Auckland seeks transport funding revamp

By MATHEW DEARNALEY

Auckland regional transport politicians will push for a radical change to Government funding which has always favoured state highways over public transport and local roads.

They can count on moral support from the head of state funding agency Transfund, who is a member of the regional land transport committee.

"I think Auckland is right on the issue because if we are looking at a transport future not totally reliant on roads, then it is going to cost local authorities more," Transfund chief executive Wayne Donnelly told the committee yesterday.

Mr Donnelly, whose organisation will today announce a national land transport programme of well over $1 billion for the next year, was responding to committee backing for a submission to Transfund on a draft proposal for future subsidy levels.

State highways now gain full Government funding but Transfund picks up only 50 per cent to 60 per cent of other transport costs, leaving local authorities to cover the rest through rates or other sources.

Despite Government pledges of an extra $1.62 billion in regional grants to Auckland over 10 years, and $1.35 billion to other areas, the transport committee fears pressure to hold down rates may see most of the money spent on state highways.

The money will not be available for running public transport services, only for passenger transport capital works, which will need matching ratepayer contributions.

Auckland Regional Council transport planning manager Don Houghton said while this would mean faster completion of the region's strategic road network, passenger transport would falter.

Although Transfund intends increasing its share of transport costs to 60 per cent over the next 10 years, Mr Houghton said its funding proposal remained seriously flawed, as a highway-dominated strategy was not the Government's intent.

Auckland City Council transport committee chairman Greg McKeown said local body politicians would, when faced under the current system with a choice between building a rapid transit system or a highway, always choose the latter.

"They will say: 'I don't have to present myself to ratepayers if I build a highway because the Government is going to do it'."