Transport Spending

Steven Joyce has announced:

An $8.7 billion programme of investment in New Zealand’s transport system has been detailed today with the launch of the National Land Transport Programme (NLTP).

Transport Minister Steven Joyce says this is the largest ever investment in the system and represents a 17 percent increase from the previous three-year period.

That’s close to $3 billion a year which is not bad.

The $8.7 billion includes investment of:

• $4.6 billion in the state highway network (up 19%)
• $1.9 billion in local roads (up 14%)
• $900 million in key urban public transport networks (up 21%).

As anyone sane knows, it is not a choice between public transport only or roads only. You need to invest in both.

The $900 million in public transport investment is in addition to the $1.85 billion in capital investment currently being made into the Auckland and Wellington commuter rail networks.

Ouch. Thanks Michael.