel through the Central Business District – the CBD. Mr Joyce does not believe that the tunnel would bring enough benefit to Auckland.
The 3.5km tunnel would cost $2.4bn. The Auckland City Council believes that the tunnel would bring $1.3bn in transport benefits and $3.3bn wider benefits to the CBD, like more businesses. The government’s figures are $387m in transport benefits and $305m in wider benefits. Transport benefits would come from having fewer buses.
Mr Joyce also said that Auckland already is getting 46% of New Zealand’s transport money for things like the Newmarket Viaduct and the Victoria Park tunnel to the motorway. He said that the Council should look at alternatives to the rail tunnel like more park and ride stops, more expensive parking for cars, and more housing alongside the present railway.
The mayor, Len Brown, made the CBD rail tunnel one of his main election promises to Aucklanders. He will not give up his plan to have a rail tunnel. It would be very expensive for Auckland rate payers to find the $2.4bn. Auckland really needs some help from the government. Perhaps this will happen in the future.
Questions
1. The plan is to connect the Mt Eden branch of the railway to Britomart. There would be 3 more stations: under Albert St, Pitt St and Upper Symonds St. Would this make a difference to people in the CBD?
2. The Auckland CC thinks that improved rail in the CBD will encourage more people to live in the central city. Do you think so?
3. What other benefits would increased rail to the CBD bring? Think about traffic jams, air pollution, climate change etc.
4. Why should Auckland get 46% of all government transport money?
5. What are some other ways to finance the rail tunnel?