Doubt on eve of Auckland transport grant

By PHILIP ENGLISH

Infrastructure Auckland will meet today to announce a multimillion-dollar public transport grant, but North Shore councillors are still debating the wisdom of the deal.

The grant from Infrastructure Auckland is expected to answer the region's prayers with nearly all of the $40 million of ratepayer money that council leaders had requested.

The money will be used to pay Tranz Rail for access to Auckland rail corridors.

The grant, which may ultimately pave the way for a rapid transport system, will be seen by the region's leaders as support for the Tranz Rail deal, which has so far received a cool Government response.

The crunch will come on Thursday, when the national roading and public transport funding body, Transfund, is to consider a request from Auckland for a further $35 million.

In all, the region needs $65 million for the controversial deal - although one option could take the cost well over $100 million - to gain 70 years' access to Auckland's southern and western rail corridors.

North Shore Mayor George Wood has called an emergency council meeting to discuss the wisdom of the deal.

Heading a list of concerns among some councillors is the size of the grant for a project that will not result in any improvements on the rail corridors, only access to the tracks. But Auckland Mayor Christine Fletcher, just back from a public transport conference in Melbourne, said yesterday that the rest of the world was embracing highly developed trams and light-rail systems.

Auckland City is planning a central corridor for light rail or buses from Queen St to Auckland Hospital, where it could link with the western or southern corridors.

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