Urgent need for CBD Rail Loop, says Auckland

The Government needs to fast-track the CBD Rail Loop project to meet the needs of a 21st century Auckland, said a politically broad range of speakers at the launch of the Green Party’s Rail Loop campaign today.

The campaign launch was held at Britomart station in central Auckland. The fifty-plus attendees included Green MPs Gareth Hughes & Keith Locke, Labour MP David Shearer, Mayor of Manukau City Len Brown, Auckland City Councillors Graeme East and Ken Baguley, Regional Councillor Joel Cayford, Heart of the City CEO Alex Swney, and former Auckland City Mayor Christine Fletcher.

“Auckland has missed out on having the rail network that it needs because for decades the Beehive has failed to provide the necessary funding,” said Green Party Transport spokesperson Gareth Hughes.

“The Supercity offers a real opportunity for Auckland to speak with one voice, and let the Government know that the CBD Rail Loop is the smartest way to deliver real transport progress to the fast growing Auckland region.”

Rail patronage has been growing at a phenomenally high rate in Auckland; last month ARTA reported the second highest rail patronage on record, after March this year. Growth in the last few years has been over 10 percent annually, contrasted with declining traffic volumes on many state highway routes around Auckland, including the Harbour Bridge.

Speakers at the launch today represented a broad spectrum of political leanings, but were agreed that the CBD Rail Loop was an essential part of Auckland’s future transport network, and had the power to transform the city centre.

The CBD Rail Loop is key to increase capacity and frequency of trains, and necessary to expand the network to the airport and North Shore. The Green Party launched a petition at the event today, calling on the House of Representatives to fast-track the project.

“The Government can bring this project forward, and indeed must to meet the fast growing demand for rail.

“This CBD Rail Loop is a win for the economy, the environment, and the future of our largest city, as a broad range of Auckland leaders has demonstrated today,” said Mr Hughes.

Link to ARTA reports on Rail and Public Transport growth:
http://www.arta.co.nz/home/archived_business_reports.html

Link to reported analysis of traffic volumes on Harbour Bridge:
http://transportblog.co.nz/2010/06/22/so-why-are-we-wasting-billions-on-these-motorways/

Link to petition:
http://www.greens.org.nz/petitions/petition-fast-track-auckland-cbd-rail-loop