Major government investment needed to get mass rapid transport for Canterbury off the ground
Friday, 13 November 2020
Major government investment and potentially significant land acquisitions would be needed if Christchurch is to get light rail or another form of mass rapid transport in the future, a business leader says.
Labour was enthusiastic about the idea of such a transport project during the election campaign, former Greater Christchurch Regeneration Minister Megan Woods, saying she wanted shovels in the ground this term.
During The Press Leaders Debate last month, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Labour was still “absolutely ambitious” about mass rapid transport for Canterbury, whatever form it may take.
Two members of a committee overseeing a $2 million business case investigating the most viable mass rapid transport said Woods’ target was achievable.
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The business case is looking at the most viable option, with rail and rapid bus services considered.
The committee has members from the Selwyn, Waimakariri, and Christchurch City councils, alongside Environment Canterbury (ECan) and the New Zealand Transport Agency (NZTA).
The committee is also overseeing two other business cases for improving bus services.
Its independent chairman, lawyer Alister James, said starting construction in the next three years would depend on the priorities of local and central government, and that presenting the best possible business case to central government for funding was essential.
“It’s a substantial investment that would be required that is quite clearly beyond the reach of the local authorities. It really does involve a major investment from central government,” James said.
In 2017, Labour made a pre-election promise of $100m for Christchurch's public transport, including light rail to Rolleston.
Public transport has been historically underutilised in Christchurch, especially compared to other major centres.
In 2018, a Ministry of Transport analysis showed just 35 per cent of people had used public transport in a 12-month period, more than half of Wellington’s 77 per cent.
James said many considerations had to be made in the ongoing business case.
If rail services were mooted for existing railway lines they would have to contend with freight services, and getting tracks extended to the city centre could require “some pretty significant land acquisition”.
James wants overseas initiatives explored in the business case, such as a train in Japan that can operate on both train lines and roads.
Mike Davidson, a Christchurch city councillor on James’ committee and a long-time advocate of improved public transport, said the councils making up Greater Christchurch were united on a sustainable public transport goal.
Davidson agreed a successful outcome would require major government investment, saying “we're not talking small change, we're talking quite large numbers.”
“I think what we need to do is work out what the corridors are and what the mode’s going to be,” he said.
Tane Apanui, a committee member and ECan councillor who previously proposed light rail in Christchurch before he was elected, said once the decision was made on what mass rapid transport would look like “then you can pretty much get going on it”.
“I think there’s there’s a willingness to really get things done,” he said.
Apanui and Davidson both agreed Woods’ goal of shovels in the ground during Labour’s second term in Government was possible.
The NZTA confirmed the business case should be finalised in 2021, while its management will soon transfer from
James’ public transport committee to the Greater Christchurch Partnership committee.