Greens Highlight Funds Cut For Non Road Projects
June 3rd, 2009
The Greens are accusing the Govt of robbing public transport and other alternatives to roading projects to pay for its expanded road building programme. Co-leader Russel Norman says the Govt’s Policy Statement on transport shows significant funding is being taken away from sustainable modes of transport to be spent on roads. He says over the next three years spending on public transport will be cut by up to 23% (down by up to $175m), and spending on public transport infrastructure will be cut by up to 89% (down by up to $490m). Norman says a range of essential public transport initiatives such as integrated ticketing, as well as new stations, and ferry terminals in Auckland are all now at risk because of the Govt’s reprioritisation of land transport spending. He says no business case has been released for new roading projects and “while we need a strong economic argument to justify significant investment in rail freight and public transport infrastructure, there is no such similar rigour for the billions of dollars now being spent on new roading.”
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