Auckland Light Rail announcement 'soon'
Thursday, 1 August 2019
Work on Auckland's long-discussed light rail network could begin next year, with Mayor Phil Goff expecting decisions to come from the Government 'reasonably soon'.
The Labour-led Government took over the project from Auckland Council after committing in the 2017 election to build it, but Transport Minister Phil Twyford is keeping tight-lipped on when the lengthy procurement process might be settled.
Little has been heard of where the Government is heading since it sought proposals in May 2018, and flagged that it also had a bid from the Super Fund to finance and build Auckland lines.
'I am assured they (Government) are in the home straight in terms of making those decisions and that, hopefully commencement will start next year,' Goff told Stuff.
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The Government pledged to build two lines, one from the city centre to Mount Roskill and on out to Māngere and the airport, the other to the northwest, perhaps as far as Kumeu.
The signs for the northwest are less promising, and Goff added to that uncertainty.
'The key priority needs to be in the isthmus, and if you can't do both as once, this is where you need to start,' he said.
'I've made it clear to the Government that while they might be looking at a West Auckland line, the priority in my mind is the isthmus - that priority is based on Auckland Transport's statistics on where the bus routes are facing congestion.'
In a written statement to Stuff NZTA declined to release material, and said the type of reports sought did not exist.
The head of Light Rail Carl Devlin, did outline the state of paperwork on both the Māngere and northwest lines.
Devlin said an indicative business case for the Māngere line had gone to Treasury and the Ministry of Transport for feedback, before being fleshed out into a full business case.
'When this occurs, there will be more clarity around timing, staging and estimated costs,' wrote Devlin.
'Investigations for the (northwest) line are at a very early stage and still require a lot of work to develop a business case.'
Light Rail has been advocated by Auckland Transport as the best mode for major central Auckland bus routes which are nearing peak capacity even with double deckers along arterials such as Dominion Road.
Originally talked of as a line to the airport, the need for Light Rail is now couched more around improving public transport links to major housing redevelopments at Mt Roskill, Māngere and perhaps Mt Albert.
Council agency AT had once harboured hopes of having an early stage built in time for the 2017 World Masters Games, and had an offer from Spain's CAF, which built the city's electric trains, to help fund the project.
Labour in 2016 pledged to jointly fund with Auckland Council the 13km Māngere line, then estimated to cost $1.4 billion.
Auckland Transport handed over the project to NZTA after the Labour-led Government pledged to fully fund the project, although only 'seed' funding has been committed so far.
Stuff asked Goff whether he was satisfied the Government and NZTA were moving as fast as should be expected.
'I'm never satisfied, I want things done more quickly and for the Government to go further, and I make that point to them,' he said.