The New Zealand Transport Agency board has made a U-turn on its decision to provide a commuter rail link to Auckland Airport after viewing an Auckland Transport report which says such an option would present ‘poor value for money.’
Light rail or a busway are the two further options being considered by the agency.
Auckland Transport and NZTA are under pressure to make a decision on the preferred means of rapid transit to Auckland Airport by August to allow it to finalise plans for a new domestic terminal and a second runway.
According to The New Zealand Herald, NZTA regional director Ernst Zollner confirmed further investigations for rapid transit connecting the city to Mangere would be limited to light rail or a busway.
“This decision is based on evidence from Auckland Transport that a heavy rail option to the airport would present poor value for money,” says Zollner.
The same report will be viewed today by the AT Board in a meeting closed to the public. The meeting’s agenda lists the reason for privacy as commercial sensitivity.
Auckland Council infrastructure chair Mike Lee, who heads a steering group of parties including KiwiRail considering rapid transit options for the airport, told The New Zealand Herald that he believed the imminent removal of the Neilson St overbridge at Onehunga would compromise the possibility of protecting the route for rail.
Removing the overpass was incredibly short-sighted, said Lee, because a rail overbridge would need to be then built to allow for commuter rail, adding significant costs.
“The other odious aspect to this is NZTA suggesting they support light rail to the airport and foreclosing on the conventional rail while conspicuously refusing to endorse light rail on the isthmus. Auckland taxpayers and ratepayers deserve better than this nonsense,” says Lee.
