Community Consultation sought on top transport projects
By Chrys ayley
Transport and road issues have been in the spotlight recently with the announcement additional funds will be made available by government for upgrading seven ?nationally significant? roads including State Highway 1 from Wellington to Levin. Greater Wellington?s Regional Transport Committee chairwoman Fran Wilde said the funding announcement is important because central government has finally recognised the importance of State Highway 1. It had tended to be treated ?as just a local road? but it is important as it takes freight to the South Island and capital city. Funding of improvements to SH1 does not negate the work of Greater Wellington Regional Council?s Transport Committee and it still wants to know what people in the region consider the priorities. The Committee is encouraging feedback on its proposed Regional Land Transport Programme, in particular thoughts on priority order for state highway and public transport projects in the region. Ms Wilde said the list, delivered to households throughout the region, contains a mix of major roading and public transport improvements around the region at an estimated cost of $850m over 10 years. ?As buses, trains and roads are such a fundamental part of our everyday lives this proposed transport programme should be compulsory reading for everyone in the region.? Ms Wilde emphasised that the final decision on projects would be that of the New Zealand Transport Agency. However, the Regional Transport Committee was required to provide its priority list and this is what the community is being encouraged to scrutinise. ?I strongly urge people to?take a look at the list and let us know what you think.? What happens next? The Regional Transport Committee will consider all written and oral submissions in May and June before adopting the final RLTP in late June, 2009. The final adopted RLTP will support the region?s bid for funding assistance from the National Land Transport programme. The NZTA is expected to make the final decision about how funding will be allocated in July/August, 2009.
