Tauranga's transport woes have been a long time in the making. Roading projects - to the exclusion of all else. There's no point having a lot of "stable" experience if it's poor and wrong experience.
We will hold National to their empty electioneering promises - of 2008, 2011 - tofour-lane Turret Rd and 15th Ave. And are finally and fully paid for by central government. But, as a city, we can't, and won't stop there.
New Zealand First is calling for a full investigation into the future mobility of Tauranga and the Bay of Plenty, looking at all inter-modal transport options, including rail - not just more roads.
We will take the tolls off Route K, to reduce the amount of heavy traffic on Cameron and Cambridge Roads. If our heavy transport vehicles can get to and from the port quickly and easily, they save time and money, and we, the consumers will save time and money, not being stuck behind them.
But our plans to fix New Zealand's transport challenges will not be achieved by relying only on one mode: roads. We, at New Zealand First have met with people who have a proven track record delivering transport solutions overseas. We are looking around the world to learn from other country's experiences, to deliver transport solutions that are safe, affordable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly. We are ready to implement them today, not in 20 or 30 years' time. Another 30 years of National and Labour passing the baton between them can only lead to another 30 years of rail degradation and myopic thinking on infrastructure.
New Zealand First has the people and policies in place to resurrect our rail network and put it to work for us, and we will invest in real transport solutions for all New Zealand and all New Zealanders.
