Let's Get Wellington Moving was a proposal to improve Wellington's mass transit, public transport, infrastructure in walking and cycling, and state highways. It was a run by the Wellington City Council, Greater Wellington Regional Council, and NZTA Waka Kotahi.[1] First announced in May 2019, it was cancelled in December 2023.[2]

History

Background

In 2008, a feasibility study produced by Greater Wellington Regional Council, the "Ngauranga to Wellington Airport Corridor Plan",[3] outlined the possibility of light rail being used as a solution to link Wellington CBD to Wellington International Airport.

Following the 2010 mayoral elections, Mayor Celia Wade-Brown pledged to investigate light rail between Wellington station and the airport.[4][5] In August 2017 the Green Party updated its transport policy to introduce light rail from the city centre to Newtown by 2025 and the airport by 2027.[6] Mayor Justin Lester reaffirmed his support for light rail along the golden mile in 2018.[7]

Let's Get Wellington Moving

In May 2019, the light rail line formed part of a $6.4 billion transport package known as "Let's Get Wellington Moving" announced by Lester,[8] linking the city centre with the airport. By 2020, no progress was made in planning of the system, however it was still included in the Green Party of New Zealand's transport policy.[9]

In 2022, the New Zealand government committed to an estimated NZ$7.4 billion project consisting of a light rail network running from the Wellington city centre to Courtenay Place then either the "southern" route past the Wellington Hospital to the south coast at Island Bay or the "eastern" route to Miramar and Wellington Airport. A second Mount Victoria Tunnel is also proposed.[10][11] New Zealand's Finance Minister Grant Robertson stated that "the southern light rail option is our preferred choice for Wellington because of the significant potential it offers for new housing and neighborhood growth."

In November 2023 the new National Government is expected to cancel “Lets Get Wellington Moving” except for the second Mount Victoria Tunnel. Waka Kotahi had purchased in October land for a site for a light rail station near the Basin Reserve on the ”southern” route to Island Bay. A charity was considering the site for the proposed Wellington Charity Hospital.[12] The government announced in December 2023 that the project would be scrapped. Green Party transport spokeswoman Julie Anne Genter criticised, the move, saying that prioritising the Basin works and tunnel would not improve traffic flow, but would be disruptive. Tamatha Paul, Wellington Central MP, said that "All people want is a bus that shows up on time, decent pay for bus drivers, and to move around without having to worry about their safety". Project manager of Cycling Action Network, Patrick Morgan, said new plans for transport in Wellington "are a hodgepodge of failed ideas from the 1960s", and "Everyone except the Government knows you simply can't build your way out of congestion".[13]

In mid December 2023, the Minister of Transport Simeon Brown ordered the New Zealand Transport Agency to cease funding and work on various local council projects to promote cycling, walking and public transportation including "Let's Get Wellington Moving."[14][2] On 17 December, the Government reached an agreement with the Transport Agency, the Wellington City Council and the Greater Wellington Regional Council to halt "Let's Get Wellington Moving." As part of the agreement, the Government agreed to fully fund the Basin Reserve upgrade while the City Council would take over the Golden Mile project.[2]

See also

References

  1. ↑ RNZ (16 December 2023). "Let's Get Wellington Moving grinds to a halt". Stuff. Retrieved 17 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "Let's Get Wellington Moving grinds to a halt". Stuff. 17 December 2023. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  3. ↑ "Ngauranga to Wellington Airport Corridor Plan" (PDF). GWRC. Archived (PDF) from the original on 28 November 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  4. ↑ Nichols, Lane (18 October 2010). "Just how green will we go under Celia?". The Dominion Post. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  5. ↑ "New mayor's dream ride". The Dominion Post. 1 November 2010. Archived from the original on 3 January 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2011.
  6. ↑ "Greens plan light rail to Wellington Airport by 2027". 24 August 2017.
  7. ↑ Develin, Collette; Damian George (4 April 2018). "'Strong likelihood' of billion-dollar light rail system for Wellington, says mayor". The Dominion Post. Fairfax. Archived from the original on 28 June 2018. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  8. ↑ "Mayor Justin Lester makes case for $6.4b Let's Get Wellington Moving project". 19 May 2019. Archived from the original on 19 May 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2019.
  9. ↑ "Greens transport policy includes light rail for Wellington, and daily trains to the provinces". Wellington Scoop. 29 September 2020. Archived from the original on 14 October 2020. Retrieved 10 October 2020.
  10. ↑ "NZ Government Backs Light Rail, New Tunnel for Wellington". Bloomberg. 29 June 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  11. ↑ "NZ announces new light rail to south coast and tunnel for Wellington". Railway Technology. 30 June 2022. Archived from the original on 30 June 2022. Retrieved 2 July 2022.
  12. ↑ Thomas, Rachel (8 November 2023). "Charity hospitals $150,000 pain for the ghost trains". The Post. Stuff. Archived from the original on 12 November 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  13. ↑ "Major Wellington infrastructure project scrapped". 1 News. TVNZ. 17 December 2023. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
  14. ↑ Martin, Robin (16 December 2023). "Minister pulls brakes on cycling and walking initiatives". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
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