Multibillion-dollar transport plan revealed for Wellington, but details vague on timing

Thursday, 16 May 2019

A mass public transport system is due to be constructed between Wellington Railway Station and the airport as part of the $6.4 billion Let's Get Wellington Moving programme.

A wide-ranging, $6.4 billion plan has been revealed to revamp Wellington's transport network and central city, but questions remain about when much of it will happen.

Among the projects confirmed in the 20-year plan announced on Thursday are a second Mt Victoria tunnel, a rapid public transport system, changes to the Basin Reserve roundabout, and an improved cycling and walking network.

There are also expected to be as many as 25,000 new homes built between the Wellington CBD and airport as part of an urban development programme included in the project.

The planned mass transit from the Wellington CBD to the airport could take the form of light rail. This image paints the picture of a possible solution.

But details were vague on when many of the projects will commence, with all of them subject to business case approval and public consultation before they can begin.

A new road to separate local and state highway traffic at the Basin Reserve is at least 10 years away.

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A multibillion-dollar fix for Wellington's transport network has been announced by Transport Minister Phil Twyford.

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* Rush hour getting longer**

Transport Minister Phil Twyford made the announcement at Wellington Railway Station on Thursday. (File photo)

Transport Minister Phil Twyford said at the announcement at Wellington Railway Station on Thursday work could begin on a second Mt Victoria tunnel on State Highway 1 within the next 10 years, but would take several years to complete.

The project would include widening Ruahine St and Wellington Rd on the eastern side of the tunnel.

Surveys revealed Wellingtonians supported a tunnel near the Basin, but not a bridge.

Construction of a mass public transport system between the railway station and Newtown could start in 'a few years', with an extension to the airport sometime after 2029. The technology was likely to be light rail or trackless trams.

At the Basin roundabout on SH1, changes would be made to the road layout by 2024, but it was unclear when plans to separate local and state highway traffic would start, or what they would look like.

A second Mt Victoria tunnel could include a widened cycleway and walkway.

One option was to construct a tunnel under Sussex St, connecting to the Arras Tunnel, but the final design would ultimately depend on the route chosen around the Basin for the mass transit system.

'We can't do everything at once and my expectation is that congestion-busting projects like rapid transit will be prioritised over motorway projects,' Twyford said.

Two notable omissions from the final package were plans to build a second Terrace Tunnel on SH1, and reconfigure the highway into a tunnel under a new city park in Te Aro.

'We settled on the amount of money that we think could be prudently funded and financed by, and for, Wellington.

'There's a limited envelope of funds … we had to draw the line somewhere.'

The proposal was developed by the Let's Get Wellington Moving group, a joint venture between the New Zealand Transport Agency, Wellington City Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council formed in 2015 after plans for a Basin Reserve flyover fell through.

Central government will contribute $3.8b to the programme, with the city and regional councils to make up the remaining $2.6b.

Wellington Mayor Justin Lester said he was confident his councillors would back the project when it came time to vote on it.

'I think we'd be crazy to turn this down. It's a huge investment in the economy.

'There will be fierce debate, but there will be a strong majority in favour.'

Regional chairman Chris Laidlaw also expected his councillors to endorse the investment.

'It will open up all sorts of opportunities for public transport. I'm confident our council will support this - there's a general feeling we need to support it and get on with it.'

GETTING WELLINGTON MOVING

- 58,000 more public transport users within 30 minutes of Wellington CBD by 2036 (up 36 per cent)

- 75,000 more motorists within 30 minutes of Wellington CBD (up 50 per cent)

- 100,000 people entering central Wellington in morning peak by 2036 (up from 82,000)

- 25,000 cars entering central Wellington in morning peak (down from 31,000)

- 5 annual cycling or walking deaths and serious injuries in central city (down from 11)

- Up to 1500 on-street car parks removed throughout the central city and main roads south, east and north

- 16,200 people per hour using Taranaki St by 2036 (up from 9200)

- 15,000 northbound public transport spaces, excluding rail, in morning peak by 2036 (up from 9000)

- 70 northbound public transport vehicles, excluding rail, in morning peak (down from 160)

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