Our 2011 election manifesto - Labour Party

Labour will examine ways to maintain and increase the overall transport spend
beyond the National Land Transport Fund to develop our public transport systems so
that they are a credible and attractive transport option.
Auckland public transport
Auckland‟s spatial plan gives a clear commitment to investment in public transport in order to
unclog the roads. It recognises that, along with the provision of infrastructure, the demand
for travel needs to be managed so that Auckland is not forever trying to build roads to cope
with increasing numbers of motor vehicles.
Labour will work in partnership with Auckland Council to deliver a 15 year transport
infrastructure plan for Auckland, based on the transport commitments in the Auckland
spatial plan.
Any city that rates itself as having international status needs to give people choice in how
they move around. Efficiency across the various modes – and the ability to switch easily
between modes - will be the key.
The Council has prepared a business case for a City Centre Rail Link proposal and the
Auckland public are overwhelmingly in favour of it. This is a sensible transport solution and
will act as a catalyst for business and residential growth.
Labour will support the Auckland Council and back the clear preference for Auckland,
which is the Rail Link proposal. We will provide funding, through the Land Transport
Fund, for up to $1.2 billion, which equates to half of the cost of the Rail Link, on the
understanding that the Auckland Council is responsible for financing the other half.
We will finance this by cancelling National‟s plans to fund a Wellsford-Puhoi Highway („the
Holiday Highway‟). While Labour agrees that there are safety issues and choke points that
need to be addressed here, we believe these can be resolved without the need for an
expensive new highway. This money would be better spent on the Auckland Rail Link.
Labour will continue with intermediate improvements for the Wellsford-Puhoi
Highway which will improve both safety and travel-times. We will not support the $1.7
billion, gold-plated proposal as is currently planned.
Labour favours the so-called „Operation Lifesaver‟ improvements to the existing Puhoi to
Wellsford road, as advocated by the Campaign for Better Transport. This would fix the crash
black spots and traffic bottlenecks at a cost of $320 million, delivering most of the benefits
more quickly and cheaply than building an entire new highway.
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