Four more years of talking about light rail

Stuff reports:

There are questions about whether Transport Minister Michael Wood’s wish, to have construction of Auckland’s light rail begin next year, is realistic.

When, in late January, he announced the Government’s plan to build light rail underneath Auckland city, Wood said early construction was expected to start in 2023.

They also promised it would be complete by 2021. The chance of it starting construction by 2023 is zero.

While Wood maintained early work would start next year, he said Cabinet was still waiting for “a detailed business case” – and that wasn’t expected until the end of 2023.

ACT’s transport spokesman, Simon Court, said ALR’s timeline was clear. Its timeframe had planning and consenting lasting up to four years.

“It’s going to take them years to relocate hundreds of kilometres of services along the light rail route, to buy land and then get planning permission,” he said.

“There will be nothing built before the next election. In fact, I would be surprised if anything was built before 2030.”

So Wood is saying they will consider a detailed business plan at the end of 2023 and also construction will start in 2023. They really do think we’re stupid.