Rail crossing wins big backing in poll

Rail advocates led by Auckland Mayor Len Brown have gained a confidence boost from a survey which has found hefty public support for trains crossing the Waitemata Harbour. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Rail advocates led by Auckland Mayor Len Brown have gained a confidence boost from a survey which has found hefty public support for trains crossing the Waitemata Harbour.

A UMR Research poll found 79 per cent of 241 Aucklanders in favour of installing railway lines across the harbour - whether on a new bridge or through tunnels - and 18 per cent against.

Those polled were more evenly split over the form of a new harbour crossing, 38 per cent opting for a second bridge and 41 per cent for tunnels.

Twelve per cent did not want any new crossing.

The small number of people polled meant the difference between support for a bridge and for tunnels fell within a margin of error of 6.3 per cent.

But UMR research director Gavin White said the emphatic preference of Aucklanders for a rail crossing was well outside the margin.

The harbour crossing questions were added at short notice to a list of unrelated issues, in an omnibus survey of 750 New Zealanders.

Only the 241 Aucklanders were asked the crossing questions, which were added after a Transport Agency cost comparison between two motorway tunnels and a new bridge.

A bridge was estimated at $3.9 billion, compared with $5.3 billion for tunnels.

That led the agency to suggest Aucklanders might have to help to pay the difference, if they wanted tunnels.

The report also included an estimate of $1.6 billion for two smaller rail tunnels, but said these would not be justified for 30 years because of the carrying capacity of the Northern Busway.

But the Campaign for Better Transport and the Forum for Auckland Sustainable Transport say rail tunnels would be far more cost-effective than a new motorway link, and would remove capacity pressure from the existing bridge by taking buses off it and encouraging more people to leave their cars at home.

Campaign convener Cameron Pitches said it was ironic that almost 80 per cent of Aucklanders favoured a rail link, as that was about the same proportion as the Government said drove cars to work and should therefore receive most transport funding, despite growing concern about rising oil prices.

Forum spokesman Bevan Woodward said: "We find it extraordinary that the Government would seriously consider a road-only bridge to solve Auckland's future transport issues."

Mr Brown said the poll result reflected feedback he received every day about rail projects including links to North Shore and the airport, and a central city tunnel.

"Aucklanders understand that we need to unclog our roads by fixing public transport - we need to future-proof the additional harbour crossing for rail to cater for Auckland's growth."

Auckland Council transport committee chairman Mike Lee said the survey showed "the average member of the public seems to be somewhat ahead of your average politician, especially the National Party cabinet, when it comes to rail transport".

But Transport Minister Steven Joyce said the trouble with such polls was that options were presented as costless, and he had received a rough estimate of $3 billion for a rail crossing from Gaunt St in the Wynyard Quarter to Takapuna.

Officials believed it could cost another $6 billion to $7 billion to run rail tracks to Albany, because of a need for more tunnelling, given that the busway corridor would be unsuitable.

They had also said commuter rail for the North Shore would entail huge extra spending south of the harbour, for new underground stations.

"A lot of things sound like good ideas when we have no idea how much they will cost us, whether they be through taxes, big hikes in rates, or more likely both."

SURVEY RESULTS

Question: Regardless of whether there should be a bridge or a tunnel, should the additional harbour crossing include railway lines?

Yes 79 per cent
No 18 per cent
Unsure 3 per cent

Question: Should it be a bridge, a tunnel, or that there should not be an additional harbour crossing?

A bridge 38 per cent
A tunnel 41 per cent
Neither 12 per cent
Both 1 per cent
Unsure 8 per cent