Green Party Launches The Transport Plan To Combat Fossil Fuel Crisis

The Green Party has announced that they will provide fast, frequent and affordable public transport that saves everyone time, money and frees us from the expense of filling up a car.

“New Zealanders deserve a fast, convenient and affordable transport system. The Greens have the plan to get immediate improvements using what we’ve already got, while laying down the tracks for the future,” says Green Party Co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick.

“Congestion sucks – it costs us time, money and productivity. The Greens will unclog our roads and free up wallets with mass rapid transit, free travel for kids, students, Community Service Card holders, Total Mobility users, and a maximum $2 fare for everyone else.”

“Visiting family members or friends across the country shouldn’t cost a small fortune or rely on an air carrier that’s been shutting down regional routes. Only a few generations ago, we invested in land transport to connect our cities and regions, and the Greens will do it again.”

“We will deliver overnight passenger rail from Auckland to Wellington, bring back the Southerner between Christchurch and Dunedin, extend Te Huia to Tauranga, and strengthen rural bus services. These practical projects keep people connected and give everyone the ability to explore our beautiful country.”

“In the middle of a fossil fuel crisis, these common sense investments will save New Zealanders money, stress and time. It’ll cut emissions and improve quality of life. The Greens are ready to build a transport system that works for all of us,” says Chlöe Swarbrick.

Green Party Transport spokesperson Julie Anne Genter says, “Years of underinvestment in public transport have left our cities harder to get around without a car. Our cities have the potential to be accessible, vibrant and connected for locals and visitors.”

“Improving our cities with a plan more frequent buses and modern trains will set New Zealand up for the future and help meet the demands of our growing towns and cities.”

The Green Party’s plan for Connecting Aotearoa with fast, frequent and affordable public transport will:

• Immediately save people money by making bus and train fares free for children, teenagers, students, apprentices, Community Service Card holders, and Total Mobility Users, and capping bus and train fares at $2 for adults
• Build mass rapid bus and light rail in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch
• Improve public transport in smaller cities and towns, as well as major metropolitan areas, by funding the shortfall councils need to deliver services, to give people options to escape the fuel crisis.
• Deliver more frequent inter-regional bus services so people can travel in and
  around smaller cities and towns affordably and frequently.
• Connect the country with intercity, long-distance rail through new train services including an Auckland-Wellington overnight rail service, passenger rail between Christchurch and Dunedin with a potential extension to Invercargill, and improve, electrify and extend the Te Huia route to Tauranga.
• Enable councils to pedestrianise more inner-city areas to boost urban revitalisation, increase safe walking and biking spaces, and make urban areas beautiful places where people want to spend their time.

“The Green Party will create many more options for people to hop on fast, affordable buses and trains either in their town, city or across the country. Our plan will provide options that are affordable and easy, for all of us to get to where we need to go,” says Julie Anne Genter.

Green Party Transport plan costings

Over the next four years, we’re committed to a total of $4.125 billion:

• $75 million for new electric buses
• $830 million for level crossing removals in Auckland
• $300 million for metropolitan rail renewals in Wellington
• $410 million to bring back the Southerner Connection in Wellington, and $110 million for new sleeper trains between Wellington and Auckland
• $1.2 billion for inter-regional buses and public transport improvements in cities and towns across Aotearoa, through re-allocations in the National Land Transport Fund
• $1.2 billion for free fares for concession groups and $2 fares for adults, paid for through our tax

The cost of longer term projects have been provided to show we can afford to invest in rapid transit and rail over the next decade. All major new infrastructure projects over $50m will go through the Infrastructure Commission investment assurance process before committing funding.