The coalition Government has decided to cancel the Auckland Light Rail project.
“Auckland Light Rail would have cost taxpayers $15 billion, with advice showing the cost could increase to $29.2 billion,” Transport Minister Simeon Brown says.
“The previous government committed to building light rail to Mt Roskill within four years of being elected. After six years and over $228 million spent on the project, not a single metre of track has been delivered and congestion has only worsened in the city.
“Scrapping the expensive project is part of the coalition agreements and we have taken swift action. Auckland Light Rail Limited has been instructed to immediately cease work on the project, and to take the necessary steps to wind up the company.
“The Government is committed to delivering infrastructure that will reduce congestion, boost productivity, and create a more reliable and resilient transport network that drives economic growth.
“Our focus is on building a rapid transit network in Auckland, including completion of the City Rail Link, which was started by the last National Government, and starting work on a Northwest Rapid Transit corridor, alongside other projects to deliver reduced congestion for Aucklanders.
“Work is underway on rewriting the Government Policy Statement on land transport which will reflect these priorities.
“The Government’s decision to scrap Auckland Light Rail means that we can stop work on a project which has not delivered and get on with delivering the critical transport infrastructure that Auckland needs.”
God, I wish I loved anything as much as NZ politicians love wasting billions on doomed rail projects that nobody wants 😒😑
19th century technology, please move the F on.
City rail links are just as dumb, we need ROADS.
MORE ROADS will reduce congestion far better than a train track, and far better than congestion/ULEZ cameras fining us for the crime of driving on the roads we already pay for. I know it’s probably harder for you politicians to skim money off the top and award tenders to all your friends and family that way, but please give it some thought regardless.
It would be useful to do a study of where people drive from and to, which junctions of the motorways they enter and exit and approximately what times. Put all the data into a computer and crunch it. The data might reveal that building a few roads at strategic places parallel to the motorways could significantly reduce congestion by removing the need for them to use the motorways at all.
I noticed years ago a significant number of people entering the motorways and then leaving at the next exit.
That could lead to government actually giving us what we want for a change, instead of what they want us to want.
Never gonna happen.
It was obvious from the day they announced the project this would be the end result.
Great news.
Can the tax payer please get a refund of the $100+ million wasted on ‘consultants’, ‘planners’ etc etc etc.
No thought not.
Lite rail was something we should have done forty years ago now as most people know it was a dumb idea. Govt’s don’t waste our money for no reason, there will be one and it wont be we needed lite rail or were cancelling it because it’s not worth it.
Send in truly independent auditors to look at the books I bet a few people did financially very well from this abandoned project…..as the Govt did not finish the job WE THE PEOPLE demand a refund.
So can we taxpayers invoice ardern for repayment of the $228 mil?