That’s the belief of Auckland Regional Council chairman Michael Lee, who is grateful for the support of MPs at a time when oil prices are constantly rising.
Mr Lee says MPs weighed up many difficult issues. They chose to take a long-term view of transport funding, the threats of peak oil and climate change, and the need to provide affordable transport to all, he says.
“Thank you to the Labour Party, New Zealand First, the Greens, Maori Party, United Future, the Progressive Party and to Phillip Taito Field, for a final tally of 70 votes in support.
“It’s almost two years since the ARC and Auckland Regional Transport Authority (ARTA) said there was urgent need to make a decision about future [rail] rolling stock.
“Rail passenger numbers have grown from 2.5 million per annum five years ago, to almost seven million this year. Electrifying commuter rail makes sense. Fast, clean quiet electric trains are cheaper to run in the long-term,” says Mr Lee.
He says rail patronage in Perth, West Australia, was at a similar level, about seven million, when deciding to electrify its system in 1997. Patronage has since reached 30 million trips a year.
The Bill, now law, allows regional councils to raise money to fast-track transport capital projects by phasing in regional fuel taxes.
“The extra funding creates a greater obligation for spending transparency,” says Mr Lee.
The Public Transport Management Bill, still before a parliamentary select committee, would help councils provide more transparency, he claims.
Mr Lee believes the Bill needs to be strengthened to increase accountability for the large amount of public subsidies going to private companies.
ARTA is providing public subsidies of $158.7 million this financial year, with $79.4m of that sum coming from the ARC. Bus subsidies in the Auckland region are worth $106.7m this year.
“The present public transport procurement arrangements - a legacy from the 1980s - are totally unsatisfactory in terms of transparency and accountability,” says Mr Lee.
The ARC, together with ARTA, is proposing to buy electric trains, strengthen the region’s bus and ferry network, while introducing smartcard ticketing.
