“If adopted, the new Western Corridor Plan would become part of the Regional Land Transport Strategy, which must be taken into account by Transit New Zealand when deciding which projects to recommend for funding by Land Transport New Zealand.”  

The recommendation follows the report of the Western Corridor Plan Hearing Subcommittee, which found that the Transmission Gully Motorway was the preferred option for solving the region’s northern access issues.

Councillor McDavitt said that also on the agenda is a proposed Regional Transport Programme that sets out the level of capital expenditure the region expects to be spent on strategic roads and passenger transport over the next 10 years. 

“A key part of this programme is identifying how to meet the $543 million shortfall in funding needed if the Transmission Gully Motorway is to be built within ten years. The draft Programme proposes this be met by Crown loan to be repaid over ensuing years and by tolls.”

The key features of the proposed plan include:

Roading

•         Construction of Transmission Gully Motorway within ten years
  
  

•         Construction of Kapiti’s Western Link Road within eight years
  
  

•         Improvements to walking, cycling and traffic management infrastructure
  
  

•         Improvements to capacity and safety on SH2
  
  

•         Improvements to safety on SH1
  
  

•         Commencement of the Grenada to Gracefield link by construction of a new road between SH1 and Dowse Interchange
  
  

•         Allowances for improvements likely to come out of the Ngauranga to Airport Corridor Study
  
  

Passenger transport

•         Refurbishment and replacement of rail infrastructure
  
  

•         Provision of additional rail rolling stock in line with demand
  
  

•         Continuation of extensive bus services, including replacement of the trolley bus fleet
  
  

•         Enhancement of Total Mobility services
  
  

•         Commissioning of real time information and integrated ticketing systems
  
  

•         Commencement of travel planning activities in accordance with the Travel Demand Management Strategy
  
  

•         Western Corridor rail improvements
  
  

•         Constructing Lindale and Raumati rail stations
  
  

•         Constructing double track from MacKays to Lindale
  
  

•         Purchasing additional rolling stock
  
  

•         Commencement of a programme to improve accessibility provided that funding is available to implement the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission report into Accessible Public Land Transport (Sep 2005)
  
  

Copies of the full agenda and background papers are available on Greater Wellington’s website under Council and Committees.