Transport in the Budget
In what is otherwise a fairly dark budget, it seems that transport – even rail – has got off reasonably lightly. Of course unsurprisingly there’s nothing in the budget about the CBD Rail Tunnel: the government’s review of that project seems to have gone on the back-burner – and the Ministry of Transport is even refusing to release to me any information on the work they’ve done in relation to the project so far this year.…
23 Comments Analysing the 2012 Government Policy Statement ‘Engagement Document’
Perhaps prompted by the various items on Radio NZ this morning, the Ministry of Transport has finally got around to publishing a discussion document for the next Government Policy State for transport funding. You can read the document here and you can also make submissions on it between now and May 27th by emailing: GPS@transport.govt.nz.…
Fuel tax increase deferred
An interesting announcement today by transport minister Steven Joyce – that the proposed 1.5c a litre fuel tax increase that was to take effect in July will now be cancelled – or more realistically delayed until next year and the year after (with bigger increases likely to be necessary to make up the difference):
Transport Minister Stephen Joyce announced this afternoon the 1.5 cent per litre increase due to come into effect on July 1 had been deferred.…
Joyce wants more uneconomic RoNS
A couple of days ago I discussed one of the Ministry of Transport’s discussion papers that has been prepared to inform the development of the next Government Policy Statement (GPS) for transport. The GPS is an important document because it is effectively the government’s input to how NZTA should spend the $3 billion or so that sits in the National Land Transport Fund each year.…
Who is going to pay for Auckland’s electric trains?
Prior to March 2009 it was reasonably clear how rail electrification in Auckland was to be paid for. The project effectively costs $1 billion: half of which needs to be spent on infrastructure works and half on the trains themselves. The government was to pay for the infrastructure and the Auckland Regional Council would pay for the trains.…
Oil prices and transport priorities
There was an interesting question and answer session in parliament today between the Green Party’s Gareth Hughes and Finance Minister Bill English, over the government’s infrastructure investment priorities and how they may be affected by rising fuel prices: The full text of the debate can be read here.…
North Shore rail link very popular
An interesting article in yesterday’s Herald, outlining the results of a poll into transport in Auckland:
An UMR Research poll, the results of which are out today, found 79 per cent of 241 Aucklanders in favour of installing railway lines across the harbour – whether on a new bridge or through tunnels – and 18 per cent against.…
The Roadfather
A great little sign spotted at protests against the Kapiti Expressway near Wellington:…
Transport discussion in parliament
Green MP Gareth Hughes took on Transport Minister Steven Joyce in another Question and Answer session in parliament today – with the initial topic of conversation interestingly similar to a blog post I wrote a couple of days ago. A transcript of the debate can be found here.…
CBD Tunnel: behind the scenes
When the CBD Tunnel business case was released in November last year there was a real flurry of reaction from central government. The reaction started with Minister of Transport Steven Joyce questioning a number of aspects of the business case and has eventually led to the formation of a review group: encompassing representatives from a number of agencies potentially involved in the project – to examine the questions raised about the business case and suggest ways in which the project can – or whether it should – move forwards.…
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