Projects to enable more frequent trains and a reliable rail network top a list of transport activities, each costing over $2 million, put forward for government co-funding by the Wellington Regional Transport Committee.
The Wellington Regional Land Transport Plan Mid Term Review 2024 was approved this week by Greater Wellington on behalf of the region’s nine councils, the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA) and KiwiRail and follows a month of consultation, 580 submissions and two days of public hearings.
Committee chair Adrienne Staples says the community response overwhelmingly supported enhancing public transport.
“While feedback was diverse, there was strong consensus across the region supporting improvements to public transport, particularly for our rail network.” Cr Staples says.
“Through this plan, we are committed to realising our vision of a connected region, with safe, accessible and liveable places – where people can easily, safely and sustainably access the things that matter to them, and where goods are moved efficiently, sustainably and reliably.”
The list of ‘significant activities’ includes:
- Public transport improvements including the Wellington Rapid Transit Bus Corridors Programme, the National Ticketing Solution and greater regional council control over assets like public transport depots,
- Two new ‘Roads of National Significance’; the second Mount Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve Upgrades and the Petone to Grenada Link Road & Hutt Cross Valley Link,
- Next stages of a regional cycle network, and
- Te Wai Takamori o Te Awa Kairangi (Formerly RiverLink) – Hutt City Council’s local road improvements.
“We’re grateful for the 580 residents and organisations who provided feedback during the month-long consultation,” Cr Staples says.
The plan will now be sent to NZTA for inclusion in the National Land Transport Programme, which will allocate funding levels for the region’s transport activities for the next three years.
“Our nine councils, NZTA and KiwiRail have worked as a team to create a plan, which not only forms a strong funding bid, but that truly responds to transport needs across the whole region. We are looking forward to the funding being made available.”
More information on the RLTP Mid Term Review can be found here: Greater Wellington — Wellington Regional Land Transport Plan Mid Term Review 2024 (gw.govt.nz)
