Debate over extra Mt Victoria tunnel as regional and city councils say they never agreed to bus lanes

Thursday, 13 June 2019

There is disagreement over whether Wellington's proposed extra Mt Victoria tunnel should provide extra bus lanes or car lanes. (File photo)

A stoush is brewing over the proposed use for Wellington's extra Mt Victoria tunnel, with local councillors saying they never agreed it should be prioritised for public transport.

The confusion comes after Transport Minister Phil Twyford said the new tunnel, part of the $6.4 billion Let's Get Wellington Moving programme, would give priority to buses, cyclists, and pedestrians.

Greater Wellington Regional Council says it never agreed the new tunnel would be prioritised for buses. (File photo)

Associate Transport Minister Julie Anne Genter said the two additional traffic lanes could create new bus lanes, car pool lanes, or both.

At a Greater Wellington Regional Council meeting on Thursday, councillor Daran Ponter said the council had never agreed the new tunnel would be prioritised for public transport, and successfully passed a motion for that stance to be formally recorded.

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Greater Wellington regional councillor Daran Ponter says the council never agreed the new tunnel would create more bus lanes. (File photo)

The city council also passed a motion on Thursday to record that the new tunnel had not been discussed in plans for priority bus lanes.

The $700 million project is one of several included in the Let's Get Wellington Moving (LGWM) programme, which needs to be signed off by both councils.

There is already a bus tunnel through Mt Victoria connecting the eastern suburbs and central Wellington. (File photo)

Each project is also subject to a business case and public consultation.

Ponter said the existing Mt Victoria tunnel and proposed duplicate tunnel were 'not currently identified by the regional council as a route for bus priority'.

A proposed route for a mass transit system between Wellington Railway Station and the airport was released as part of the LGWM plan.

It runs along the waterfront quays and Taranaki St, past the Basin Reserve to Newtown, and eventually through Kilbirnie to the airport.

But Luke Troy, the council's strategy group general manager, said it was possible the route could end up running through one of the Mt Victoria tunnels.

The final route would depend on whether light rail, trackless trams, or a rapid bus system was chosen, he said.

'If trackless trams are chosen, it's possible that might be routed through the Mt Victoria tunnel, whereas light rail would need to go through a different tunnel.

'That's the discussion the LGWM group is having.'

Another option, if the route was to go via Newtown, was for express buses to operate through the tunnel, Troy said.

Councillor Roger Blakeley said he was 'somewhat alarmed' the mass transit route released by LGWM could be reassessed.

'I thought that had been subject to a lot of debate and analysis, so it's alarming that the route may be subject to review.'

Councillor Paul Swain sought clarification the council had never formally agreed that a new tunnel would be prioritised for buses, walking and cycling.

Troy said that was correct.