Where to for Christchurch’s public transport projects?

Thursday, 19 October 2023

Environment Canterbury chairperson Peter Scott is waiting for a transport minister to be appointed before assessing the new government’s approach.

Fleeting mentions in both the last Government’s long-term transport plan and the government-in-waiting’s transport policy are not seen as game over for those backing Christchurch’s public transport overhaul.

National’s $24 billion transport policy, Transport for the Future, includes the reallocation of $1.5b from public transport infrastructure to its Roads of National Significance plan.

But the project overview did not feature the region’s flagship public transport project, PT Futures,which includes the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) proposal. The overview’s ‘Better Public Transport’ plank only encompasses North Island projects: a rapid transit network for Auckland and upgrades to Lower North Island train services.

A rendering of a possible street view of a Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station from a Waka Kotahi document.

However, rapid transit for Christchurch does rate a mention in a list of projects yet to be “fully investigated”.

Waka Kotahi has already endorsed the indicative business case for the Christchurch MRT project, and approved $2.5 million towards a detailed business case earlier this year.

Some Canterbury bus services were overwhelmed, despite a drop on pre-Covid patronage numbers, and a lack of bus lanes in some areas made for long journeys at peak times. (File photo)

The former Government’s draft Policy Statement on Land Transport (GPS - LT) also mostly ignored MRT and other South Island public transport projects. This prompted the Greater Christchurch Partnership to comment a single mention did not “represent sufficient commitment tomeet the needs of the growing population.”

But Environment Canterbury chairperson Peter Scott said he was not concerned about the region’s public transport projects not having prominent positions in National’s policy or the GPS.

Scott said he would wait until a transport minister was appointed before assessing the new government’s approach.

Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey, who has long campaigned for the Woodend bypass, which got the nod from both major political parties this year, said rebuilding and fixing roads was the National party’s priority. (File photo)

The GPS, which gives guidance to Waka Kotahi for the next decade, had “huge influence” for the National Land Transport Fund, which determines funding, and Canterbury’s regional land transport plan, but could yet change considerably, he said.

Scott said the GPS shifted considerably between the Key and Ardern governments, away from the then-National government’s Roads of National Significance approach, to one more focused on accessibility, mode change, safety and other requirements.

In its submission to the Ministry of Transport on the GPS, ECan queried the omission of the PT Futures project, saying it didn’t accurately reflect “just how far progressed” the project was, “nor its criticality … in New Zealand’s second most populist urban area”, and pointed to a “narrowing window of opportunity”.

ECan said attempting to backwards engineer public transport “becomes hugely expensive” as evidenced by projects elsewhere, although Scott acknowledged the project cost would be “considerable”.

More than half of the funding was “controlled by Wellington purse strings,” but public transport was the regional council’s responsibility and not something it would shirk.

“If we want to put a world class public transport system in place in Christchurch, it’s going to cost money, and the sooner we get started the better.”

ECan councillor Joe Davies said the growth Greater Christchurch was experiencing made MRT and passenger rail essential to avoid the congestion issues of Auckland, and the Public Transport Futures plan was crucial to increase buses, invest in infrastructure and create better connectivity.

Newly re-elected Waimakariri MP Matt Doocey said rebuilding and fixing roads was a priority for National, “as the previous Labour Government failed to maintain them.”

The party’s transport policy would see 13 new roads of significance, better public transport, and will open up new housing growth areas, he said.

Canterbury roading projects that make the cut include the Belfast to Pegasus Motorway and Woodend Bypass, the Brougham St Corridor, SH75 Halswell Rd, SH1 Tinwald Corridor and the intersection of SH73 Weedons-Ross Rd, as well as a freight hub and long-awaited second bridge for Ashburton.