Comments on: Onehunga Line – news at last

By: jarbury

jarbury — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:48:19 +0000

The problem with referenda in general is that they’re very backwards looking, by simply focusing on the populism of an issue. Politicians and planners need to be forward looking – beyond what the current situation is and seeing how things might be 5 years down the track or so.

If one does look 5 years down the track then the Waterview Connection starts looking very silly and the CBD rail loop starts looking rather essential.

By: Nicholas O'Kane

Nicholas O'Kane — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:44:30 +0000

I have thought about the idea of a citizens initiated referendum on wether the Waterview connection should be cancelled, with the money going to the CBD rail loop and other public transport projects. Problem is that about one quarter of Auckland has to sign the petition, with about 4% from the rest of the country. And the public transport lobby might not be strong enough to collect that number.

And if we loose the referendum it will be a disaster. One the other hand if we win it, the government will have a huge political cost if it looses.

By: jarbury

jarbury — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:03:20 +0000

The main point is that the next piece of serious rail infrastructure that needs to be built in Auckland is the CBD rail loop. If we don’t build that next then all these other plans for a North Shore Line, rail to the airport or a Howick/Botany Line will never happen. The CBD rail loop has to happen next.

Hopefully something will hold up the Waterview Connection and at the next election there will be a huge debate about whether that $1.4 billion should be spent on the Waterview Connection or on the CBD rail loop. If petrol is $3 a litre then people may lean towards the rail loop.

By: Nicholas O'Kane

Nicholas O'Kane — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:48:52 +0000

I agree. Ideally we should build more acess to Brotmart and the CBD rail loop at the same time, as we might want to build a North Shore line in future.

By: Nick R

Nick R — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 00:24:09 +0000

Or build the CBD tunnel all the way to Quay Park Junction, with new platforms under Quay St. Two birds with one stone.

By: jarbury

jarbury — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:51:49 +0000

I think it would be stupid to build the airport rail link before the CBD rail loop. There simply aren’t enough slots at Britomart to handle it. The only alternative is to somehow duplicate the Britomart tunnel, but that’s a damn expensive project in itself (which means you might as well go the whole hog and build the CBD rail loop).

By: Brent C

Brent C — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:39:19 +0000

Thank god for that! At least now the Waikanae commuter rail extension will serve some purpose without the gully road stealing its commuters.

Maybe that airport rail extension isn’t too far off…

By: jarbury

jarbury — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 11:07:15 +0000

Well one of his 7 is pretty much dead, with the Transmission Gully motorway have a BCR of around 0.3-0.5. Steven Joyce admitted in parliament today that none of the other options were much better either.

One stupid idea down, six to go?

By: Brent C

Brent C — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:49:28 +0000

Yeah there is a bit of sarcasm in there.
It will be a great speech about how important rail is, but he will end he is likely to talk about his 7 roads further.

By: jarbury

jarbury — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:04:43 +0000

Brent, Steven Joyce hates how public transport patronage is booming and state highway usage is falling. That’s why he’s doing everything he can to reverse those trends!