Wake up Auckland! We need a Monorail!

The Auckland region is expected to grow to over 2 million people by 2036 (ARC).

With a fair amount of that growth within Auckland City.

20 years from now that's just under a million more people! Whom all need cars and to get from A to B.

No matter what we do traffic is going to be a problem. If we don't offer some REAL alternatives it is going to be the choke on Aucklands growth.

Sure we can upgrade the rail, add a lane in the motorway but all we are doing is patch up our existing problems. If we need to extend the motorway or rail they have to bowl through suburbs.

I know I know we can't spend the money but by not spending the money we not only push out the cost to the next generation, who have to deal with out short sightedness but the higher productivity costs.

Wake up Auckland! We need a new solution. Something that works 20 years from now. We can't keep staring at our shoes trying to figure out how to do our laces. We need to look forward to the bigger picture.

Let's face the facts, if we don't do something radical now (we are already behind the eight ball) it's only going to get worse.

I suggest a Monorail!

Why a Monorail? They can be built on existing infrastructure, are environmentally friendly and would help avoid the RMA issues of say a subway.

It would also improve the image of Auckland as a clean, green, thriving and technological city.

Monorails can also be automated meaning they arrive on time every time. Like clockwork. Something our existing rail system seems to struggle with.

Imagine being able to rely on public transport to get to an important meeting on time?

If you cannot assure consumers of that reliability they are always going to fall back on their own transportation.

A Monorail isn't the only solution, there are many.

We need a 1 - 3 year solution, a 5 - 10 year solution and 10 - 20 year solution all being worked on at once.

It's time to stop catching our tails and start thinking for the future. Otherwise Auckland will be left for dust.

- Ben Young