Can a different route fix tunneled light rail?
As regular readers will know, we’re not fans of the current plans to put light rail in a tunnel across the isthmus at enormous financial and opportunity cost.
There are a number of factors that play into why we think a surface-running system is better for Auckland.…
More Homes vs Light Rail
Last week, the Coalition for More Homes sent a letter that we really shouldn’t have had to write. But first, some backstory and some acronyms.
Auckland Council is required to implement Government planning reforms called the NPS-UD and MDRS. The NPS-UD (National Policy Statement on Urban Design 2020).…
Light Rail’s Sponsored Defence
Yesterday the Herald ran a sponsored article from the Auckland Light Rail team (ALR) on their plans for tunnelled light rail. The main point of the article seems to be about trying to justify their solution compared to a surface one.…
Next steps for light rail
It’s taken a while to fully digest the light rail announcement from a couple of weeks ago. As I said at the time, and in quite a few interviews since, I have mixed emotions about it all. On the one hand it’s amazing to see the government willing to invest so much in Auckland’s rapid transit network – but on the other hand I worry the ‘tunnelled light-rail’ option has taken the worst parts of the two modes they looked at: the high cost of metro and the lower capacity of light-rail.…
The Light Rail Indicative Business Case
Following the release of the government’s decision on Light Rail two weeks ago, the Auckland Light Rail team (ALR) released the Indicative Business Case (IBC) used to make the decision and although some of what are probably the most interesting parts of it are redacted, and they still haven’t published the appendices, there is some useful information in it.…
Sooo… Tunnelled Light Rail
On Friday the government announced their decision on Light Rail.
I should start by pointing out that it’s fantastic the government have agreed to invest so much in public transport in Auckland. At $10.3 billion in today’s value, or $14.6 billion with inflation by the time it is finished, this will easily be the largest single transport project ever attempted in New Zealand.…
Is Tunnelled Light Rail the Worst of Both Worlds?
The government will soon be making a decision on light rail (if they haven’t already). If you’ve read our previous posts on the topic you’ll know we think surface light rail is the best option compared to tunnelled light rail or light metro.…
Lessons for Light Rail from City Rail Link’s Past
In his guest post last week on his view about light rail, Transport Minister Michael Wood started with a lesson from history.
Firstly, a few words about the history. This matters because the historic failure to secure the necessary political support and investment for rapid transit in Auckland tells us something about what we might need to do differently if we want the project to advance this time.…
The Minister’s View on Light Rail
This is a guest post from Transport Minister Michael Wood. We welcome guest posts from all political parties.
The release of the Chair of the Auckland Light Rail’s report on 29 October 2021 was a signal moment in the long history of light rail planning in our largest city.…
Seeing the light on Light Rail
With the government now seemingly open to investing big on rapid transit in Auckland and with Wellington also now proposing a big active mode and Rapid Transit programme, it is clear we are at a critical moment in the long road to fixing our cities.…
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